New Zealander Danny Lee has won the Mark McCormack Medal awarded to the leading player in the world amateur golf rankings following the US Amateur and European Amateur.
Lee, 18, capped a golden month by charging through the US Amateur field to lift the Havemeyer Trophy after a 5 & 4 final victory over American Drew Kittleson.
That was preceded by victories in the matchplay and strokeplay events at the Western Amateur, considered the second most prestigious event to the US Amateur, and a tie for 20th in his PGA Tour debut at the Wyndham Championship.
The medal, named after the late marketing guru McCormick who was named 'the most powerful man in sports' by Sports Illustrated in 1990, is in its second year of existence.
It was won in 2007 by American Colt Knost, who has gone on to make a successful switch to the professional ranks to earn a full PGA Tour card.
Lee is a certainty to do the same but will wait until at least mid 2009 as he has secured automatic entry to the US and British Opens and almost certainly the Masters.
Fellow Kiwi Michael Campbell, who was part of another great New Zealand amateur feat in the 1992 Eisenhower Trophy victory, paid tribute to Lee's successes on his website, www.cambogolf.com.
"I'm just so happy for Danny he won the U.S. Amateur championship," Campbell said.
"It's amazing also that he and I both won our championships on Pinehurst No. 2 and it must be something about the course that favours New Zealanders.
"I'll never forget the reception I received when I went back home with the U.S. Open trophy so I can imagine what it's going to be like for Danny bringing the U.S. Amateur title back to New Zealand.
"But it's a fantastic achievement to win one of the greatest amateur titles there is in golf and to also eclipse Tiger's record now as the youngest winner.
"It's just incredible and I'm really looking forward to catching up with Danny and congratulating him personally.
"Also it means that he and I will be competing in the first three Majors next year so I'm looking forward to playing a few practice rounds with him starting next April at Augusta."