13-Year-Old Iris Lee Becomes Youngest Champion in Women's Western Junior History
Lee rallied from behind in the championship match to win the 99th Women's Western Junior at Meridian Hills Country Club.
Iris Lee, a 13-year-old from the Lake Nona area of Orlando, Florida, won the 99th Women's Western Junior Championship at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament's history.
Lee was among the top qualifiers after 36 holes of stroke play, building an early cushion before the field was cut to the top 16 for match play. She advanced through four rounds of 18-hole matches to reach the final against Athena Singh.
In the championship match, Lee trailed through the first 15 holes before rallying to win the 16th and 17th holes, then closed out the victory with a par on the 18th for a 1-up win.
The Women's Western Junior, first contested in 1920, is among the oldest junior golf championships in the country; its alumni have combined for more than 200 LPGA Tour victories.