By Mahal Pearce

Tom Lee (Otago Golf Club) has once again had a very impressive year taking out the Vardon Trophy
as the leading Otago player for 2022.

Tom played 10 Otago Order of Merit events, which included 8 top 5 finishes.

Tom started the year off well finishing as the 2nd Otago player in the Southland Stroke Play,
followed up by 4th at the Otago Stroke Play before going on to be the leading Otago player at both
the Canterbury Stroke Play and Taieri Classic. Tom came 3rd equal at the Dunedin Stroke Play at St Clair Golf Club, just 1 shot behind winner Phil Bungard. Tom finished as the leading Otago player at
the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship held at Christchurch Golf Club.

Coming out of winter, Tom played in the Queensland Championship at Coolangatta and Tweed
Heads Golf Course on the Gold Coast, after which he flew back into Christchurch and on the same
night drove back to Dunedin to play in the Chisholm Links Open that morning where he finished
tied 2nd just 2 shots behind winner Inia Logan.

Tom made it through to the quarter finals of the New Zealand Amateur held at the Otago Golf Club where he narrowly lost on the last hole to the eventual winner Jasper Stubbs of Australia.

Tom also finished 9th in the New Zealand Order of Merit show casing his skill
at national level events.

A very impressive year for Tom as he also looked to finish Med School and graduated as a doctor.

Lee adds his name to an impressive list of players that have won the
Vardon the likes of Clark, Conlon, Kennelly, Giles and McEwean.

Final top 10 Order of Merit Standings for 2022
1. Tom Lee
2. Phil Bungard
3. Parker Aluesi
4. Brandon Hodgson
5. Inia Logan
6. Benjamin Patston
7. William Mclauchlan
8. Hamish Ireland
9. Ryan Shuttleworth
10. Jacob Bellamy