Rotorua's Danny Lee makes history with win

Rotorua's Danny Lee has become the youngest player in 108 years to win the US Amateur golf final.

The New Zealand and world ranked No 1 amateur beat American Drew Kittleson 5 and 4 in the 108th final which was played out at Pinehurst No 2, in North Carolina this morning.

The course has been kind to Kiwis in recent times with Michael Campbell winning the US Open at the same venue in 2005.

Lee's victory is the most significant in New Zealand golfing history since then.

It would rank just behind the dual major victories of professionals Campbell (US Open) and Bob Charles (British Open) and Craig Perks' win at the Players Championships.

The 18-year-old has surpassed none other than Tiger Woods by six months to become the youngest winner of the US Amateur title.

Lee is the first New Zealander and just the ninth foreign-born player to win the gold Havemeyer Cup which is presented to the US Amateur winner. He is expected to be swamped with offers from management companies who will want the marketable Korean-born teenager on their books when he turns professional some time next year.

His Rotorua-based family had taken in the action on the internet, rising at 2am and following every update on the live scoring feed.



"We are very excited," said Lee's 16-year-old brother Ben who did the speaking while parents Sam and Su Jin reflected.



They had moved their family to New Zealand about nine years ago to give their eldest an opportunity to play golf. The Rotorua Boys' High School student and Springfield Golf Club member hasn't looked back. Lee had been in dominant form on his march to the final. His closest match came Saturday when he battled a shoulder injury during his 3 and 2 semifinal victory over Patrick Reed. Previously he won 7 and 6, 5 and 4, and 4 and 3, twice. These efforts all came just a day after he finished in the top 20 of the Wyndham Championship on the USPGA Tour.

Lee seemingly had a stranglehold on the amateur title when he rolled in a 10 foot par putt to lead the American 5up after this morning's opening 18 holes. Lee was described as smiling when he walked off the 18th green, already a trip to both the 2009 Masters and US Open in hand. Lee said prior to the final he would remain an amateur to play both professional events.



"I'm definitely staying an amateur, said Lee. There is no way I'm going to turn pro and not play in the Masters and US Open. Playing in those major tournaments has always been part of my dream. I think it will be a great experience for me."



The 18-year-old Bay of Plenty representative had struggled initially during the final.

He lost the first and fourth holes before rallying with wins on the seventh and ninth. He really got into his work on the closing nine holes, birdying the four of the first six holes to head out to a 5up margin.

However, after Lee extended to 6up when Kittleson bogeyed the second, the American hit a purple patch which included a eagle two on the 404 yard par four 7th hole and two other birdies as he closed to 2down with 11 holes remaining. Both then birdied the next hole to keep the margin intact before Lee replied with a patch of his own.

He birdied the 175yard par 3 9th and 605yard par five 10th to move to 4up with eight to play.

He birdied the 468-yard par four 14th to wrap up the win.