Updated: April, 2017

SARAH LEE

The Facts

Birth Name: Jung Yeon Lee
Birthday:
February 1, 1979
Rookie Year on LPGA: 2002
Birthplace: London, England
Best LPGA Finish: 2nd
Best LPGA Major Finish: T-8th (2004 Nabisco & British Open)
Best Score: 60 (2004)
Best Scoring Average for a year:
71.43 (2003)
Best Season money total: $713,084 (2007)
Best Season Money Position: 20th (2007)
Most Top Tens/Season: 7 (2007)

Height: 5' 9"
2017 LPGA Status: Retired?
Nicknames: None Known
Sponsors: None Known
How's her English?: So so
Hobbies: Collecting baseball hats
Road to the LPGA: Played on the KLPGA and Futures Tour

Capsule Bio

Jung Yeon Lee started playing golf at the age of 14. One of the tallest Korean players, she can hit the ball quite far. When I saw her in 2002, she didn't seem to have a drive less than 260 yards.

Jung Yeon joined the KLPGA in 1998, and had one win. In 2001, she played the Futures Tour, where she recorded nine top tens, had back to back wins, and finished third on the money list to earn exempt status for the 2002 LPGA season. In 2002, she had one top ten and finished 76th on the money list to keep her card.

2003 was a breakout year for Jung Yeon. She very nearly won the Longs Drugs Challenge (had a birdie putt on the last hole to go into a playoff, but just missed), and managed top tens in her final four events of the year (including another 2nd at a KLPGA event).

The first few months of 2004 were incredible for Jung Yeon. She started the season out by shooting a 60 at the Welch's/Fry's Championship, the second lowest score in LPGA history. She finished second there, and again later finished second at the Chick-Fil-A Championship. She also notched two top tens in Majors in 2004, her first ever. But she slowed down for the most part in the middle of the year, and gradually fell down the money list, eventually finishing in 34th place. Still, 2004 was easily her best season yet.

Galleries

2007 Photos
2006 Photos
2004 Photos
2003 and Before
Seoul Sisters Pix

The slump that started in 2004 continued through 2005; fortunately, her 2004 money list finish bought her a two year exemption on tour. In 2006, she still was pretty much in the dumps most of the time, but had a few tournaments where she showed her old form. At the Safeway International, she even led much of the week, only to lose on the final hole to Juli Inkster. Still, her second place finish was her best in years.

In 2007, Sarah again returned to the form that she had displayed during her golden run of 2003-4. The result was a run of great tournaments, her best Major finishes in years, and a 20th place finish on the money list, her best ever.

She played well at several tournaments in the Spring. At the Michelob Ultra, she even led for several rounds before fading to third. The highlight of the year for her came at the Sybase Classic the following week. She and Lorena Ochoa were playing far better than anyone else in the field. In the third round, the two were matched against each other, and Sarah actually outplayed the number one golfer in the world. It looked as though she might finally get that elusive first win on tour, but on Sunday, she was not able to keep it up, and Ochoa took the title. Lee would collect yet another second place finish.

Late in the year, she played in the Kyoraku and Lexus Cups. She was the vice-captain of the Lexus Cup, in fact, and helped to lead Asia to a dominating win over the International team in that event.

2008 was not a good year for Lee. She didn't even post a top 20 all year, although she did occasionally find herself in contention after two rounds. It was later revealed that she was struggling with serious injuries much of the season. In 2009, she made only one top ten and finished 79th on the money list. Fortunately for her, this was just good enough to earn her top status for the 2010 season.

Lee did not have a good 2010 season, however, and was not able to maintain top status on the LPGA. She announced that she would be focusing on the KLPGA tour in 2011.

In fact, she did play a few LPGA events in 2011, with a top finish of 59th. But the rest of the time she played in Korea. She had a pretty good year there. She did not win, but did manage a second place at the year's final Major, the KB Star, and a 3rd at the LIG Classic. She had 5 total top tens and finished 18th on the money list.

Lee struggled far more in 2012, finishing 60th on the KLPGA tour money list. She had one top ten, a 9th at the Doosan Match Play.

Lee finished just 70th on the KLPGA money list in 2013, with a 16th place finish her best. But she had other things on her mind: in March, she was stopped for DUI and resisted getting a breathalyzer despite being asked 4 times. She apparently also acted belligerently towards the officer, swearing and even hitting him on the chest. Lee was arrested but later released. Later in the year, however, she was found guilty and sentenced to two years probation and 120 hours of community service.

Lee had another weak season on the KLPGA tour in 2014. She finished 79th on the money list, making just 34 million won. Her best finish was a 25th at the E1 Charity Women's Open in May.

Lee has not played since then and may have retired.

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