Rookie sensation Min Woo Lee has taken another significant step towards securing full status on the European Tour after logging his fourth top-20 finish of the season at the Volvo China Open in Shenzhen.

Weekend rounds of 65-66 gave Finland’s Mikko Korhonen the momentum he needed to best France’s Benjamin Hebert in a playoff for the second European Tour title of his career with Spain’s Jorge Campillo a shot further back in outright third.

Using one of the seven sponsor exemptions at his disposal to play in China, Lee’s tie for 14th and cheque for €37,547 moves him a step closer to earning the prize money he needs in order to receive unlimited invitations for the remainder of the year.

Sitting 51st in the Race to Dubai standings, a top-10 finish at Genzon Golf Club could have earned the 21-year-old a place in the field for this week’s British Masters.

He began the final round in a tie for eighth but struggled to build momentum in the middle of his round, making 10 straight pars from the 8th hole before a birdie at the last for a final round of 2-under 70.

The West Australian may now be forced to seek another sponsor’s invitation in order to tee it up in the British Masters at Hillside Golf Club worth £3,000,000.

While Lee dropped back slightly in the pack on Sunday, Lismore’s Sam Brazel made a significant leap up the leaderboard.

A bogey-free 6-under 66 – the equal second best score of the day – vaulted Brazel up 25 places on the leaderboard and into a tie for 19th and up to 115th in the Race to Dubai.

West Australian Jason Scrivener remains in 32nd position on the order of merit thanks to a tie for 32nd in China while Zach Murray made a strong impression in his first European Tour event outside of Australia, tied for 30th before a final round of 76 saw him fall 30 spots on Sunday.

Wade Ormsby and Scott Hend were the other two Australians to play all four rounds.

Despite an encouraging start of 2-under 70 in the first round of the European Challenge Tour’s Challenge de Espana Ben Eccles, the sole Australian in the field, missed the cut, as did New Zealand’s Josh Geary.

Sibling rivalry will be alive and well at the 2018 Oates Vic Open with the Lees preparing to make the trip across the Nullabor to Barwon Heads.

Australia’s number one female golfer Minjee Lee and younger brother Min Woo – the nation’s highest-ranked amateur – are locked in to tee it up at 13th Beach Golf Links for the second straight year.

As the current World Number 19, Minjee will likely be the highest-ranked professional in either the men’s or women’s fields, while Min Woo sits 14th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Min Woo showed a liking for 13th Beach last year after claiming Low Amateur honours with an outstanding T6 finish that also gave the 19-year-old something to remind his sister about back home.

“I definitely bragged about it for a bit!” Lee told Golf Victoria.

“It was the only tournament we played together since the junior days. So I have the upper hand right now and hopefully we can keep it like that!"

The elder Lee may have conceded defeat after a T36 result last year but Minjee already has one up on her brother, after winning the 2014 Oates Vic Open as an amateur at the age of 17.

Minjee is the only female to have claimed the title before turning pro and brother Min Woo will be looking to join Robert Allenby (1991) and Brad Lamb (2000) as just the third male amateur to win the Oates Vic Open.

“That would be amazing,” said Lee.

“We both won the US Junior and we were the first brother and sister to do that, so that was really cool. Definitely winning a pro tournament as an amateur, that’s another thing.

“I’ve played with most of these professional guys now in the starts I’ve gotten on the Aussie tour and at the Australian Open.

“I’m a much better player than last year so I’m hoping I can be near the top of the leaderboard again.”

Min Woo will enter the 2018 Oates Vic Open as the favourite to again finish as the men’s Low Amateur amongst a talented crop of Australia’s brightest young stars, including Victoria’s triumphant 2017 Interstate Series team.

“I had the lowest round of the day on Sunday, so I think when I finished I was pretty close to the lead until the leaders ran away with it,” said Lee.

“I enjoyed playing the course and I think I have an advantage with playing in the wind because Perth is pretty windy.“

The Oates Vic Open’s unique format – where men and women tee it up in alternating groups for equal prize money – will again provide the Lees an excuse for a family holiday of sorts.

