Golf: Lee gets top three finish

Danny Lee. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand golfer Danny Lee's purple patch of form on the Nationwide Tour continues.

Lee today secured his third consecutive top 10 finish on the second-tier United States tour, scorching home with a final round six-under par 65 to earn solo third at the $US600,000 ($NZ754,000) BMW Charity Pro-Am in Carolina.

The 20-year-old 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic champion started the final round six shots off the pace but quickly made up ground, turning in five-under par 30 after five birdies on his front nine.

Two more birdies on the back nine took him to a share of the lead at 18-under par but a bogey at the par-five 16th hole -- the same hole that he made a triple bogey on in his third round yesterday -- proved costly as he slipped out of a potential three-way playoff with South African Garth Mulroy and South Korea's Sunhoon Kang, who both posted 18-under totals of 268.

Mulroy went on to win the tournament at the first playoff hole, while Lee's 17-under total of 269 will see him solidify his current place inside the Nationwide Tour's top 25. He was 23rd heading into the tournament.

The top 25 at season's end automatically earn for a PGA Tour card next year.

For the week Lee was tied first in birdies and sand saves, and second in driving distance (308.1 yards) and putts per green in regulation, but he struggled with accuracy off the tee and he dropped more shots than he would have liked.

Of the other New Zealanders, Brad Iles dropped 14 places to a share of 38th after an even-par 71 today left him at 10-under while left-hander Tim Wilkinson shot a 72 to be two shots further back in a share of 48th.

Josh Geary and Steve Alker both missed the third round cut.

Leading scores:

268 - Garth Mulroy (South Africa) 65 66 70 67*, Sunghoon Kang (South Korea) 67 63 69 69
269 - DANNY LEE (NZ) 68 66 70 65
270 - Roberto Castro 65 71 69 65, BJ Slaten 68 72 66 64, Andrew Buckle (Australia) 74 68 63 65, Will MacKenzie 64 69 71 66, Brent Delahoussaye 70 67 64 69, Travis Hampshire 60 68 70 72
271 - Cliff Kresge 68 66 69 68, Brendon Todd 64 67 70 70

Also
276 - BRAD ILES (NZ) 69 68 68 71
278 - TIM WILKINSON (NZ) 70 67 69 72

- NZPA