After a long and frustrating seven-year hiatus, Richard T. Lee has finally claimed his third victory on the Asian Tour with an impressive four-shot wire-to-wire win at the BNI Indonesian Masters. Lee’s remarkable performance at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club featured a final round of two-under-par 70, culminating in a phenomenal four-round total of 23-under par.

Since his last victory at the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open, Lee has faced numerous opportunities to win again. His relief was palpable as he emerged victorious against a strong field. Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai finished in a tie for second, both carding impressive 64s, while Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent secured fourth place with a score of 67.

Starting the day with a commanding six-shot lead, Lee maintained control throughout the final round, even after a weather delay of over an hour. However, a double-bogey on the 16th hole—where he struggled to escape from a greenside bunker and missed a crucial six-foot putt—momentarily rattled him, narrowing his lead to just four shots over Chang, who was already in the clubhouse. Nevertheless, Lee regained his composure, sinking a crucial five-foot par putt on the 17th and closing out his round with another par on the 18th.”It’s been a while,” Lee expressed joyfully after his victory. “The last one was in 2017 at one of my favorite courses, and this is another course I love. I had a good finish here last year and felt I could win it this time.”

Lee attributed his success to a recent switch in putters, which he made just three weeks prior. “It’s really working,” he said. “It has built my confidence, and I believe that if I maintain this level of putting, I will perform well in the upcoming events.”This victory is a testament to Lee’s ongoing form, following a second-place finish at the International Series Thailand, a joint ninth at the Black Mountain Championship, and an equal 10th at the Yeangder TPC. With eight top-15 finishes in 11 starts this season, he is now a serious contender in the race for the International Series Rankings, which offer a spot in the next season’s LIV Golf League.

Lee’s journey in professional golf has been a long one, beginning when he played in the 2007 US Open as a 16-year-old. After turning professional following that tournament, he made his mark on the Asian Tour in 2013, finishing second at Qualifying School before claiming his first victory at the Solaire Open in the Philippines the following year.This season has seen a competitive edge, with Lee becoming the fourth player to win from start to finish. American John Catlin currently leads both the International Series Rankings and the Asian Tour Order of Merit after closing with a 69 at this event.

Lee’s Malaysian caddie, Eddy, enjoyed a double celebration, as his brother Agus caddied for Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po, who won last weekend’s International Series Thailand. Both Chang and Phachara experienced their best performances of the season, with Chang moving up significantly on the Asian Tour Merit list.

As the Asian Tour heads toward the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open on November 17, Lee’s victory adds excitement to the remaining events of the season. With four tournaments left in the Asian Tour and three in the International Series, all eyes will be on Lee as he looks to defend his title and maintain his winning momentum.