New Zealand teenager Danny Lee became the youngest player to win a professional European Tour event with victory in the Johnnie Walker Classic at Perth on Sunday. The 18-year-old produced a superb finish to win the tournament by a single stroke and enhance his reputation as one of golf's most exciting young players. Lee, who burst onto the world stage by winning last year's US amateur championship, held his nerve in a tight finish by making birdies on four of the last six holes for a final round of five-under-par 67 and a winning total of 17-under 271. “It feels like I'm dreaming at the moment. I won lots of amateur tournaments before and the US Amateur but this is a totally different feeling,” he said at the trophy ceremony. “It's a pro event. All I wanted to do was make the cut and play well and get in the top-20. But I played extremely well today and I won it.” Britain's Ross McGowan led by two shots with five holes to play after making an eagle at the ninth but two late bogeys cost him his chance of winning his first professional title. The 26-year-old closed with a 70 to finish tied for second with Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita (67) and Chile's Felipe Aguiler (68) at 16 under. Englishman John Bickerton (71), who had shared the overnight lead with McGowan, also slipped off the pace, finishing alongside France's Raphael (69) at 15-under at the Vines Resort. Lee, who is 18 years and 213 days old, beat the previous European Tour record of South African Dale Hayes, who won the 1971 Spanish Open at the age of 18 years and 290 days. Lee was born in South Korea but moved to New Zealand with his family when he was eight. He made headlines last year when he eclipsed Tiger Woods as the youngest US amateur champion. By winning the Johnnie Walker Classic, Lee would have been entitled to the first prize of 235,892 euros but does not plan to turn professional until after his first major appearance. Although he turned down the cash, Sunday's victory still secured him a minimum two year exemption to the European, Asian and Australasian tours. Sizzling Mickelson surges four ahead at Riviera In California, Phil Mickelson birdied four of the last five holes to charge four strokes clear of a congested leaderboard in Saturday's third round at the Northern Trust Open. Three off the pace overnight in his title defense at Riviera Country Club, the American left-hander fired a flawless nine-under-par 62 to regain control of the tournament. Mickelson, who had slipped back on Friday with an erratic 72 after setting the first-round pace with a blistering 63, piled up seven birdies and an eagle for a 16-under total of 197. Argentina's Andres Romero, who birdied the last three holes for a 65, was alone in second place with PGA Tour veteran Fred Couples another stroke adrift in a group of four on 11 under. Champion here in 1990 and 1992, Couples rolled back the years with a sparkling 65 to end the round level with fellow American Scott McCarron (70), South African Rory Sabbatini (67) and South Korea's KJ Choi (67).
