Golf: Lee strides into third round

New Zealand golfing sensation Danny Lee. Photo / Getty Images.

Amateur golf star Danny Lee has lived up to his own expectations by making the halfway cut at the New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater here today.

The 18-year-old US Amateur champion did it comfortably, too, a second round of five-under-par 67 giving him a tournament card of six-under 138, three strokes inside the cut line.

He heads into the weekend in a share of 13th place, just three shots behind the leading trio of New Zealand left-hander Gareth Paddison, American surprise package Josh Teater and Australian Kurt Barnes - and primed to launch a challenge for his second title in two weeks.

Last month's Johnnie Walker Classic champion followed up that success by missing the cut at the Moonah Classic near Melbourne last week, something he did not want to repeat here in his eighth appearance in a professional tournament since last August.

"I had just been hoping not to miss the cut again," he said after a fine round containing one eagle, four birdies and a lone bogey.

"I had lots of birdie chances today but I missed quite a few of them."

It was easy to tell where Lee was on the 6513m course on the outskirts of Christchurch. His location could be found by the large galleries which followed his every move.

Playing in the company of Australian veteran Peter O'Malley and American Ryan Armour, Lee said he appreciated the support.

"I could hear it and feel it," he said.

"When Peter or Ryan holed a putt they clapped, but when I did they went crazy. It was great."

Having gone cold with his putter yesterday when posting a 71, Lee made a fast start today with an eagle three at the 521m second hole.

"I bombed my drive and bombed a three wood to near the front of the green then chipped in with a 60 degree wedge," he said, making it sound as simple as A, B, C.

Lee, the first amateur allowed to enter the championship since it was relaunched in 2004, is using this tournament and next week's New Zealand Open near Queenstown to help prepare him for an imminent switch to the professional ranks.

He intends making the change after next month's Masters in the United States, where he will be paired with world No 1 Tiger Woods in the opening two rounds.

He earned that right by virtue of his success at the US Amateur last August, and has since underlined his extraordinary pedigree with a series of composed performances among the professionals.

- NZPA