World News – UA – West Aussie Lee claims Dubai Moonlight Classic

Minjee Lee won the Dubai Moonlight Classic in the playoffs to clinch her first title of 2020 and second on the Ladies European Tour

Victory at the event, which made history last year as the world’s premier day-and-night professional golf tournament, is Lee’s eighth professional success

« This year has been tough, but it’s a good way to end it, » said Lee

« I really enjoyed the format and everything about the week, my second time playing night golf was certainly memorable »

The 24-year-old won the co-sanctioned LET and ALPG Victorian Open in 2018, a tournament she also won in 2014 as an amateur, and is a five-time LPGA champion

Australian star Lee and Céline Boutier returned to play 18th in the spotlight at Emirates Golf Club after finishing tied at 10 under par after 54 holes of regulation play

Boutier left his birdie shortly before Lee passed 20 feet to seal victory on the first extra hole and win the ‘coffee maker-inspired’ trophy and winner’s prize of 36,266 euros (59,335 $ A)

« I couldn’t really see the break on the last hole, but I thought it would be about two cuts on the outside of the right and luckily I hit him pretty hard and he fell, » a said Lee, originally from Perth

« It’s quite special to be here playing at night and the course has been amazing

Lee, the top-ranked player in the field this week at No9, carded an under-69 three in the final round to join Boutier in the playoffs

The French Boutier had led most of the day, until a late scarecrow proved costly, signing for a 68

Lee and Boutier finished a shot in front of a trio of players Nuria Iturrioz of Spain (67), Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck (70) and second round leader Caroline Hedwall (72) of Sweden

Young Australian Stephanie Kyriacou carded a third straight 71 to split 17th at three under while her compatriot Whitney Hiller (75) slipped down the standings to finish at nine on

Starting Friday’s closing round with a share of third, Lee birdied the 1st, 10th, 14th and 16th as she chased Boutier, who had been free until an untimely error on par 5 16

Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic, Minjee Lee, Ladies European Tour, Dubai, Aditi Ashok