Kiwi whiz-kid Lee misses Open in playoff
BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2008 British Open | General | 01 Jul 2008
Teenage star Danny Lee came within a whisker of qualifying for the British Open amid esteemed company in the international qualifying event in USA today.
Lee, 17, fired a five-under 139 to finish in a tie for seventh place at TPC, Michigan with four players in one of two final US qualifying events for the Open.
With seven places up for grabs, Lee went out on the first playoff hole when American Thomas Gillis made a birdie to claim the last spot.
Lee earned a place in the final qualifying with his top-five world amateur ranking and managed to beat off the likes of major winner Steve Elkington and US Tour winners Jason Gore, John Senden and Sweden’s Daniel Chopra.
The young kiwi, the only amateur in the field, managed five birdies without blemish in his first round 67 and shot an even par 72 in the second round, which disappointed the young Rotorua player.
“I was disappointed not to qualify,” Lee said. “I missed two short birdie putts over the final few holes that I should never have missed. That would have got me through so I am not happy with myself.”
New Zealand Golf High Performance manager David Graham said Lee was tracking well this year and he was delighted with his form this week.
“Danny expects so much of himself and he was definitely not fazed with the opposition today. He goes out to win everything he enters.”
“We are rapt with his performance in such a talented field. We are very proud of him and I am sure he will have continued to turn some heads there this week.”
Lee will take a week off before the Southern Amateur with his major targets the US Amateur and the Eisenhower Trophy world championship later in the year.
Source – NZGA
