Lee S. James
Encyclopedia
Lee Scott James is an English
professional golfer.
James was born in Poole
, Dorset
. He won the 1994 Amateur Championship
with a 2 & 1 victory over Gordon Sherry
. He turned professional
the following year after the Walker Cup
, where he was part of the victories Great Britain and Ireland team.
Having been unsuccessful at gaining a place on the European Tour
via qualifying school
, James began his professional career on the second tier Challenge Tour
, picking up his first win at the 1996 1st Modena Classic Open. He finally graduated to the elite tour by finishing top of the 2002 Challenge Tour Rankings, with three wins during the season. He was unable to retain his tour card, and returned to the Challenge Tour in 2004.
16th place in the 2006 Challenge Tour Rankings followed by success at final qualifying school in 2007 gave James another two seasons at the top level, but both times he was unable to earn sufficient money to maintain his playing status. In 2009, he won his fifth Challenge Tour title at the Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional golfer.
James was born in Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. He won the 1994 Amateur Championship
The Amateur Championship
The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur...
with a 2 & 1 victory over Gordon Sherry
Gordon Sherry
Gordon Sherry is a Scottish professional golfer most recognised for winning The Amateur Championship in 1995.Sherry enjoyed his greatest moments as an amateur, winning The Amateur Championship, being a member of the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, and appearing in The Open...
. He turned professional
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
the following year after the Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
, where he was part of the victories Great Britain and Ireland team.
Having been unsuccessful at gaining a place on the European Tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
via qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
, James began his professional career on the second tier Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
, picking up his first win at the 1996 1st Modena Classic Open. He finally graduated to the elite tour by finishing top of the 2002 Challenge Tour Rankings, with three wins during the season. He was unable to retain his tour card, and returned to the Challenge Tour in 2004.
16th place in the 2006 Challenge Tour Rankings followed by success at final qualifying school in 2007 gave James another two seasons at the top level, but both times he was unable to earn sufficient money to maintain his playing status. In 2009, he won his fifth Challenge Tour title at the Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne.
Challenge Tour wins (5)
- 1996 1st Modena Classic Open
- 2002 Kenya OpenKenya OpenThe Kenya Open is a golf tournament in Kenya and has been an event on the European based Challenge Tour schedule since 1991. It was founded in 1967, and has been held at Muthaiga Golf Club near Nairobi every year except 1968 and between 2004 and 2008, when the tournament was held at Karen Country...
, Luxembourg OpenLuxembourg Open (golf)The Luxembourg Open was a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour. It was played annually at Kikuoka Country Club in Luxembourg from 1999 to 2003.-Winners:-External links:*...
, Talma Finnish ChallengeTalma Finnish ChallengeThe Talma Finnish Challenge was a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour between 2001 and 2003. It was played annually at Golf Talma in Sipoo, Finland.-Winners:-External links:*... - 2009 Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne
Other wins (5)
- 1996 Futures Tour Championship
- 1998 Futures Tour Championship, Northern Open (Scotland)
- 1999 Celtic Manor Resort Championship, Hawkstone Park Championship (both MasterCard Tour)
Team appearances
- St Andrews TrophySt Andrews TrophyThe St Andrews Trophy is a biennial men's team golf tournament contested between teams of amateur golfers representing Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe. It takes its name from St Andrews in Scotland, which is colloquially known as the "Home of Golf". The competition was founded in...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1994 (winners) - Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1994 (runners-up) - Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1995 (winners)
See also
- 2007 European Tour Qualifying School graduates2007 European Tour Qualifying School graduatesThis is a list of the 32 players who earned their 2009 European Tour card through Q School in 2008.*Players in yellow were 2008 European Tour rookies.-2008 Results:T = Tied...
- List of golfers with most Challenge Tour wins