Champion Min Woo Lee gets a reaction from the crowd during the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane. Photo: photosport
Australian Min Woo Lee enhanced his standing as one of world golf's most exciting young players with a three-stroke win at the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane.
Lee bounced back from an early bogey on Sunday to close out victory with a three-under par round of 68 and 20-under par total at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
Japan's Rikuya Hoshino (68) showed composure in the final group to snare second at 17-under.
Australian Marc Leishman, whose seven-under 64 was the best of the last day, birdied his final two holes to claim outright third with Lee's good friend and fellow-West Australian, Curtis Luck, playing the back nine in 4-under for a round of 69 and fourth spot.
Michael Hendry finished as the leading New Zealander, in a share of 15th on nine-under after closing with a 69. His third-round 64 equalled the course record.
Hendry was three shots ahead of the next-best Kiwi, Nick Voke in 29th place, while Josh Geary was 40th.
Victory is projected to elevate 25-year-old Lee to a career-high of No.38 on the world golf rankings
It is Lee's second win on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and third on the DP World Tour.
A leader by one after 36 holes and three through 54, Lee's pitch-in for eagle at the par-five ninth on Sunday restored a buffer that had all but disappeared after just one hole and he played with control over the back nine.