New Zealand Open organisers say Danny Lee's Johnnie Walker Classic triumph in Perth yesterday was great news for the Arrowtown-based tournament next month.
Lee penned another chapter in his rise to golfing stardom with a one-stroke victory at The Vines course.
The world's leading amateur (18) burst from the chasing pack with birdies in four of his last six holes to finish 17-under-par and edge out Englishman Ross McGowan, Argentina's Felipe Aguilar and Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita.
He shot rounds of 67, 68, 69 and 67, his tally yesterday including seven birdies and two bogeys.
Tuohy Associates sales and marketing manager Mike Godinet said Lee's win showed what a talent he was, and it would be great to have someone of his calibre at the NZ Open.
"He is one of the hottest young golfers in the world and a real superstar in the making. And people can come and see him in Otago."
Tuohy Associates is promoting the Open, and Godinet said Lee's win would be a real boost to the tournament.
Lee had accepted an invitation from New Zealand Golf for the Open and, barring an injury, was a certainty to appear.
NZ Golf chief executive Bill MacGowan said only one 18-year-old had won the NZ Open in its 90-year history: Bob Charles.
"Danny, I am sure, will be confident that he can emulate that feat," MacGowan said.
The Rotorua teen became the youngest winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic, and the first amateur to win an Australasian Tour event since Brett Rumford claimed the 1999 ANZ Players Championship.
It was also back-to-back New Zealand victories in the $A2.75 million ($NZ3.54 million) tri-sanctioned event, after Mark Brown won in India last year.
But Lee will not see a cent of the $A460,000 first prize, having decided not to turn professional until after he plays the Masters in April.
That was in order to retain his automatic entry into the Masters, which he earned with his breakthrough US Amateur title last year.
The victory was invaluable as it earned Lee a two-year exemption on the European, Asian and Australasian tours.
"It feels like I'm dreaming at the moment," Lee said.
"All I wanted to do is make the cut and play well and get in the top 20. But I played extremely well today, and I won it."
