Lee Continues Form In The Pacific
Fijian golfer Sam Lee has continued his strong form in the Pacifc recording a third place finish in the Invest Samoa Golf Open over the weekend.
Lee is fresh off a maiden Fiji Open title in July shot three straight rounds of 4-under 68 around Faleata Golf Course Tuanaimatu, Vaitele to finish the tournament at 12-under the card and just three shots off leaders Michael Wright and Alex Edge who finished 15-under the card.
The consistent golf over three rounds is a positive sign for Lee who will again tee it up in the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways from August 2 – 5 at Natodala Bay Championship Golf Course, his home club.
It will be Lee’s fifth straight appearance in the tournament, his best result of 26th place coming back in 2015.
Edge eventually was victorious in a playoff against Queenslander Wright to win the Invest Samoa Golf Open.
Edge finished the 54 hole event tied with Wright at 15-under par, however, a birdie at the first playoff hole was enough to secure the title.
He nearly let the victory fall from his grasp in regulation play, after hitting the fairway on the final hole, Edge hooked his second shot left into the long grass, ultimately taking a double bogey seven and forfeiting his three-shot lead.
“I just tried to stay calm and stick to my routine,” explained Edge.
“After the final hole, I thought it was no longer mine to lose and actually felt pretty positive.
“I’d been wedging it well all week and just wanted to put the pressure on Michael (Wright).”
Edge did just that hitting his pitch shot to within four feet of the hole and tapping in for a birdie and the title of Invest Samoa Golf Open Champion.
In the Invest Samoa Senior Open, Richard Backwell made it four titles in five years with a wire-to-wire victory, he finished the tournament also at 15-under par.
“I love coming to Samoa, I’m not sure what it is but I seem to really focus when I come here. It’s a thrill to compete for national titles and to win four is amazing,” said Backwell The Taula National Amateur Championship finished in similar dramatic fashion with Samu Ropati birdieing the first playoff hole to overcome Van Wright.
The Invest Samoa Golf Open and the Invest Samoa Senior Golf Open’s are sanctioned on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series and Ladbrokes Legends Tour respectively.