Golf: Lee finds form in the States

New Zealand golf No 1 Danny Lee has found some form at the Albertsons Boise Open on the web.com Tour in Idaho. Photo / Getty Images.

New Zealand golf No 1 Danny Lee has found some form at the Albertsons Boise Open on the web.com Tour in Idaho.

The 21-year-old, who missed out on the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs and will have to fight for his PGA Tour card in the Fall Series, has carded a five-under par 66 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Boise today (Fri NZT) to be in a share of ninth place.

Lee will begin round two four shots back from the Americans Michael Putnam and Andrew Svoboda and South African Tyrone Van Aswegen who opened with rounds of nine-under par 62.

The former United States amateur champion is currently in 230th place on the web.com Tour's Order of Merit after three events.

He would need to win and record a series of other good results to have a chance of finishing inside the top 25 to secure his PGA Tour card for 2013.

However, it is through his position on the PGA Tour that provides the best chance for him to retain his card. He currently sits at 159th on the Order of Merit and needs to climb inside the top 125 from the four Fall Series events to retain his card.

Lee made birdies on holes three and four to make the turn in two under. He added five birdies, including three in a row after the turn, and two bogeys to come home in 32 and sign for a 66.

Hamilton professional Steve Alker and Manawatu professional Tim Wilkinson have fired rounds of two-under par 69 to be in a share of 57th place.

Alker and Wilkinson are in 81st and 66th position on the web.com Tour's money list and need good results to advance to the PGA Tour by finishing inside the top 25.

On the Japan Golf Tour, David Smail has carded a two under par 70 to be in a share of 35th place after round one of the ANA Open.

Smail, who is currently in 59th place on the Tour's money list, needs to finish inside the top 70 to keep his card for the 2013 season.

The Hamilton pro made two birdies on the front nine to be two under at the turn and then added a bogey and a birdie coming home to sign for a 70.

He will begin round two five shots back from Japan's Tetsuji Hiratsuka who opened with a seven-under par 65.

Auckland professional Richard Lee opened with an even-par 72 to be tied 77th and in danger of missing the cut.

Lee is in 100th place on the Order of Merit and he needs to climb 30 places to keep his card in 2013.