By ERIC SODERSTROM
Assistant EditorSixteen-year-old Richard Lee,
Golfweek’s second-ranked junior, has decided to turn professional.
Lee, runner-up to Philip Francis at the 2006 U.S. Junior Amateur, said at the Thunderbird International Junior that he will give up his amateur status the next time he plays in a professional event. Lee is exempt for November’s Australian Open thanks to his victory at the Aaron Baddeley International Junior Championship last December, but is looking to turn professional much sooner.
Lee, a sophomore and two-time state champion at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz., shot an even-par 71 May 14 in the Monday qualifier for the PGA Tour’s AT&T Classic, played at Nicklaus GC at Birch River in Dahlonega, Ga. He tied for 22nd in the qualifier, missing out on a playoff by four strokes.
Lee said his upcoming schedule would include
more Monday qualifiers for PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour events. He said
he also is trying to gain sponsor exemptions, and he plans to attend
PGA Tour Q-School when he turns 18.Lee, one of junior golf’s longest hitters, is scheduled to play in
a June 4 U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Bear Creek Golf Club in
Murrieta, Calif. But he would not be able to play the U.S. Open as a professional because he took his exemption out of local qualifying by virtue of his second-place finish at the U.S. Junior.
The Canada native, who moved to Arizona in early 2005, played in the 2005 U.S. Amateur as a 14-year-old, shooting 71-78 and missing the cut by three shots. His last junior victory came at the AJGA’s season-opening ReBath Heather Farr Classic in April, where he shot a first-round 64.
Lee’s father, Jeff, was a roommate of PGA Tour pro K.J. Choi during their time on the Korean PGA, and they remain good friends.
“He’s (Choi) going to help me out,” Richard Lee said. “I will be doing a lot on my own, too.”
• • •
Eric Soderstrom is a Golfweek assistant editor. To reach him e-mail esoderstrom@golfweek.com.
Posted: 5/28/2007
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