LYDIA KO USES PROTOCONCEPT IRONS TO WIN SAUDI LADIES INTERNATIONAL

IRVINE, Calif. (February 19, 2023) – World No. 1 Lydia Ko won the Saudi Ladies International using PROTOCONCEPT irons at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Saudi Arabia.

The 25-year-old New Zealander shot 21-under par with rounds of 64-69-66-68—267 using PROTOCONCEPT irons to win by one shot and earn a $750,000 winner’s check. She went into the final round trailing by one stroke but made three birdies on the back nine, including the decisive one on the 17th where she took the lead for good.

The victory on the Ladies European Tour was Ko's 26th victory worldwide and her first since signing a three-year endorsement extension with PROTOCONCEPT/Golf Partner, which originally signed her in early 2021.

"PROTOCONCEPT/Golf Partner would like to congratulate Lydia Ko on her victory at the Saudi Ladies International," said Yasufumi Kawasaki, Brand Producer of PROTOCONCEPT and a managing executive for Golf Partner.

 "As the No. 1 player in the world, Lydia uses PROTOCONCEPT irons because they help her play her best and win."

Ko began playing PROTOCONCEPT irons in competition in 2022 at the suggestion of her personal club fitter, subsequently signed an endorsement deal with the PROTOCONCEPT Golf/Golf Partner for the remainder of the season. She won three times.

PROTOCONCEPT, an ultra-luxury Japanese golf club designer/manufacturer, burst onto the scene in 2022 when three of its products were named to the Golf Digest’s 2022 Hot List for the first time.

PROTOCONCEPT is a collaboration between Japanese-owned Golf Partner Japan - the largest golf retailer in the world with some 400 locations - and fellow Japanese golf behemoth Endo Manufacturing, the industry standard in precision club manufacturing that is used by many of the world’s best-known OEMs.

"With PROTOCONCEPT Golf, the goal of our design team at Golf Partner is to produce the highest quality golf clubs for avid golfers of all handicaps," Kawasaki said. "The name PROTOCONCEPT is derived from the prototype-quality clubs that are developed for tour professionals."

PROTOCONCEPT products may be ordered online at protoconceptgolf.com and through designated green grass club fitters nationally, which can found at https://protoconceptgolf.com/pages/store-locator.