Danny Lee through to final of US Amateur

BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2008 US Amateur Championship | Semi-Finals | 24 Aug 2008

Danny Lee is one match from claiming the Havemeyer Trophy and becoming the youngest ever winner of the US Amateur. The world number one disposed of Partick Reed 3&2 in their semi-final and will face Drew Kittleson of Scottsdale in Sunday’s 36-hole final.

Kittleson, who has moved to 71 in the world this week, defeated Adam Mitchell 4&2 to make the final.

Their semi-final victories have already secured them both a berth in the US Open and the top two finishers at the US Amateur also traditionally receive an invitation to the Masters.

“That was a real bonus,” said Lee about securing his berth in the US Open and possibly The Masters.

“I’ve dreamed about playing in majors and it’s a great opportunity for me. Everything lately has been good, my game, my results and I’ll just see if I can win tomorrow”.

Lee showed no signs during today’s match of the niggling shoulder injury he occasioned on the range yesterday, as he adopted his customary aggressive opening attack on Pinehurst’s No.2 layout. Lee never trailed in his match against Reed and came out of the box quicker than a prized greyhound to birdie the third hole to put him 1 up and he went 2 up when Reed missed his short par putt at the seventh.

He went 2 up on the par-3 15th when he made a 20-footer for birdie and then closed out the match with a par on 16. During this week’s championship Lee has trailed only once in his five matches, and that was for only one hole. He has yet to play the 17th or 18th hole in match play.

“I’m driving the ball well and hitting my irons close,” said Lee, who earlier this month won the Western Amateur and last week tied for 20th at the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship where he played on a sponsor exemption.

“This has been a great few months and it’s just getting better with the way I’m playing this week. The ball is going where I want it to go and I’m feeling great about my game.”

It’s been a dream run of late for Lee, who is playing in his third US Amateur. This season the 18-year-old has secured four top-10 finishes in US major amateur tournaments from five starts, including winning the Western Amateur and securing the world’s top ranked position from American Rickie Fowler after taking the medallist honours at the Western Amateur.

Lee also secured the William C. Campbell Award following the Porter Cup, a prize given to the player to record the low aggregate score in the Northeast Amateur, Players Amateur and Porter Cup.

Kittleson, 19, on the other hand has experienced his share of upsets.

Last year, the former AJGA All-American didn’t even make it to the US Amateur, losing on the first hole of a playoff in his qualifier. At this year’s qualifier, Kittleson birdied his final hole in regulation to get into a playoff and then birdied the third playoff hole to advance.

The American’s achievements to date include a T2 finish at the 2007 Northeast Amateur and a 4th at the 2007 Southern Amateur. Kittleson, who’s under the tutelage of Butch Harmon and plays out of Florida State, is yet to claim a major amateur title in the US, however is regarded as a steely competitor.

Adversity came at a young age for Kittleson when at 13 his mother passed away from cancer. Since then he’s focused on his golf, determined and dedicated to succeed.

Both Lee and Kittleson have a lot at stake at this championship.

Lee is trying to become the youngest player ever to win the US Amateur title. At 18 years, 1 month, he would top Tiger Woods, who was 18 years, 7 months, when he won the first of his three consecutive US Amateur titles in 1994.

Kittleson, well he just wants to put the past away and focus upon the future.