New Zealand golfer Danny Lee is tied for third after the first round of the Western Amateur in the United States today.
The 17-year-old world No 4-ranked amateur fired a two-under-par 68 to be two shots behind leader, American Will Kropp, in Michigan.
Fellow New Zealander James Gill shot 72 to be in a share of 42nd place in a tournament rated among the top three amateur events in the world.
Lee began strongly with birdies at the second, third and seventh holes but a double bogey at the 10th dented his hopes.
He managed two further birdies with one dropped shot coming home.
Gill, who recently graduated from St Andrews University in Scotland, had a tough start with three bogies in his first five holes.
He then mixed two birdies with one further dropped shot.
Leading scores (US unless stated):-
66 - Will Kropp
67 - Judson Eustaquio
68 - DANNY LEE (NZ), Wilson Bowen, Sihwan Kim, Andy Winings, Rory Hie, Jon McLean, Conrad Shindler, Michael Kinkopf
Also
72 - JAMES GILL (NZ).
NZPA