New Zealand's golf star, Lydia Ko, made history by seizing a 'once in a lifetime' chance to win the gold medal in the Women's Individual Stroke Play at the Games on day fifteen at Le Golf National in Paris on Saturday. This win was a landmark achievement for Ko, who achieved an unmatched Olympic trilogy. Having previously won a silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze in Tokyo 2020, Ko's victory in Paris solidifies her position as one of the most successful golfers in Olympic history.

The 27-year-old's path to gold was characterized by consistency and strategic play. From her first tee shot to her final putt, she demonstrated the skills and composure that have marked her remarkable career. With this win, the 27-year-old secured her place in golfing history by entering the LPGA Hall of Fame.

"Being tied for the lead going into the final round, I realized that the next 18 holes were crucial," Ko said. "I had mentioned earlier that I might not have another Olympics, and this could be my last. I didn't want to announce it publicly because I knew this was a unique opportunity."

"I kept reminding myself that I control my own ending, inspired by Simone Biles' words. I wanted to dictate my fate and the outcome of this week. To end this way is truly a dream come true," Ko emotionally added.

During the final round, Ko built a five-stroke lead on the back nine as her competitors faltered. Despite the challenge of the final hole, a par five with water hazards, Ko managed to secure a birdie for a one under 71 and a two-stroke victory.

Esther Henseleit of Germany took silver with a 66, while Xiyu Lin of China secured bronze with a 69. This latest accolade adds to Ko's illustrious career, which began with her first LPGA title at 15 and her rise to world No. 1 at 17.

Ko's 72-hole score of 10-under 278 on a demanding course marked her as the 35th player to qualify for the Hall of Fame, and the second-youngest to earn the required 27 points.

Reflecting on her career, Ko noted, "I know there's still much golf to be played this season. I have great days and tough days, but I want to enjoy every moment and play my best." Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdanganan narrowly missed a third medal for the Philippines, finishing fourth, the best result for a Filipino golfer at the Games.