Click here for Hole by Hole Scores from the final
Golf Australia National Squad member Minjee Lee (WA) became the first Australian to win the U.S Girls’ Junior Championship at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, near San Francisco overnight.
The 16 year-old Royal Fremantle Golf Club member and World Number 8 amateur defeated Southern California’s Alison Lee 1up after a remarkable comeback in the 36 hole Match Play final to win her first USGA event on debut.
“It is big,” Lee said.
The Perth teen was 3-down through 30 holes when she staged a sudden fight back to win holes 31-34 to go 1-up. It was enough to hold on for victory.
“I just pulled myself together and I was like just go for it. You've got an opening. Just take your chances and then go from there,” Lee said.
It marks an excellent return to form following time out with an ankle injury earlier in the year.
“Well, I think I could like just refuel, because I haven't had a break in ages, so I had the best break. Then I just came out even stronger, and I could do things that I never could have done in my swing technically.”
Lee follows in the footsteps of World Golf Hall of Fame member Nancy Lopez and rising star Lexi Thompson in winning the US Girls’ Junior title.