Lee’s still a force to reckon with in Japan

Lee’s still a force to reckon with in Japan

At 44, American veteran Han Lee is showing he still has plenty of gas left in his tank.

Playing in his 13th season on the JGTO, he had just enjoyed his best start yet when he finished outright third at the Kansai Open Golf Championship on Sunday, marking his second straight top 10 finish.

Lee saved his best for last by firing a superb seven-under-par 64 to finish with a nine-under 275 at the Yomiuri Country - five shots behind winner Kazuki Higa.

Starting the day tied for 16th place, Lee rode on a hot putter as he birdied four times to turn in 31.

Despite being pegged back by a bogey on 12, Lee proved his form in the opening nine was no flash in the pan by going on another birdie blitz, firing four more birdies in the last five holes.

The creditable finish has propelled Lee, who came in joint ninth at the Token Homemate Cup, to fifth place on the money list.

Lee will be aiming to build on the solid start as he seeks to reproduce the performance that saw him finish 14th overall in the 2012 season. He claimed his lone JGTO title at the Mynavi ABC Championship and finished a respectable second in the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup that season.

Compatriot Todd Baek closed with a decent 68 but missed out on the top 10 finish by just one shot.

Baek mixed four birdies with a bogey to finish in a three-way tie for 11th on 279.

Australian duo Andrew Evans (70) and Brad Kennedy (71) made it four international finishers

in the top 20 by tying for 19th on 282.

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