“PRO” FILE – TOURING PROFESSIONAL ALISON LEE

She’s best known – so far – as being part of one of the most controversial acts in Solheim Cup history, rather than her play on the course. But LPGA star Alison Lee may be ready for a breakout year in 2016 that gives her notoriety for her game. As a junior player, Lee was one of the most successful players in history on the American Junior Golf Association circuit, winning nine times, along with representing the USA in such team competitions as the Junior Solheim Cup and Junior Ryder Cup, and also the Curtis Cup team of 2012. She played collegiate golf at UCLA, winning the Annika Award, given to the top collegiate female golfer, in 2014 after her freshman season. She played one more semester at UCLA before leaving school to turn pro, sharing medalist honors at LPGA Q-school. Although she didn’t win during her rookie year in 2015, she had six top-10 finishes and wound up 23rd on the money list. These feats were good enough to qualify her for the US Solheim Cup team. During the 17th hole in a match pitting her and Brittany Lincicome against Suzann Pettersen and Charlie Hull, Lee mistakenly picked up her ball, thinking her putt was conceded. It was, in fact, not conceded, and she and Lincicome went on to lose the match. Pettersen came under great scrutiny for alleged poor sportsmanship, and Lee became famous not for her golf, but for a gaffe. Lee currently resides in Valencia, California.