Danny Lee through to Western semi-finals

BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2008 Western Amateur Championship | Quarter-Finals | 03 Aug 2008

New Zealand’s Danny Lee continues with his winning form at the Western Amateur in Michigan with dual wins in his opening matchplay encounters. The world number 2 will meet American Conrad Shindler in Sunday’s semifinal, whilst another international Victor Dubuisson from France will play Erik Flores.

Lee qualified the top seed in the 16 player elimination matchplay section after taking medalist honors with a 72-hole total of 12-under-par, three stroke ahead of American Erik Flores. It was Lee’s first US major amateur title and his second international victory after the Lake Macquarie Amateur in January.

Lee defeated Daniel Woltman 1-up in the first-round of matchplay to set up a quarterfinal match against Morgan Hoffmann after Hoffmann defeated Philip Francis 1-up in their opening match.

Hoffmann last year won The Junior Players Championship with a 7-under-par total on the TPC Sawgrass – The Players Stadium Course. The 18-year-old American is currently ranked 45 in the world and is a relatively seasoned amateur given his age having played the 2006 British Amateur and in 2005 Hoffmann made it to the 3rd round match play in the US Amateur.

Lee won his match with Hoffmann comfortably 3&2 to progress to a semifinal encounter with Shindler who’s based at Texas State.

“I’m hitting the ball probably the best that I have,” said Lee

“My irons are good and I’m driving the ball straight since changing to a new driver. This morning’s matches were tough but I still feel strong and am really looking forward to tomorrow’s matches.”

Shindler is ranked 11 nationally in the American Junior Golf Association’s Polo rankings and has won two AJGA titles in 2006, the Smithfield Junior in Blairsville and the Stars of Texas Junior in Austin. He fired a career-best 65 at the Smithfield tournament, finishing with a 54-hole total of 199. He also finished second at the 2006 AJGA PING Invitational in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Whilst not as experienced as Lee, Shindler is regarded as a tenacious competitor and will be a real rest for Lee.

“This probably is the biggest tournament for me so far,” says Lee about the Western Amateur, ranked second in the world amateur tournaments.

“I’ve played a lot of junior golf and won the Lake Macquarie Amateur and winning the medal here was great, but this is my first chance to win a major championship in America. I’m excited about it and hopefully tomorrow I can keep it going.”