Golf: Lee banks ton of experience

South African golfing great Ernie Els told up-and-coming New Zealand professional Eddie Lee (pictured) that golf was a marathon and not a sprint. Picture / Reuters

SHANGHAI - New Zealander Eddie Lee ignited a stalling career by banking a sizeable and much appreciated cheque at the Asian Open in Shanghai yesterday.

Lee earned US$69,300 ($95,905) for finishing in a share of fourth, a distant 16 shots behind runaway winner, world No 3 Ernie Els, of South Africa, in the US$1.5 million European and Asian co-sanctioned event.

It was easily Lee's biggest collect since joining the paid ranks in late 2002 and took him from nowhere to 16th on the Asian order of merit.

Lee, 21, should now comfortably retain his Asian card for 2006, for which he needs to complete this season among the top 60.

The Christchurch player arrived in Shanghai last week on the back of 10 successive missed cuts.

The last time he had secured a top-10 finish was in 2003 when he tied for ninth in the Maekyung Open in Korea, an event he won as an amateur 12 months earlier.

Lee signed off in style yesterday, chipping in from 7.6m for a birdie on the 18th to move from a share of fifth to a tie for fourth, effectively earning himself an additional US$20,000.

He signed for an even-par 72 and a tournament card of 10-under 278, 16 strokes behind Ernie Els, three behind Englishman Simon Wakefield, and one back from Thomas Bjorn, of Denmark.

Lee was equal with Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin.

"It was a great way to finish and it's turned out to be a great tournament for me," Lee said.

"It was fabulous to have played with Ernie on Sunday and I have learned so much here. I'm pleased that I managed to hold it together over the four days.

"This is a great result for me ... it has been all a matter of remaining patient and while it's taken time to come around, my game is pretty solid and I can look forward to the rest of the year with renewed confidence."

A former top-ranking amateur, Lee has taken a while to adjust to the professional game, finishing 60th and 48th on the Asian rankings in 2003 and 2004 respectively when his combined earnings reached barely more than what he made yesterday.

Time spent in Els' company during the third round allowed Lee to pick the brains of the experienced South African, who was on the way to his 56th career title.

"I'm only 21 and it's a long career road for me. Ernie mentioned to me when I played with him that this game is not a sprint, it's a marathon and that is how I have to look at it."

Lee's earnings also gave him a European Tour ranking of 83rd.

After surveying an Asian schedule featuring an increasing number of co-sanctioned events Lee this year shelled out 2000 ($5290) for affiliate membership to the European Tour.

Lee now heads for Seoul and the Korean Open while his more experienced compatriot Michael Campbell heads back to England after shooting a final-round 74 yesterday to finish in a share of 46th place.

Pro career

* Ninth in Maekyung Open in 2003

* Missed 10 successive cuts

* Asian Open fourth place prizemoney $95,905

* Jumps from nowhere to 16th on Asian order of merit

- NZPA