"It feels great,'' said the Korean-born Kiwi who learned the game at the Springfield Golf Club in Rotorua.
"I haven't won a tournament since the Johnnie Walker and it is a great feeling winning this golf tournament - it is really not easy to win a golf tournament.
"I worked really hard and my uncle and my coach - we have worked really hard for this and I am really happy it worked.''
Lee was fortunate in the playoff when he hit his drive into the trees but still had a clear shot the green.
"I thought I hit a really good tee shot and I guess it hit the right tree and kicked to the right. I got lucky that I had a clear shot. I had about 208 [yards] to the flag. I hit a pretty good shot and it just landed short and went into the bunker. My best part of my game is bunker shots so I had no pressure.''
The former World No 1 amateur has earned $124,000 (NZ) and he climbs 10 places into fourth on the Nationwide Order of Merit. The top 25 players on the money list automatically qualify for the PGA Tour in 2012.
After being disqualified last week Lee said he was still relaxed about securing his position on the world's most lucrative tour.
"I think I was already in the top 25 so I had no pressure. It was my goal that before I go off to the PGA Tour that I have to at least win one Nationwide event right? That is what everybody is expecting me to do I guess. My parents are very excited. They are jumping around.''
Lee had a hot start in the final round with an eagle on the fourth. He backed that up with birdies on 6, 10, 15 and 16 in a bogey-free round to set the clubhouse lead at 18 under par which English equalled with a three under 69.
The former New Zealand rep didn't watch his rival finish as he was more concerned with getting to the airport for his next tournament.
"No I wasn't worried about that. I was more worried about catching my flight [to Korea] and I missed that.
"I got an invite to the Korea Open so I am planning to go over there and the flight leaves now so I would have got there Tuesday morning but now I will get there on Wednesday morning _ hopefully they will understand and they won't yell at me ... I think they will understand.''
He enjoyed posting the clubhouse winning score and believed it is a lot easier winning when you are not in the final group.
"It is better not playing in the last group if you want to win because you get less pressure and less expectation. You just go out there and enjoy yourself and if it happens it happens. I really felt no pressure.''
It is a swift turnaround in fortunes for Lee who last week was disqualified from the Soboba Golf Classic in California when he withdrew with injury but did not tell the tournament officials.
"I pulled out in the middle of the second round last week because of an injury to my wrist and I was very sad and disappointed about that and my parents were very disappointed because even when you play bad you have to finish the round no matter what but I just couldn't play.
"I had massage therapy while I was taking a rest in Dallas and that worked really well for me. I was very thankful just to come out here to play and I got a nice bonus with the trophy.''
The former US Amateur champion was back to his fist-pumping best that had him as one of the hottest young players in the world in 2008 as the World No.1 Amateur.
Lee rewrote history when he surpassed Tiger Woods to become the youngest winner of the US Amateur Championship. The then 18-year-old then turned the golfing world upside down in 2009 when he became the youngest winner in European Tour history (at the time) claiming the Johnnie Walker Championship.
With three events remaining on the Nationwide Tour Lee's dream of joining the world's most famous tour has come true.
He is the first Kiwi to play on the tour since Tim Wilkinson in 2008 and follows in the footsteps of New Zealand greats like Sir Bob Charles, Frank Nobilo, Phil Tataurangi, Craig Perks and Michael Campbell as golfers who have represented New Zealand on the PGA Tour.
