South Korean golfer Lee Dong-hwan became the first Asian to finish in sole possession of first place at the PGA Tour’s qualifying tournament on Tuesday, Korean time.

Lee, 25, shot a six-round total of 25-under 407 at the par-72 TPC Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta, California, to claim the medalist honors. He shot a five-under 67 in the final round with eight birdies and three bogeys.

In 1992, Masahiro Kuramoto of Japan tied four others at the top of the qualifying tournament, but Lee is the first Asian to finish first alone.

Lee was among 26 players who earned full-time playing privileges on the PGA Tour for next season. The qualifying tournament, simply called the Q-School, is regarded as one of the most grueling tests in men’s golf. The top 25 players and ties receive PGA Tour cards for the following year, while the next 50 and ties will earn rights to play on a second-tier circuit, called the Web.com Tour.

This year’s Q-School was held on the TPC Stadium Course, a 7,300-yard layout, and the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, 7,204 yards long, both at PGA West. Lee played his first, fourth and sixth rounds at TPC, and the others at Jack Nicklaus.

He said his initial goal was simply to get to the final stage of the Q-School and was “pleasantly surprised” himself that he earned the medalist honors.

“My first goal is to finish inside the top-125 on the money list and retain my tour card for 2014,” Lee said. “I’d also like to win a tournament and get the Rookie of the Year award.”

Lee said he averages about 285 yards off the tee and acknowledged he will have to get longer to compete on the PGA Tour.

“Since there will be a lot of traveling, I will also improve my conditioning,” Lee added.

Ross Fisher of England and Steve LeBrun of the U.S. each finished a stroke behind Lee.

A former rookie of the year on the Japanese men’s tour, Lee began the final round three strokes back of leader Steven Bowditch, but leapfrogged over the Australian and four others to finish at the top of the leaderboard.

Lee said his Q-School almost came undone during the second round, when he bogeyed three of the final four holes en route to a 72 that could well have been lower.

“I couldn’t control my emotions and had a clash with my caddie,” Lee said. “But we talked things over and we were able to close things out on a better note.”

Lee is joined by Kim Si-woo, a high school sophomore who, at 17 years, five months and six days, became the youngest golfer to pass the Q-School.

Ty Tryon, a former American prodigy, held the previous record at 17 years, six months and one day, when he made it through the qualifying tournament in 2001.

Kim, though, won’t be granted his full membership until he turns 18 on June 28.

Under the tour regulations, non-members can play up to 12 tournaments a year. If Kim were to make cuts at tournaments and make money, it would not count as official until after his 18th birthday.

Among Korean-American players, Richard Lee finished in a tie for fourth at 23-under, and Park Jin was another shot behind in a tied for seventh. Park is returning to the PGA Tour for the first time since 2008.

The South Korean contingent for next year will be: Choi Kyoung-ju, Yang Yong-eun, Noh Seung-yul, Bae Sang-moon, Lee Dong-hwan and Kim Si-woo. Korean-Americans will be John Huh, Charlie Wi, Kevin Na, Richard Lee and Park Jin.

Kim Meen-whee, a double gold medalist for South Korea at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, led after three rounds, but ended in a tie for 43rd to reach Web.com Tour. Kim, 20, shot his last three rounds in the 70s. 

(Yonhap News)