KEY POINTS:
New Zealand golfer Danny Lee's hot run of form has continued as he smoked his way into the US Amateur Championship.
After winning both the medal and championship honours at the prestigious Western Amateur, Lee fired an 11-under par 133 to top qualifiers at the Piper Glen GC in Illinois.
Lee, 18, finished five shots clear of the second qualifier to ensure he will start in the US Amateur scheduled for the renowned Pinehurst No 2 course in North Carolina from August 18-24.
He is the only New Zealander to have qualified for the US Amateur.
Waikato's James Gill is the first alternate after finishing fourth in his qualifier at the Black Hall Club in Connecticut.
Gill shot a three-over 145 for his 36 holes with rounds of even par 71 and 74 to finish one shot off direct qualification.
Hastings' Nick Gillespie missed qualifying at the same event, shooting a 12 over 154 to share 22nd place.
Lee, now the No 1 ranked amateur in the world, continued to turn heads on a blazing hot day despite having played eight rounds in the previous five days at the Western Amateur.
Lee's uncle and caddie, Rambert Sim of San Diego, drove his nephew from Michigan to Springfield late on Monday night.
The Rotorua player, who turned 18 a week ago, was tired but showed his fortitude and talent to fire a five-under-par 67 in the morning and a six-under 66 in the afternoon, which was a tournament single-round record.
NZ scores, sectional qualifying, US Amateur:
Piper Glenn GC, Illinois, par 72:
133 - Danny Lee 67 66 (1st)
Black Hall Club, Connecticut, par 71:
145 - James Gill 71 74 (4th, first alternate)
154 - Nick Gillespie 75 79 (T22).
- NZPA