The University of Hawaii senior shot a par-72 for a four-stroke victory in the Hawaii State Amateur golf championship yesterday at the Pearl Country Club. He had a 216 total in the event, which was shortened to 54 holes after Thursday's play was rained out.
"It's my first major win, so I'm happy," said Lee, who was the runner-up in the Manoa Cup -- the state amateur's match-play championship -- the last two years.
Tied for second at 220 yesterday were Larry Stubblefield and second-round leader Yukio Sakai. Stubblefield shot a 71 yesterday, while Sakai ballooned to a 77 because of four three-putt greens.
Damien Jamila also shot a 77 to wind up in a three-way tie for fourth at 221 with Stan Souza and Jay Kurisu.
Playing in the group ahead of Sakai and Jamila, who were one-two going into yesterday's final round, Lee pulled into a tie for the lead by shooting a 2-under-34 at the turn.
Lee birdied the par-5 first hole despite hitting a tree on his second shot, hitting an 8-iron from 150 yards to within four feet of the flagstick. He also birdied the par-4 fourth hole with another 4-foot putt and two-putted from 15 feet for another birdie at the par-5 fifth.
He birdied the par-3 13th, sinking a 15-footer, but bogeyed the back nine's other par-3, the 16th, by chipping six feet past the pin and missing the comebacker.
However, playing the final nine holes in even par was good enough for Lee. Sakai, 47, from Japan, shot a 39 over the final nine. Jamila, a three-time champion, went five over after being even at the turn.
At Pearl Country Club, Par 72
Regan Lee - 72-75-70--216
Yukio Saiki - 73-70-77--220
Larry Stubblefield - 75-74-71--220
Damien Jamila - 71-73-77--221
Jay Kurisu - 77-71-73--221
Stan Souza - 74-72-75--221
Tony Okano - 72-73-78--223
Robbie Yoshimura - 74-75-75--224
Bryan Edwards - 72-77-75--224
Guy Yamamoto - 75-72-77--224
Steve Pleas - 76-72-76--224
David Kang - 74-76-75--225
Lance Taketa - 75-74-76--225
Mark Chun - 78-75-73--226
Charles Kozak - 73-78-75--226
Randy Shibuya - 77-77-73--227
Glenn Tanoue - 76-78-73--227
Neal Takara - 78-75-74--227
Ron Miyashiro - 75-78-74--227
Michiyuki Kurokawa - 76-76-75--227
Royden Heirakuji - 77-75-75--227
Shane Hoshino - 75-75-77--227
Kenji Murofushi - 76-77-75--228
Damien Victorino - 78-74-76--228
John Lundgren - 77-78-74--229
Ruben Cristobal - 76-75-78--229
Sean Doi - 74-82-74--230
Brandan Kop - 75-79-76--230
Ryan Nakata - 75-77-78--230
Garrett Omuro - 76-78-77--231
Paul Kimura - 79-74-78--231
Reid Yoshimura - 78-77-77--232
Saburoii Matsuura - 78-73-81--232
Don Look - 79-77-78--234
Dean Kaya - 79-80-76--235
Clesson Pang - 78-77-80--235
Takayuki Wada - 77-74-84--235
Riki Kato - 79-80-78--237
Edson Nakanishi - 78-80-80--238
Ed Awakuni - 78-80-83--241
Alan Ohara - 79-74-88--241
Peter Rice - 78-81-84--243
Kevin Goto - 79-81-84--244
Tracy Shiroma - 79-86-80--245
Michael Ukauka - 79-86-81--246
Larry Byrne - 78-82-87--247