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Lee Minjee wins LPGA Tour’s Kingsmill Championship

May 18, 2015

Ryu So Yeon finishes 2nd, Alison Lee 3rd

Minjee Lee, of Australia, right, hugs fellow golfer, Lexi Thompson, left, on the 18th hole of the rain delayed Kingsmill Championship LPGA golf tournament at the Kingsmill Golf Club in Williamsburg, Va., Monday, May 18, 2015. Lee won the tournament. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Korean-Australian rookie Lee Minjee won her first LPGA Tour title on Monday at the Kingsmill Championship.

Lee, 18, shot a four-round total of 15-under 269 to beat Ryu So Yeon by two strokes in the tournament held at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia. Lee overcame a three-putt-bogey on her first hole in the morning to shoot 6-under 65.

Very briefly after the 7 a.m. start Monday, Lee looked to be in trouble. Having marked her ball on No. 16 when darkness halted play Sunday night, she knocked her first putt about 4 feet past the hole, then missed the comebacker.

She didn’t let the mistake bother her, helped perhaps by not knowing that Alison Lee had birdied the par-5 15th to get within two shots. A pair of two-putt pars made the lead stand, earning her a $195,000 winner’s check.

This is the first LPGA Tour title for the teen golfer who just turned professional last year.

After her birdie at No. 15, Alison Lee’s approaches to Nos. 16 and 17 left her with long putts.

Lee drew attention during her amateur career, when she competed with Lydia Ko for the top spot. She once ranked No. 1 among amateur players in February 2014.

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*AP materials were used in this article.