Danny Lee’s US Amateur hopes came to an abrupt halt yesterday as he was beaten 1 up on the 18th.

 After qualifying tied in 5th spot, he would have been hoping for a better ending however he shouldn’t be disappointed. It was a superb effort to qualify, and he should be very pleased with his performance. Especially at the tender age of 17.

 Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Michael Campbell shot 65, one stroke off the lead in the Dutch Open. A great round by itself. Biut lets wait and see what he follows up with. The weakest point of Campbell’s game is his inconsistency, and it’s a trait that has plagued his career.  He’s done zip since winning the US Open whilst showing promise in numerous occasions.

Sure he won a major. But that doesn’t make him a champion golfer. A champion consistently wins on tour. Winning a major is a tremendous feat. However Campbell has yet to prove himself as a champion, and he’s running out of pace.

It’s still too early to judge his career. He is undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s best ever golfers but is he the best?.

Bob Charles is still the better golfer in my book. He has won the British Open in 1963 which many regard as the ultimate golfing title and he has performed consistently well throughout his career. Til this day he continues to compete at the highest level on the European Seniors Tour.

Campbell has yet to exemplify true class. He shows signs. But he needs to compete for titles week in week out to stamp himself as a true champion. A professional.

Charles remains New Zealand’s finest. Campbell is chasing, and Lee is just beginning.

What a great effort by the 17 year old New Zealander Danny Lee.

He shot rounds of 69,71 around the Olympic Course in San Francisco to qualify in joint 6th position for the matchplay competition commencing tomorrow.

The top 64 players qualify. The number 1 qualifier plays the 64th and so on, so Danny will probably be playing the 54th qualifier.

The matchplay rounds are played over the next 3 days with the semi finals and finals played over the weekend.

Top qualify is American Jason Kokrak with rounds of 68 and 69.

Other foreign players to qualify are:

Cheng Tsung Pan Chinese Taipei 73 70
Estanislao Goya Argentina 66 78
Marius Thorp Norway 73 71
Jhonatthan Vegas Venezuela 72 72

The cut line has yet to be set as players are still on course.

What a fantastic effort by Danny Lee. Lets hope he can get through to the weekend.

Golf’s a cruel game. One day it’s fun to play and the next it’s a nightmare.

After shooting 66 yesterday, Argentinian Goya has returned a 78 today to be at +4 for the tournament.

The projected cut is +8 at the moment. I have no idea how they work that out however as 58 players are currently inside +4 and the top 64 go through. So it seems as if the cut will be +4 or +5, on countback.

New Zealand 17 year old Danny Lee’s scores for the first 9 have yet to be posted.

Rick Kulacz is 1 over today and in a tie for 92nd place. He needs to make a couple of birdies to secure a spot in the matchplay competition otherwise he’s out. A big disappointment for the Australian’s.

That was a great win by Aussie Nick O’Flanagan on the Nationwide Tour over the weekend. His third win on the second tier tour and a guaranteed place on the PGA Tour. It’ll be exciting to watch him play against the big boys next year.

Another potential Aussie star is teeing it up in the US Amateur this week. Rick Kulacz won’t be entirely pleased with his opening round 75 placing him in 108th place.

New Zealand’s Danny Lee opened with a 69 around the famed Olympic course in San Francisco. A superb effort leaving him just 3 behind Argentinian Estanislao Goya. Gee the Argentinian’s produce some great golfers. I wonder what the recipe is?

I’m not sure how many qualifiers there are for the matchplay rounds. I suspect 64 which would mean Rick needs to get a giddy up or he’ll miss out.

Click here for live scoring.

Lights out for me.

I’m deflated. I think I may have vexed Steve Alker. Posting his progress, excitedly telling you how well he was doing, wanting to share his every move, saying stuff like “he has a chance of winning this”. I guess skilled golf commentators learn not to put their foot in it. Anyway, poor wee Stevie boy couldn’t contain his excitement either. He doubled 16. What did you say. Yes I’m sorry dear listeners he doubled 16. He’s now 2 under for the day, and 1 under for the Championship in a tie for 11th. He could still get a top ten out of it, but ooh he’ll be mentally challenged trying to come to grips with a double with 3 to pay, and 3 from the lead. Head games. It’s tough leading, and its tough getting close to the lead. Learning how to win if you haven’t been there before is one of the hardest things in golf. South African Jamie Kingston doesn’t know how. Yet. He’s 4 over for the day and busily building himself a psychological roadblock be has to get through the next time he finds himself in a winning position. Kaymer is leading now. He made that birdie I was talking about, and now shares the lead at 6 under with the double K, Mr Mikko from Finland. If you’re wondering why I haven’t bothered with paragraph breaks in this post it’s because I’m knacky knoo knooed. Triple K’d. Knocked out, stone dead tired staying up watching the screen as the wee numbers change. Its a strange thing. They don’t have great golf coverage in Brazil. Oh, Steve Alkeer has finished his round. He shot 68 and is in a tie for 18th. Well, a top 20 would be his best placing of the season, so congrats are in order. Gotta hit the hay.

It’s funny watching golf on the computer.

Looking at the leaderboard waiting for a change. It’s still exciting though.

Listen up all you kiwis supporters Steve Alker is 2 off the lead, with 3 to play. He could actually win this if he birdies the final 3. I know its a long shot, but he is shooting the lights out today so who knows. He’s 4 under for the day and has moved 16 spots up the leaderboard.

Tremendous stuff.

I’m glued.

All the S’s…

Steven ALker is having a tremendous round. He started the tournament with a 4 over 74, then shot 69 to make the cut by a couple…returned yesterday with a fine 68, and is 3 under today through 12 and in a tie for 9th.

Easily his best performance of the year if he can hold it together for the final 6.

Tremendous stuff for the little man.

I played with him at St Andrews GC in Hamilton New Zealand, and there was nothing spectacular about his game except his consistency. Down the middle, on the green, 30 feet, 2 putts par. The other thing I noticed was that he had a brilliant temperament. A good head for the game.

Great to see him tasting some success at last.

Well, the South African Jamie Kingston was the first to take a tumble. He’s 3 over through 5. His running mate Kaymer isn’t fairing much better at 2 over through 5.

Meanwhile Finlands Mikko Llonen (the real double K) has cruised into the outright lead.

He’s 2 under and, no hang on there’s been a change….Paul Broadhurst has knocked in a birdie, double K has dropped one, and now there a three way tie for the lead.

Exciting stuff….c’mon Kaymer knock some birdies in.

I think he will do it from here. He won’t go much longer without some birdies one thinks.

Well, things are motoring along quite smoothly for Steve Alker today. He’s 1 under though 7 and has moves up 4 notches into a tie for 17th. Good effort, keep it going Stevie.

Andrew Tampion on the other hand has slipped from 13th to 36th and is 3 over thru 6. He won’t be happy with that.

Martin Erlandsson is in the clubhouse with a wonderful 65 proving it’s possible to score low today. He has leapfrogged 31 places into a tie for 13th.

The double K leaders Kaymer and Kingston are just about to begin their shootout.

I’ve written the headline before the act as it were.

I’m just dead keen to see the young fella win this thing. Its great watching stars being born.

I’ll also be keeping an eye on wee Stevie Alker of New Zealand and Australia’s own Andrew Tampion. It would be nice to see them sneak up the leaderboard.

Nick Dougherty is the class act on the leaderboard so a betting man would probably be having a crack at him but giving 3 shots to Kaymer might be a tough ask.

We’ll see, they’re underway.

Just had to chat with the world. It’s tough sitting here alone watching golf on the computer.