U.S. Amateur champion Lee wins Georgia Cup

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. (AP) -- U.S. Amateur champion Danny Lee of New Zealand tuned up for the Masters on Tuesday by beating British Amateur champion Reiner Saxton in the 12th annual Georgia Cup between the winners of golf's two oldest amateur championships.

Lee

Lee, 18, who became the youngest U.S. Amateur champion in history, built a 2-up lead at the turn and closed out Saxton with a par on the 17th hole for a 2-and-1 victory at The Golf Club of Georgia.

Lee plans to turn pro after the Masters next week. A native of South Korea, he won the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia last month on the European Tour, beating a field that included Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas.

"The course was fantastic," Lee said. "I think it will be great preparation for the Masters, playing greens this fast."

Saxton, a 21-year-old from The Netherlands who also will play at Augusta National next week, plans to turn pro in the summer.

Lee took control with a 3-wood from the rough that carried 250 yards over a bunker to within 15 feet, setting up a two-putt birdie on the ninth hole for a 2-up lead. Saxton birdied the 10th hole, but hit his next tee shot out-of-bounds and never got any closer.