Lee creates historical world victory first at Vic Open

When was the last time a brother and a sister each won on the major tours of the world?

I stand to be corrected but with 21-year-old Min Woo Lee capturing his maiden European Tour title at the Vic Open, he joined his 23-year old sibling Minjee Lee as ‘brother and sister’ champions at the co-sanctioned event.

It clearly has to be a first in Australian golfing history and surely a very first in European and LPGA Tour history.

Lee joined his sister Minjee on the roll of honour at 13th Beach Golf Links with a four under par final round of 68, finishing two strokes ahead of New Zealander Ryan Fox on 19 under par.

The 21-year-old, making just his 19th European Tour appearance, started the day three strokes clear of playing partners Marcus Fraser and Travis Smyth and showed no sign of nerves as he birded three of his first four holes, including a chip-in on the first.

WITB: Min Woo Lee

• Callaway Epic Flash Driver (9º)
• Callaway Epic Flash Fairway Wood (15º)
• Callaway X-Forged UT Iron (18º)
• Callaway Apex MB Irons (4-9)
• Callaway JAWS MD5 Wedges (46º, 52º, 56º, 60º)
• Odyssey Stroke Lab Black 10 Putter
• Callaway Chrome Soft X Golf Ball

The Australian maintained his composure as winds gusted up to 50kph on the Bellarine Peninsula, with ten consecutive pars before his fourth birdie of the day on the 15th hole.

“I’m pretty proud of the way I played. I thought coming in I had a really good chance because I was hitting it really good, but I think I impressed myself with the game this whole week,” said Lee.

“Hopefully I’ll have more of these over my whole career.”

“I felt really comfortable just because if I did exactly the same as I did yesterday, I felt pretty hard to stop. I started off really hot out the gate and was pretty comfortable those last few holes. I got a bit nervy, but I’m pretty proud of the way I finished.”

Fox made his charge for a second European Tour victory on the back nine. The Kiwi birdied the 16th hole and carded his second eagle of the day on the 18th for a brilliant 8-under 64, setting the clubhouse target at 17-under.

Lee dropped to 18 under with a bogey on the 17th, but finished with aplomb as he birdied the 18th for a tournament-record score of 19 under par and a special victory on home soil.

Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist matched Lee’s final round of 68 to finish in a share of third place with Australians Fraser and Smyth on 14-under, while Jake McLeod took sixth place on 12-under.

Sam Horsfield, who was in the first group of the day with Geoff Ogilvy and women’s competitor Peiyun Chen, moved to seventh on 11-under, alongside fellow European Tour member Sami Valimaki of Finland.

Minjee Lee, who won her second women’s ISPS Handa Vic Open title in 2018, finished two strokes behind Hee Young Park, who overcame Hye-Jin Choi and So Yeun Ryu in a four-hole play-off to win her first LPGA title in more than six years.