Richard T Lee Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Asian Tour: Canadian Lee looks for more success in Korea

Matt Smith — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 10:39:32 +0000

Richard T Lee. Asian Tour

Richard T Lee will be looking to script another Korean success story next week as he seeks another Shinhan Donghae Open title.

The Canadian held off the challenge of Malaysian Gavin Green in 2017 to claim a one-stroke victory at Bear’s Best Cheongna at the co-sanctioned the Asian Tour and Korean Tour event, before going on to clinch two more titles in the nation.

He almost repeated his feat in 2020 on the Korean Tour, at Bear’s Best, finishing in second place behind Kim Han-byeol.

Next week, from September 7-10, Lee will be hunting the trophy once more as the Shinhan Donghae Open returns to Korean shores, having been held in Japan for the first-time last year.

Although there’s a new venue for 2023 in the shape of Incheon’s Club 72, the Shinhan Donghae Open will, for the third time, be co-sanctioned between the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Korean Tour.

“We believe this co-operation is a sign of strength for Asian golf and we anticipate further collaborations with both parties as we move forward,” said Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO.

Joining Lee among the Asian Tour contingent for the $1 million competition are past Order of Merit champions Sihwan Kim of America and Australian Scott Hend, along with Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, triumphant in the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2016, the first year it was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

Both Lee and Bhullar will be buoyed by their strong showings at last week’s St Andrews Bay Championship. While Lee was T-18, Bhullar enjoyed his best outing of the season to date, a share of fifth place that saw him rise to 36th in the latest Order of Merit standings — one place below Lee.

From the top-11 in the current Order of Merit standings, following last week’s historic stop in Scotland, also in the field for Korea are Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana, Australians Brendan Jones and Travis Smyth and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho.

Vincent will be aiming to go one better than his brother, LIV Golf’s Scott, who was runner-up at The Shinhan Donghae Open in both 2016 and 2018.

Among the favourites will be Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who birdied the final two holes at Koma Country Club last year to triumph.

The post Asian Tour: Canadian Lee looks for more success in Korea appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Confident Lee on a mission at International Series Egypt as LIV Golfers lurk

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 12:25:35 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
Canadian Richard T Lee looks like a man on a mission at this week’s International Series Egypt after he moved into the clubhouse lead on day two, bidding to make amends for letting victory slip from his grasp last Sunday.

He shot a five-under-par 65 at Madinaty Golf Club to move to 11-under for the $1.5 million event to lead by one from American one-time LIV Golfer Andy Ogletree, who carded a 64.

Another LIV star, American Sihwan Kim, is a shot further back following a 66 — in a ground-breaking tournament that marks the first time the Asian Tour has visited Egypt. Bernd Wiesberger, yet another ‘LIV-er’, is T6 on seven-under.

Overnight leader Scott Hend from Australia had a disappointing day shooting a 74 to sit seven of the pace.

In-form Lee was on course to win last week’s International Series Morocco but made a costly bogey on the penultimate hole while Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond stormed through to win at the death with an eagle, birdie finish.

However, the loss has clearly done nothing to his confidence: he birdied six of the last seven holes on the front nine to go 10 under on the front nine for the first two days. He nearly aced the par-three eighth where his tee shot hit the edge of the cup before he tapped in for a two

“I feel like it is more comfortable to my eyes on the front nine, the back nine is a bit harder for me, I feel like I can’t putt as well as the front nine, yesterday and today,” said Lee.

“My game is solid right now, mentally I am also feeling confident. We still have 36 holes out there. I just want to play my game, I don’t want to think I have got to beat this person, or that person.

“I am just going to play my game, play my front nine again, and try and shoot five or six under par again. I just want to get this win first and see where it goes from there.”

Andy Ogletree. Asian Tour

Ogletree, the US Amateur champion in 2019, is a rookie on the Asian Tour this year and is putting together his best performance this year after competing on LIV Golf in London.

