Golf: Danny Lee eyes Tour spot

Danny Lee is on course for a spot on the US PGA Tour. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's No 1 golfer Danny Lee shot a nine-under par 62 to tie the course record and finish in a share of eighth place at the Mylan Classic in Pennsylvania on the Nationwide Tour today (NZ time).

Fellow Kiwi Tim Wilkinson also finished tied for eighth after a five-under 66 saw him finish 12 under par, five shots back from English winner Gary Christian.

But it was the rise of Lee, from a share of 45th place to inside the top 10, that was most impressive and all but secured his card for the PGA Tour next year.

Lee is currently 11th on the nationwide order of merit with seven tournaments left this year and the top 25 automatically qualify for the PGA Tour.

His superb final-round 62 included eight birdies, an eagle and a bogey as he backed up rounds of 73, 66 and 71 to earn NZD $21,000.

Wilkinson was also solid throughout for his best result on tour this year as the Manawatu pro had rounds of 70, 68, 68 and 66 as he climbed to 77th on the money list.

Tauranga pro Josh Geary dropped one place to 53rd on the order of merit after he finished in a share of 54th place.

Steven Alker missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 70 and Phil Tataurangi withdrew from the tournament after 14 holes.

Meanwhile, Michael Campbell had his best finish of the year with a tie for 25th at one of the European Tour signature events, the European Masters.

Campbell had rounds of 67, 71, 68 and 70 at the Crans Sur Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland to finish on eight-under par, 12 shots back from winner Thomas Bjorn.

The US Open champion of 2005, whose previous best finishes were a tie for 49th and a tie for 58th, earned $32,000.

Wellington pro Mark Brown finished in a share of 61st place with rounds of 69, 71, 73 and 71 for $9000.

In Japan, at the rain shortened Fujisankei Classic, Richard Lee had rounds of 75 and 70 to finish in a share of 23rd, while David Smail shot 73 and 75 to finish tied for 53rd.