Rachel Lee has earmarked herself as a star of the future with a thrilling sudden-death playoff win in the 2023 Women's NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying tournament at Mollymook.
The 16-year-old year 10 student from Avondale Golf Club held her nerve over the final holes on a testing Mollymook Hilltop to force herself into the playoff.
With Queenslander Rhianna Lewis and Sydneysider Chizuru Ueda in the clubhouse at minus one, Lee came to the last, needing a birdie. She didn't disappoint: first by splitting the fairway with one of the drives of the day, she then followed it up with a peerless hybrid from 168 metres to reach the green before two-putting for birdie to book her playoff spot.
Lee admitted she had no idea where she stood coming to the last; a playoff was the last thing on her mind.
"I had no idea where I was on the last, to be honest, but it was a short par five, and I knew I could make a birdie; that's all I was thinking about. I was just trying to do my best."
Then, with a large gallery surrounding the playoff hole (the par-three ninth), Lee calmly slotted a six iron from 150 metres to about 40 feet for a two-putt par to claim her first victory against a professional field.
"This course is a very hard course to manage, and I think I did it pretty well," Lee said after her win.
The youngest player in the field, Lee admitted she tried to treat it as a regular round despite being paired alongside her childhood coach and one of her golfing heroes, Sarah Oh.
"I've played with Sarah a couple of times, so I was relaxed; there was a bit more pressure, but it was fun to play with the others."
The win is also the biggest of her young career, and locking away a place in the 2024 NSW Women's Open felt particularly special.
"I'm looking forward to playing at Magenta Shores. It is a great course; I'm very honoured. and this is a very special moment for me," she beamed.
The Women’s NSW Open Golf Championship is proudly supported by the NSW Government
through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW. For more information visit womensnswopen.com.au |
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