Journey Of Serenity

Sneak Peek: This article will appear in the May 20 issue of Global Golf Post.

On May 2, Philip Lee of Knoxville, Tenn., overcame a four-shot deficit in the final round and captured the Carlton Woods Invitational, his first big win on the national mid-amateur stage.

But he has overcome so much more.

Golf is an adjunct to Lee’s life, a footnote to a story of redemption and renewal.

Lee, 33, posted a stellar 5-under-par 67 in the final round at the Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, to clinch the title. Playing in the penultimate group, Lee eagled the eighth hole, and after making birdies on 13 and 14, he had a hunch he was in the hunt, despite not looking at scoreboards. Relying on his iron play, which is the strength of his game, he hit the ball to the fat parts of the greens for the rest of the round, making pars all the way in to beat defending champion Joe Deraney by one shot. Deraney eagled the final hole to narrow the margin. But this one was Lee’s all the way.

Lee’s golf story is not unique. As an 11-ye...