“It’s awesome to play with the ladies to mix it up and generate a bit more excitement,” said Lee.

“I’m pretty sure the whole family is going to be there, I know Dad and my Mum and Grandma will come over and support us.

“It’s good to have the family back together. We don’t get that much time together so it’s good to get us all there and have kind of like a holiday because the whole year, it’s pretty much just golf.”

The Hon. John Eren MP, Victoria’s Minister for Sport, is looking forward to welcoming the West Australian siblings to the state.

“Having Australia’s number one female golfer Minjee Lee and younger brother Min Woo compete together is sure to inspire more people and more families to get active,” said Minister Eren.

“The Andrews Labor Government is working hard to keep our status as Australia’s home of golf – we’ve already locked in the Presidents Cup in 2019 and the Australian Open in 2020 and 2022.”

City of Greater Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood says the inclusion of the Lees for 2018 will further strengthen the men’s and women’s fields.

“The City is proud to sponsor the 2018 Oates Vic Open and the inclusion of Minjee Lee and her brother Min Woo in an already high-quality field further ensure a memorable four days of golf,” said Mayor Harwood.

“If you love the sport, or just want to experience a world class event in one of our region’s most spectacular locations, make sure you get along to this year’s Oates Vic Open.”

Western Australia has long been a breeding ground for Australian golfing talent and the next wave will be on display at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February.

Amateur Min Woo Lee will tee up in the dynamic tournament thanks to an invite to the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour tri-sanctioned event.

Branded as one of the rising stars of Australian golf, 19-year-old Lee made his debut on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in 2014 but generated his best results last year with tied 6^th finishes at the Oates Vic Open and NSW Open. His year was also highlighted by playing alongside World Number 2 Jordan Spieth in the third round of the Emirates Australian Open.

Ranked 21^st in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Lee is delighted to be provided the opportunity to play in his home state’s largest professional golf tournament.

“I am pumped! This is such a fantastic opportunity and I would like to thank the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia for the invite. Each time I am lucky enough to play in a professional tournament it’s a learning opportunity that helps me become the quality of player I am aiming for,” said Lee.

“Last year I watched the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and I thought the format was really fun. Since then I have been hoping that I would get the chance to play so I am really excited.”

“I am very thankful to receive great support from the West Australian golf community and I look forward to playing in our state’s largest tournament.

Familiar with Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Lee will have an advantage over his ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth competitors as he plays the Australian Amateur Championship later this month on the layout.

Following 36 holes of stroke play, at the Australian Amateur Championship, the top-64 players will qualify for the match play rounds, affording Lee an excellent opportunity to develop a strategy for the six holes to be utilised during the Super 6 matches.

“I know Lake Karrinyup Country Club very well and have a game plan in place for the course,” said Lee.

“But the Aussie Amateur will be good preparation for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, playing the layout in tournament conditions and under the pressure of match play, if I make the top-64.

“I will be paying particular note to the Super 6 match play holes and working out some tactics that will hopefully help me if I qualify for the Sunday match play.”

Lee becomes the latest addition to the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth field after the marquee players; Tyrrell Hatton, Lee Westwood, Danny Willett and defending champion Brett Rumford were announced.

“We are delighted to invite Min Woo Lee to compete in the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which oversees the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“We believe that it is important to give up and coming Australian amateur talent the opportunity to compete in ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments as part of their preparations for a successful career when they make the decision to turn Professional.

“Min Woo is an exceptional talent and can hit the ball an incredible distance. The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth is a great opportunity for Australian sports fans to see a future star in action.”

For just a $25* general admission fans can watch Min Woo Lee, Danny Willett, Brett Rumford, Tyrrell Hatton and Lee Westwood in action in the innovative ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. While children aged 16 years and under enter free of charge.

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com.au.

Corporate hospitality options are available including the popular West Cape Howe Wines Terrace and BDO Super Suite.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth event is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA.