Golf: Leopard chasing Tiger's glory

By Graham Skellern

Korean Eddie "Leopard" Lee has set some bold golfing goals - he wants to represent New Zealand at the world Eisenhower Trophy contest in 2002, turn professional soon after the age of 19 and become the youngest winner of the US Masters on the Augusta course.

Outlandish claims? Not really.

Lee, whose father brought his family to Christchurch seven years ago to establish a golf driving range, is just 15 years old (he turns 16 in November) and yesterday he beat the best possible New Zealand amateur field at the Bay of Plenty Open, doubling as a national trial.

The tall, powerful Lee reckons that at the same age his driving and putting statistics are on a par with Tiger Woods - because he keeps a tab on them - and Tiger mentioned his name during a news conference at last year's US Masters.

Lee yesterday put some fear into his opponents by turning a three-shot deficit into a two-stroke victory in the fourth round with a 3-under 67 on the tough Whakatane course.

When experienced New Zealand representative Chris Johns (Auckland) faltered after the turn in the pressure-filled final round, the young pretender Lee took full advantage.

Lee birdied the eighth and ninth holes to go two under for the tournament, one shot behind Johns, the third-round leader. Johns bogeyed the tenth, and then four putted from 7m metres to double bogey the 12th.

Lee, playing three groups ahead, made his move with a superb five iron to one metre of the flag for birdie on the dangerous par-three 16th, then chipped in from off the back of the green for another birdie on the 17th to go three under for the tournament.

Johns birdied the par-five 13th but dropped another shot, and the lead, after catching two bunkers at that testing 16th hole. He grabbed a consolation birdie in the darkness on the 18th to finish with a 2-over 72 and 1-under total of 279, with earlier rounds of 69, 70 and 68.

Lee, capturing his first major tournament in New Zealand and the youngest to win the Bay of Plenty event, finished three under for the tournament with 71, 72, 67, 67 - going six under on the final day. Another talented youngster, Te Awamutu's Brad Shilton, was third with an even-par 280.

Recalled international Catherine Knight (Christchurch) also took full advantage of a lapse by the leader, Lisa Aldridge (Palmerston North), to win the women's division by three shots.

Aldridge, who is competing in the Commonwealth Cup in Canada with Knight later this month, dropped five shots over the first nine holes of the final round to finish with 75 and a total of 288. Knight maintained her consistency with a 69 and tournament total of 285, her earlier rounds being 72, 73 and 71.