Teenage New Zealand golf star Danny Lee is helping to back the next kiwi golfer into the professional ranks.

Lee, 19, has leapt from the world’s top amateur to be 119 on the world rankings after less than six months as a professional.

His exploits as an amateur, which saw him win the US Amateur and ranked as number one in the world, led to an award from the New Zealand Herald as a Future Star of Sport.

Lee has decided to donate his $1500 prize back to New Zealand Golf. The scholarship will be awarded to the highest ranked male amateur golfer through the remaining three events of the Charles Tour.

The Charles Tour, presented by Srixon, begins its Spring run of tournaments with the Youthtown Wairakei Open at Wairakei International next week. This is followed by the Port Taranaki Open at New Plymouth Golf Club and the Shirley Open at Christchurch Golf Club in October.

The current leader after the first Charles Tour event at the Carrus Tauranga Open is Tauranga golfer Andrew Stewart, who makes his international debut next week at the Nomura Cup event in Korea.

“It is a very nice gesture by Danny,” said New Zealand Golf acting CEO, Dean Murphy. “Danny wants to recognise the role that New Zealand Golf has played in his career and the importance of the Charles Tour in developing our best amateurs for the professional ranks.”

The 2009 Charles Tour incorporates four tournaments each providing a $40,000 purse for the 50 professionals in the field, which also includes 70 elite amateurs, male and female.