GOLF - Lee has little time for anything but golf

SHANE HURNDELL
Should Korean Rachel Lee make it big as a golf professional in the next three years expect to hear more than a few Hawke's Bay players bragging about the part they played in her success.
Sixteen-year-old Lee has based herself at the Napier club for three months (December to February) for the last seven years. It's part of her plan to turn professional by the end of March next year.
"I'm part of the family here," she told SportToday before her final training session on Tuesday.
We couldn't argue as every host club member who passed us as we were chatting greeted her and Lee knew almost all of there names.
"While I always place a huge emphasis on training when I'm here I've also played against a few of the club's top men which has been good," said Lee.
"This is a very nice place to train ... the weather (she saw rain for the first time the day before returning home), the practice area, the course itself and of course the people."
The fact she scores well is obviously a factor too. Last week she shot a 67 off the men's tees on the par 72 course.
"I had several 68s and on the longer Hastings club course at Bridge Pa I had a 69," said Lee.
SportToday felt a little rude but we had to ask if that 69 was also off the men's tees . We got the reply we expected.
"Yes," she said with a modest grin.
Her father D J Lee is a professional coach and introduced her to the sport as a youngster.
"It's been my No 1 sport for most of my life. I want to learn tennis but I've got no time," said Lee.
In fact she has little time for school with golf the priority. She has stopped all hobbies including learning the piano.
Apart from four days when she was sick she played and trained every day while in Hawke's Bay. One of the Napier club's top men Phil Gravestock had several games against her and has no doubt she will achieve her goal.
"You can't fault her work ethic. She's got all the shots ... the rest is up to her now," said Gravestock.
Another of Lee's strengths is the fact she's extremely tough on herself - a must for all pros no matter what the sport is.
"I had an awful season last year. I need to improve my putting and my driving distance should be more consistent ... I need to keep improving," she said.
Lee's favourite holes on the Napier course are the par five 12 and 17th.
"It's easy to make birdie on both," said Lee.
And the toughest?
"The 13th and 16," she replied while pointing to a couple of long par fours.
Lee rates Korean professional KJ Choi as her golfing hero. He has been a professional since 1994 and in 2005 was the fifth best player on the PGA Tour.
"His play is very nice ... I respect him," said Lee.
It will be interesting to see if Choi has the same respect for Lee in two or three years time. We'll be surprised if he hasn't.