University of Georgia Athletics
Work Paying Off For Lee
April 10, 2017 | Women's Golf
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Harang Lee wasn't smiling as she walked off the 17th green Sunday at the UGA Golf Course, not after missing a 4-foot putt to win. And not after that followed another missed opportunity to close out a win on No. 16.
Still, a few minutes later, as she walked down the 18th fairway, her Georgia women's golf bag slung over her slightly slumped shoulders, the senior from Castro Uridales, Spain, couldn't help but eventually giggle and smile. Who wouldn't enjoy the sight of her jubilant teammates running down the fairway toward her for a big, celebratory hug.
"I was a little confused, actually," Lee said of the end of her match and then the pack of Bulldogs running toward her. "I wasn't sure what was going on."
Georgia, ranked eighth in the most recent Golfstat poll, took on top-ranked Alabama in Sunday's match play finale of the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. It was a great late-season test for the Bulldogs, with a valued prize on the line, and they passed with flying colors.
The Bulldogs beat Bama 3.5-1.5, getting wins from Mary Ellen Shuman and Bailey Tardy and half a point from Rinko Mitsunaga. Lee, who was 1-up on the Tide's Lakareber Abe going to No. 18 in the anchor spot, was guaranteed at least a half point, though she credited with a win after play was stopped, the Georgia win assured, following the 17th hole.
Lee didn't want to stop, not after how Nos. 16 and 17 went, not when she had a chance to finish off an up-and-down round with something positive. A so-so bunker shot on 16 cost her a shot at par and a 3 & 2 win, while 17 featured a missed fairway, a missed green and a missed makeable par putt that would have sealed it there.
"I was a little frustrated at the end, yeah. I wanted to finish, but it was great to have my teammates finish the round," Lee said.
It was, to say the least, a vexing day for Lee. In perfect conditions — it was often so still and quiet that the only noise was a woodpecker doing what it does — Lee made five birdies (very good). She also made five bogeys (not good) and two doubles (yuck).
But match play is about winning holes, not scoring, and Lee won the day by making all those birdies, while her opponent had 15 pars and three bogeys.
"I made five birdies, so I have good things to think about from my round and this weekend," said Lee, who won both of her matches Saturday in Georgia's win's over Daytona State, the top junior college women's program in the country, and No. 16 Arkansas.
Lee is a mature and experienced senior, who arrived at Georgia as a 17-year-old and has grown in every way conceivable in her four years with the Bulldogs. She showed that experience Sunday, during a round that easily could have gotten the better of her.
"A lot of it is mindset, continuing to mature," Georgia coach Josh Brewer said of Lee's development into a consistent performer, one that's ranked No. 25 in the most recent Golfweek collegiate individual rankings.
Leading 1-up after parring the par-3 13th, Lee hit her shot of the day on No. 14. Both Abe and Lee were in the middle of the fairway after their drives, Lee around 15 yards ahead. Abe hit first on the uphill second shot and her ball came to rest about 12 feet below the hole.
Lee knew Abe's shot was in pretty tight, so how did she answer? She stuck her shot to 3 feet and sank the birdie putt, while Abe missed hers.
Shots like that come from great talent, composure and hard work, three areas that have developed tremendously during Lee's time at Georgia. Most especially in the past 18 months, Lee said, since the great trio of Tardy, Mitsunaga and Jillian Hollis arrived as highly acclaimed and highly talented freshmen.
They came in and starting posting top 10s and winning events almost right away, and haven't let up. Lee embraced the challenge, embraced the competition, and now all four are ranked in the top 100 in the Golfweek world amateur rankings.
"I would say that my freshman and sophomore years were not the greatest. I really struggled mentally and it's not because it's a different country or whatever," Lee said. "I was just not in a great moment.
"I feel like last year, it was a great experience having the three freshmen coming in. It was like fresh air, and I got more confident. It was great to have these three freshmen that played great and we pushed each other and learned from each other."
All that competition and knowledge and experience was on display over the weekend, helping produce a great result in Georgia's final event before the postseason. Next comes the SEC Championships and the NCAAs, so there's still plenty more to be done.
"I just want to keep being confident and positive," Lee said, "and just work."
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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