Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
Lee Dong-hwan wins PGA Tour Q-School
Lee Dong-hwan hits a tee shot during the sixth round of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament in La Quinta, Calif., Monday. / AFP-Yonhap
By Kang Seung-woo
Kim Si-woo checks his putting green on the 18th hole during the sixth round of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament in La Quinta, Calif., Monday. / Yonhap
Kim Si-woo becomes
youngest qualifier
By Kang Seung-woo
Lee Dong-hwan became the first Asian golfer to solely top the PGA Tour qualifying tournament Tuesday (KST).
In the sixth and final round at PGA West’s Stadium Course in La Quinta, Calif., the 25-year-old fired a 5-under 67 to finish at 25-under to edge England’s Ross Fisher and American Steve LeBrun by one stroke to earn medalist honors.
In 1992, Japanese golfer Masahiro Kuramoto ended in a four-way tie for first place in the Q-School, but Lee is the first Asian to sit atop the leaderboard by himself.
Lee, who plays on the Japanese tour after winning the Amateur Golf Championship in Japan in 2004, has the 2006 Rookie of the Year title and two tour championships under his belt.
Lee was among 26 players who earned full-time PGA Tour cards for the 2013 season. The top 25 players plus ties after 108 holes will earn tour cards for the following year, while the next 50 and ties will earn rights to play on a second-tier circuit, called the Web.com Tour.
“I competed from the second qualifying stage and initially set my sights on a final-stage birth. I never expected to win the qualifying tournament,” said Lee, who began the final round three shots behind leader Steven Bowditch of Australia. The 2012 Q-School was comprised of four stages — pre-qualification and first, second and final qualifying stages.
The PGA Tour starts its 2013 season with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Jan. 6 in Hawaii, but Lee said he will begin his campaign at the Sony Open a week later, also in Hawaii.
The goal in his rookie year is to remain on the tour for the next season.
“First of all, I will try to make the top 125 in the money list to keep my tour card for 2014,” he said.
“If there is a chance, I want to win a tournament or the best rookie award.”
Fellow Korean Kim Si-woo, a high school sophomore, also secured a tour card and became the youngest golfer at 17 years, five months and six days, to qualify from Q-School. The previous record set by American Ty Tryon in 2001 was 17 years, six months and one day.
Kim finished tied for 20th after an 18-under 414 and earned a tour card for 2013, but according to PGA Tour rules, he cannot gain entry until he turns 18 on June 28.
Instead, he will be able to play up to 12 events on sponsor exemptions as a non-member.