Australian Women's Am: Minjee Lee wins 2nd straight
Minjee Lee
SEATON, Australia (Jan. 19, 2014) -- Western Australian Minjee Lee
has successfully defended her Australian Amateur Championship crown
after defeating 15 year-old Queenslander Karis Davidson 6&5 in today's
final at The Grange Golf Club.
World Number 5 and 17 year-old Lee led 2up after the first 18 holes
with the pair putting on a birdie blitz in the morning. Davidson birdied
three of her first five holes and took the challenge up to Lee before the
Royal Fremantle member rolled off four straight birdies on holes 5-8 in
the afternoon round to surge clear.
"It feels good. It's always a long week at the Australian Amateur and
it's good to get the win and start the year off on a high," Lee said.
"I was just steady today. Whenever Karis made mistakes, I just took
advantage of that. After that I holed a couple of putts early on the
front nine in the second round and I got to 6 or 7up," said Lee who
earns a place at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open next month.
Lee, who graduated from school in 2013, has now won two Australian
Amateur titles, the Australian Junior title and the US Girls' Junior title
among a host of other victories.
"I don't have school this year so I'm going to play all of the Aussie
professional circuit events and then go to China for the World Ladies
Championship. After that I think I'll head to the United States for the
U.S Women's Amateur and play a couple of other big events over
there," Lee said.
Fellow National Squad member Ryan Ruffels caddied for Lee for the semi
final and final. The pair teamed up for Lee's Australian Amateur victory
in 2013 in Melbourne.
"He's good company, we had fun out there and it was pretty cruisey,"
Lee added.
ABOUT THE Australian Women's Amateur
The Australian Women's Amateur
Championship
is contested over 36-holes stroke play
qualifying, with the leading 32 players
progressing to elimination match play. It is
open to players of all ages with an initial
field
size of 72 players.
It was first played in 1894 and past
winners
include touring professionals Nikki
Campbell,
Sarah Oh and Kristie Smith.
View Complete Tournament Information