MONDAY APRIL 25, 2016 - SHENZHEN INTERNATIONAL
SOOMIN LEE
• His first European Tour International Schedule victory in sixth European Tour event.
• Moves to 658,497 points in the Race to Dubai.
• Could move into the top 75 of the Official World Golf Ranking, from 128th.
• This victory beats his previous best European Tour finish of tied second in the 2016 Maybank Championship Malaysia.
• The sixth first-time winner of the season. They are: They are Nathan Holman (Australian PGA Championship), Marc Leishman (Nedbank Golf Challenge), Brandon Stone (BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni), Haydn Porteous (Joburg Open), Andrew Johnston (Real Club Valderrama Open de España hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation) and Soomin Lee (Shenzhen International).
• The second consecutive first-time winner following Andrew Johnston at the Real Club Valderrama Open de España hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.
• The third time this season there have been consecutive debut champions. Firstly, Nathan Holman (Australian PGA Championship) and Marc Leishman (Nedbank Golf Challenge), secondly Brandon Stone (BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni) and Haydn Porteous (Joburg Open) and thirdly Andrew Johnston (Real Club Valderrama Open de España hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation) and Soomin Lee (Shenzhen International).
• Is playing in the Shenzhen International on a sponsor’s invitation. The first invitee to win a European Tour event since Rickie Fowler (2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship) and the second of the 2016 European Tour season.
• Took up Affiliate Membership of The European Tour for the 2016 season and is playing his fifth European Tour event as an Affiliate Member.
• The first Affiliate Member to win on The European Tour since Scott Hend won the 2014 Hong Kong Open (Oct 14).
• Becomes the first South Korean player to win on The European Tour since Byeong-hun An at the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
OTHER FACTS
• The seventh different South Korean winner in European Tour history.
• The ninth South Korean victory in European Tour history.
• Becomes the 22nd different Asian player to win on The European Tour. (South Korea have the highest number of winners from one Asian country with seven).
• Becomes the second Asian winner on The European Tour in 2016 following SSP Chawrasia (Hero Indian Open).
• Becomes the third different Asian Affiliate Member to win in European Tour history. They are: Liang Wen-chong (2007 Clariden Leu Singapore Masters), SSP Chawrasia (2008 EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters) and Soomin Lee (2016 Shenzhen International).
• The 15th different Affiliate Member to win in European Tour history.
• Won in wire-to-wire fashion. The first winner this season to lead after every round.
• The first wire-to-wire winner on The European Tour since Andy Sullivan at the 2015 Portugal Masters.
• Led by three shots going into the final round. The 11th winner this season to lead going into the final round.
• Aged 22 years and 195 days becomes the second youngest South Korean to win in European Tour history. The youngest is Noh Seung-yul, who was 18 years and 282 days when he won the 2010 Maybank Malaysian Open.
• With Brandon Stone (aged 22) winning the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni, Haydn Porteous (aged 21) winning the Joburg Open and Soomin Lee (aged 22) winning the Shenzhen International, there have been three winners this season aged 22 or younger from the first 18 events.
• Gains a European Tour exemption until the end of the 2018 season.
• Gains his largest European Tour prize of €412,353.
• Gains his second victory as a professional.
