Australian Min Woo Lee outlasts Noah Goodwin, weather for historic Junior Am title in Ooltewah

Australia's Min Woo Lee kisses the trophy after winning the championship. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016. Australia's Min Woo Lee kisses the trophy after winning the championship. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

By Kelley Smiddie July 24, 2016 4 min read

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Australian Lee outlasts Goodwin, weather for historic Junior Am title

Australia's Min Woo Lee holds the championship trophy. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Min Woo Lee runs up the side hill on the 35th hole to find his chip shot 3 1/2 feet from the hole. Lee would make the put to clinch the championship. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Noah Goodwin of Cornith, Texas marks his place on the 32nd hole has play is called for weather. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee puts his putter into the bag, while caddie Reid Smith looks on, after play is delayed because of weather. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee embraces his mother, Clara, after winning the championship. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

The golfers play the 27th hole which was the 9th hole in the morning round. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee and his caddie, Reid Smith, look over Lee's putt on the 34th hole. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee reacts as he sinks a putt on the 34th hole. This putt gave him the lead for good. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee mother, Clara, discusses the course with Brian Beck. Beck caddies at the Honors Course. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee hugs Noah Goodwin after Lee won the championship. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee hits his tee shot on the 32 hole of the championship match. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Noah Goodwin of Corinth, Texas hits his fourth shot on the 33rd hole of the match. Goodwin put his second shot in the water. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Noah Goodwin of Corinth, Texas reacts to missing a eagle putt on the 29th hole of the match. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Noah Goodwin of Corinth, Texas hits his tee shot on the 32nd hole of the match. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee hits his drive on the 21st hole of the afternoon match. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Noah Gatewood of Corinth, Texas watches his shot out of the brush fall short on the 22nd hole. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

The gallery follows Noah Goodwin of Corinth, Texas down the fairway of the 19th hole of afternoon match. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

Australia's Min Woo Lee is congratulated by his caddie, Reid Smith, after a chip shot that landed 3 1/2 feet from the 35th hole. In the background Lee's opponent, Noah Goodwin of Cornith, Texas claps. The final day of the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship was held at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Saturday July 23, 2016.

It may be a while before Min Woo Lee gets to return home to Australia. For that matter, even if he left today, it would still be quite a while before he got home because the flight is so long.

But whenever he gets there, he’ll be arriving with fond memories of his time in the Chattanooga area. And he has a big silver trophy to remind him.

Lee outlasted the other 155 entrants this week in the 69th U.S. Junior Amateur golf tournament, winning the title Saturday at The Honors Course in Ooltewah with a 2-and-1 win in match play over Noah Goodwin from Corinth, Texas.

After winning, Lee proclaimed the 7,000-yard-plus Pete Dye layout as “the best course I’ve ever played.” And he admitted the fact he had just won the most prestigious junior tournament in the world had something to do with his love for the track.

“It’s just great,” Lee said. “It’s a great match-play course. Just like the history behind it as well. It’s just a very good course. It’s challenging in every way.