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Fearless Lee eyes victory

US amateur champ looking to cause stir in pro ranks

Last updated: 1st October 2008

Lee: Full of confidence

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New Zealand prodigy Danny Lee insists he will be targeting victory at the Turning Stone Resort Championship despite making only his second PGA Tour appearance of the season this week.

The 18-year-old made waves in the States last month as he became the youngest-ever US amateur champion - eclipsing the record of Tiger Woods.

Lee, who beat American Drew Kittleson 5&4 in the final in Pinehurst, North Carolina last month, now plans to join the professional ranks after next year's US Open.

However, he is determined to maintain the aggressive philosophy that has served him so well thus far and that means going out to win every tournament he enters - starting at Atunyote Golf Club this week.

"It's not going to change me," said Lee, who is in the field in Verona on a sponsor's exemption.

"Every tournament I play, even the major tournaments, I'm coming over here to win, not just making the cut.

"Hopefully if I play well enough I can win this tournament. That's my goal."

Solid field

However, while palpably not short on confidence, the South Korean native faces an uphill task to emerge victorious with a solid field having assembled for the Turning Stone Resort Championship.

Former major winners Davis Love III, David Duval, Rich Beem, Mark Calcavecchia and Steve Elkington will all be teeing it up, along with impressive youngster Sean O'Hair who won the PODS Championship in March and has two further top-tens to his name this season.

Other 2008 victors present include Japan's Ryuji Imada, Swedes Carl Pettersson and Richard S. Johnson and Americans Steve Lowery and Will MacKenzie, while Steve Flesch will be back to defend the title he won 12 months ago.