KEY POINTS:
New Zealand golfer Danny Lee will delay his switch to the professional ranks to take advantage of opportunities created by his hot run of form in the United States.
Lee, 18, enters the US Amateur championship final at Pinehurst in North Carolina tomorrow determined to make the most of the doors that are quickly opening for him.
His 3 and 2 semifinal win over American Patrick Reed today gained him a full exemption for the 2009 US Open and a likely invitation to next year's Masters.
More success in tomorrow's final - against another American in 19-year-old Drew Kittleson - would see Lee become the youngest US Amateur champion since the tournament started in 1895 as well as earning him a start in another of next year's majors, the British Open.
But confirmed starts in three of the 2009 majors is dependent on Lee retaining his amateur status, something he today said he would do.
He reached his decision after speaking to his parents back home in Rotorua.
"My mother was crying about how I make it into the final and she was really, really happy, And so was my dad," Lee told the USGA website.
"Playing in those great major tournaments, that's always been my dream. I think it's going to be a great experience for me."
Having turned 18 last month, Lee is six months younger than Tiger Woods when he won the first of his three successive US Amateur titles in 1994.
Lee this month also won the prestigious Western Amateur in the US before taking up a sponsor's invitation to make his debut on the PGA Tour, stunning observers by finishing in a share of 20th in the Wyndham Championship.
His original plan was to seek his pro card at the tour's qualifying school towards the end of this year.
He has been in imperious form at Pinehurst, and has yet to be taken to the 17th tee through five rounds of matchplay.
He has lost just nine holes through five matches and has not trailed since the first hole of his second-round encounter.
"I'm just having a really, really good week," he said.
"Everything I hit, everything I putt just falls into the hole and it's just amazing."
Lee again battled a sore shoulder in today's semifinal, clearly favouring the left shoulder he damaged on the driving range yesterday.
"I think it's just a muscle that got a little bruised."
Lee made a long birdie putt at the par-four third hole to take the early advantage, and extended his lead to two holes when Kittleson bogeyed the seventh.
The lead dropped to one hole after a bogey at the 13th before Reed missed an opportunity with a poor approach at the next hole after Lee was forced to lay up.
Lee then pounced with a brilliant downhill birdie putt at the par-three 15th before closing out the match with an excellent par at the 16th after Reed missed the green and could not get up and down.
"He played very solid, very steady, and he did a great performance again," Reed said of Lee.
"I mean, he's kept it for a couple weeks straight, and he's a great player."
Kittleson won his semifinal 4 and 2 over Adam Mitchell, another American.
- NZPA