Lee Sang-hee has claimed his first trophy on the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) after a 13-year wait.
On August 30, Lee finished the final round of the JGTO 'Sansan KBC Augusta' at Keya Golf Club in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture, with a score of 7-under 65, making seven birdies without a single bogey.
With a total score of 23-under 265, Lee outpaced second-place Yusaku Hosono of Japan, who finished at 20-under 268, by three strokes. The victory comes with a prize of 20 million yen (approximately $170,000).
This marks Lee's first win since entering the Japanese circuit in 2013 and his fifth career title, adding to his previous victory at the 2017 GS Caltex Maekyung Open.
Lee is the first Korean player to win a JGTO event not co-hosted with the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) since Song Young-han's victory at the same tournament in 2023.
Starting the final round in second place, one stroke behind the leader, Lee made three birdies on the front nine. His focus intensified on the back nine, where he made three consecutive birdies from the 13th to the 15th holes, taking the lead. On the final hole, despite a wayward tee shot to the right, he maintained his composure to secure par. This victory also serves as redemption for his second-place finish at the same event in 2022.
Having recorded eight runner-up finishes on the JGTO circuit, Lee expressed his joy after the win, stating, "I am really happy to finally win after my debut. It feels like I have finally reaped the rewards of my efforts."
He reflected on his past experiences, saying, "In various competitions in Korea and Japan, I often focused too much on the results, which left me feeling disappointed. This time, I concentrated on what I could control, and that mindset led to a good outcome."
Lee's victory also carries a heartfelt promise to his late father. He shared, "After my father passed away in 2023, I promised to show him the championship trophy. That promise sometimes made me overly fixated on winning. However, this time, I let go of those thoughts and focused on what I needed to do. It is even more meaningful to be able to bring the trophy to my father now."
With this win, Lee has moved up to seventh in the JGTO points ranking and eleventh in the earnings ranking. He stated, "My goal is to continue this momentum and win again in Korea. I will do my best to achieve a good result at the upcoming 42nd Shinhan Donghae Open."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.