Danny Lee qualifies for US Amateur
IN: News | US Mens Amateur | US Amateur Championship (2008) | General | by Anthony Powter | 05 Aug 2008
World number one Danny Lee overcame a heavy playing schedule and sweltering conditions to take the top qualification spot with an 11-under-par total in the US Amateur Qualifier this morning at Piper Glen Golf Club in Springfield, Illinois.
Lee having already played a total of eight rounds the previous five days after winning the Western Amateur in Michigan, came out all guns blazing during the 36-hole qualification.
Lee’s uncle and caddie, Rambert Sim, drove his nephew from Michigan to Springfield late Sunday night following the winning ceremony at the Western Amateur. They had stopped at Piper Glen one week before to play a few holes and have a brief look at the layout.
The New Zealander fired rounds of 5-under-par 67 and 6-under-par 66, his second round setting a tournament single-round record at Piper Glen.
Lee will justifiably take a few days break before preparing for his third US Amateur. In last year’s championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Lee finished a creditable T35.
The last fortnight caps off some wonderful performances for the 18-year-old including winning the Western Amateur, securing the world’s top ranked position from American Rickie Fowler after taking the medallist honours at the Western Amateur last Friday, as well as winning the William C.Campbell Award following the Porter Cup. A prize given to the player who records the low aggregate score in the Northeast Amateur, Players Amateur and Porter Cup.
The US Amateur commences next week at the Pinehurst Club in North Carolina, the course where fellow New Zealander Michael Campbell won the US Open in 2005.
With the form Lee continues to show in the US, he would have to be considered one of the favourites at this year’s US Amateur and fellow New Zealanders back home will be hoping the historic Pinehurst layout delivers another victory to one of their countryman.