“You got to take advantage of playing in the morning out here, there’s not much wind, and I got off to a good start, four under through nine,” said 24-year-old Ogletree. “Had a lot of opportunities coming down the stretch it could have been a lot better, but very pleased with how I’m playing and should be in good position going into the weekend.”

Sihwan, the No. 2 ranked Asian Tour player this year with two wins, holed a 30 footer on the par-four 18th for a his third eagle of the week to go with the two he made on the front nine yesterday.

“Not the best off the tee but got it around and played really well on the front nine, my back nine,” said Kim.

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Lee raring to go once again for Asian Tour International Series Egypt

Matt Smith — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 04:20:45 +0000

American Sihwan Kim, Canada’s Richard T Lee, local golfing star Issa Abou El Ela and Jeunghun Wang of Korea visited the iconic and world-famous Giza Pyramids in Cairo ahead of the International Series Egypt. Asian Tour

By GolfDigestME.com
There was no hiding Richard T Lee’s look of disappointment at the moment after he let victory narrowly slip from his grasp last Sunday but a trip to the Pyramids on Tuesday morning ahead of this week’s International Series Egypt, at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo, has certainly helped to put a smile on his face.

“Egypt has been on my wish list since high school, I just wanted to come here and check out the Pyramids. It was amazing just to see it, right there in front of my eyes,” said the Canadian, who visited the iconic and world-famous Giza Pyramids in Cairo with American Sihwan Kim, Korean Jeunghun Wang, and local player Isaa Abuo El Ela.

Lee was on the brink of winning the International Series Morocco two days ago but made a costly bogey on the driveable par-four 17th and lost by a shot to Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond — who finished sensationally with an eagle and a birdie.

Added Lee: “To be honest I got a bit unlucky on 17 as my second shot was blocked. I pulled my tee shot slightly and it ended right behind a tree so I could only advance it forward a little bit.”

He was attempting to claim his third title on the Asian Tour, to add to his wins in the Solaire Open in 2014 and the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open.

Nevertheless, it’s has been a big season for the 32-year-old so far as he also finished joint-second in the International Series Singapore in August.

“I just want to take the good things from there [Morocco] and have a good week this week and play my best,” he said.

“I am just going to play my game; I feel my game is pretty solid right now; I am playing smart golf. Hopefully I can get that win.”

Last year he was dogged by injuries to his shoulder and knee, which he feels might have been the result of COVID-19 treatment.

He said: “I am not completely sure what caused the injuries, I think it could have been something to do with the vaccines. I didn’t have any injuries playing golf, it’s just that all of a sudden they came.

“I have been eating well and doing a lot of work outs. It’s getting better, my body is getting back into shape.”

Rising Spanish star David Puig competes this week having also come close to winning in Morocco — which was his first event on the Asian Tour and second as a professional.

He led by two at the start of the final round before finishing in solo possession of third, two back from Jazz.

“Obviously, leading going into the final round my main goal was to win, but at the end of the day it’s golf,” said the 20-year-old, who opted to not complete his final year on the Arizona State University golf team in order to play for pay.

He added: “I think I was pretty steady the whole day, I played pretty good. I just didn’t hit the ball as close as I would like, but I hit it very good and didn’t putt my best as well. But I hung in there and I had a chance until the last hole so as I said overall I’m pretty happy with my result.

“As I said last week I don’t like tight courses, but my driving accuracy as well as my driving distance was pretty good during the whole week. So not seeing trees and instead seeing big fairways, it’s gonna be good because you’re more relaxed sometimes. But at the same time, at the end of the day, it’s just golf. You just gotta try to make birdies.”

His fine performance allowed him to secure his Asian Tour card for next season.

This week’s tournament marks the first time the Asian Tour has visited Egypt. The $1.5 million event is the third from last event of the season with just the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open and Indonesian Masters, which is part of the International Series, remaining.

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