City slickers turn clock back
Apr 23 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal
SIMON Lee, The Journal Champion of Champions, has helped the City of Newcastle club turn back the clock.
Lee and fellow Northumberland player Phil Ridden won the Northumberland and Durham Inter County Foursomes at South Shields and that was the first time City had won the trophy for 44 years, having captured it eight times in the previous 35 years.
The 24-year-old Lee, an England international from Chapel Park, has hit a purple patch right at the beginning of his first season at City after moving from Newcastle United. This latest victory was his third in three weeks, following triumphs in the North & South at Tynemouth and the postponed 2008 Champions at Slaley Hall. Lee’s decision to turn pro follows a similar move by another Northumberland team-mate, Hexham’s Philip Waugh, a former country strokeplay champion.
But whereas Waugh is joining the paid ranks on May 6 and is playing the Europro Tour this summer, Lee hopes to scrape together the £3,000 he needs for a shot at European Tour qualifying school in the winter. Lee, one of the nicest guys in golf, works in the club shop at City and spent last winter honing his swing with the help of the club pro Steve McKenna, a former Lytham Trophy winner.
“I have been leaving and leaving the decision as long as possible,” said Lee. “But I feel the time is right now. I shall be 25 by the time I turn professional and 29 by the time I have done my four-year PGA apprenticeship with Steve.
“I shall need the PGA qualification behind me if I don’t make it as a Tour pro, but I feel as if my game is just about there now in terms of maybe competing at that level. But I shall just see how it goes.”
Over 40 members from the City club supported their team at South Shields and Lee said: “Seeing everyone there cheering us on gave us a massive advantage over Seaham in the final.
“It gave us a really big lift, especially towards the end when it got a bit tight, and I’m chuffed to bits for everyone at my new club. I’m loving it at City.”
