Lee Takes the 26th Inland Empire Championship

9/3/2018 | by

Han Seop Lee (SCPGA photo)

Han Seop Lee of Chino Hills holds off the defending champion Edwin Kuang at Oak Valley GC

MURRIETA, Calif. (September 3, 2018) – Han Seop Lee of Chino Hills secures the 26th Inland Empire Amateur Championship title after posting a three-day, eight-under par, 207 over Labor Day weekend. Lee finished ahead of 180 players competing in the 54-hole Championship that was contested over three courses in the Inland Empire. Lee’s name will join two PGA TOUR winners in Brenden Steele (2003) and Aaron Wise (2015), in addition to back-to-back California State Open Champion David Gazzolo (2016). Han Seop opened up the championship at Oak Valley Golf Club with a blemish-free 68, only to find himself three strokes behind round one leader and defending champion, Edwin Kuang of Murrieta who posted an opening round of 65. Han Seop went on a tear in the second round at Goose Creek Golf Club, clawing his way to the top of the pack, carding an eight-birdie round of 64, and 11-under par for 36-holes placing him two-shots in front of Kuang. With the final round hosted at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Bear Creek Golf Club, things quickly shaped into a two-player race to the finish between Lee & Kuang, each SCPGA Junior Tour Alums, in late afternoon windy conditions. Making the turn, Lee’s lead grew to a five-stroke advantage and never looked back. The difficult Nicklaus course proved to be a test, as Lee posted a 75 en route to a four-stroke victory! Congratulations to First Flight Champion Edwin Rabanal of Corona with rounds of 76-75-81 and Second Flight Champion Gary West of Riverside with rounds of 78-77-80.

Results: Inland Empire Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Han Seop Lee	Chino Hills, CA	100	68-64-75=207
2	Edwin Kuang	Murrieta, CA	65	65-69-77=211
3	Tristan Stone	San Bernardino, CA	30	73-71-71=215
T4	Connor OBrien	Irvine, CA	30	73-68-75=216
T4	Jacob Montes	San Diego, CA	30	65-75-76=216

View full results for Inland Empire Amateur

About the Inland Empire Amateur

The Inland Empire Amateur Championship is a three day event played at three courses in an area where Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernadino and Orange Counties all come together. Format is 54 holes of stroke play with the top 40% advancing to the fina...

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