Australia’s Lee impresses in LPGA start

Australian Minjee Lee has made an impressive start to her LPGA career finishing outright 12th in the opening event of the 2015 LPGA season in Florida.

Lee carded rounds of 70, 73, 70 and 70 on the par 72 layout at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, Ocala to finish at five-under-par and 12th.

The 18-year-old took home a cheque for US$26,293 ($33,855).

South Korean Na Yeon Choi came from four shots down mid way through the final round to catch New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and win the event.

It was Choi’s eighth career title and she is now projected to move back just outside the top 10 on the Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Choi carded rounds of 68, 70, 66 and 68 to finish at 16-under-par at one shot ahead of Ko (71), another South Korean Ha Na Jang (70) and American Jessica Korda who charged up the leaderboard with a final round of 66.

Outright fifth was Amy Yang back at 10-under-par. Of the other Australians in the field, Sarah Jane Smith finished tied for 40th at one-over-par after a final round of 76.

Katherine Kirk (70) was a further shot back and tied for 44th.

Karrie Webb couldn’t get anything going this week and finished in a share for 59th at five over.

The LPGA tour now travels to the Bahamas before heading to Australia for the Women’s Australian Open at the Royal Melbourne beginning February 19.

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