KEY POINTS:
18 year old Danny Lee has put New Zealand Golf firmly on the global map again with his incredible win today in the US Amateur Championship.
Here's five other fine memories from New Zealand golf history to cast your mind back to:
1963 - Sir Bob Charles
Bob Charles' achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a tournament as a 71-year- old.
In 1963 he won the British Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. After four rounds (68,72,66,71) his 277 was level with American Phil Rodgers.
Demonstrating unerring putting, Charles won the 36-hole playoff by eight shots.
2005 - Michael Campbell
Following yet another slump of form in a patchy career, Campbell had to go through qualifying to even make the main field for the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina.
He took advantage of the fact that the tournament organisers had introduced European qualifying for the first time. The kiwi sank a pressure 6-foot birdie putt on the last hole of qualifying to just sneak in by a whisker and secure his place in the Open, one of golf's prestigious four Majors.
In the tournament itself, Campbell ended the third round four strokes behind Retief Goosen, the event's defending champion who looked ready for a repeat victory on Sunday. On the final day, Goosen ballooned to an 81.
Campbell shot 69 (1 under par) for the final round and was the only golfer in the last two pairings of the day to break 80.
Campbell's main competition turned out to be Tiger Woods, who at one point closed to within one shot of Campbell. In the end, Woods was undone by bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes, and Campbell had won a major by two shots.
1992 - New Zealand Eisenhower team
Michael Campbell
Stephen Scahill
Philip Tataurangi
Grant Moorhead
The Eisenhower Trophy is the ultimate prize in mens international amateur team golf.
In 1992 it all came together for New Zealand golf, who were able to assemble a young 'dream team' for the Eisenhower, to be held in Vancouver, Canada. (Campbell was to turn pro a year later.)
Philip Tataurangi was the star of the week, shooting the lowest individual total.
It was New Zealand's only ever triumph in the Eisenhower Trophy to date. We have finished runners-up on two occasions - in Spain in 1970 and in Christchurch in 1990.
The team won the New Zealand Sports Team of the year gong at the Halberg Awards.
New Zealand Queen Sirikit Cup womens teams
The New Zealand women's golf team have taken out the Queen Sirikit Cup, the official championship of the Asia-Pacific region, on three occasions - 1984 (hosts Australia), 1990 (in Hong Kong) and 1999 (Papaparaumu Beach, NZ).
The individual trophy has been won by several kiwis since the event's inception in 1979, including Brenda Ormsby, Jan Higgins, Marnie McGuire and Lynette Brooky.
2002 - Craig Perks
Craig Perks only has one win on the PGA Tour - but it was a biggie!
In 2002 he won The Players Championship which is generally regarded as the fifth most prestigious individual tournament in men's golf after the four majors, and he returned home to be crowned the 2002 New Zealand Sportsman of the Year.
His golf never returned to that high level, and after making only one cut on the PGA Tour during 2006 and 2007, Perks announced his retirement in November 2007.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
