It didn’t come easy as he had to hold off his fast-finishing Golf New Zealand National Academy teammates Sam Jones (Manaia) and Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora), who threw everything at him over the final nine holes.

Thompson started the final round with a two-shot buffer over Jones and managed to build his lead to four early on the front nine after opening with birdies on the first and fourth. The gap was reduced by a shot through nine after the Maraenui Golf Club member dropped shots at eight and nine.

Jones and Kobori started throwing everything at the overnight leader in the back nine.

In the penultimate group, Kobori rattled off four birdies in a row from the 11th to tie the lead midway through the back nine. Unfortunately, he bogeyed the par 5 15th, which took him out of a share of the lead, and he couldn’t recover despite making a birdie on the next hole.

He finished with a couple of pars to lock up third place on 16-under.

Playing in the final group alongside Thompson was Jones, who did everything he possibly could have to lift his first Jennian Homes Charles Tour event. The pair went shot for shot, but it was Jones who was lighting the course up on the back nine, making birdies at ten, 12, 13, 15, and 16 to tie Thompson, who was playing solid golf of his own.

Thompson birdied 12 and 15 and stood on the 17th in a share of the lead. They both made birdie, meaning they’d head to the last at 18 under.

Unfortunately, Jones leaked his tee shot left and had to pitch out short of the green. Thompson found the fairway and hit his 40-metre pitch to eight feet to put the pressure back on Jones. Unfortunately, Jones couldn’t get up and down, leaving Thompson with two putts for victory.

Thompson used the two putts he needed to card a final round of three under and finish with rounds of 67, 66, 65, and 68.

He says it’s a great feeling to get it over the line.

“It’s all happened very quickly; it’s all a bit of a blur, to be honest.

“I’m just stoked with how I held myself over the last nine holes with Sam [Jones] and Kazuma [Kobori] chasing me down. I’m just over the moon to get the job done.”

Thompson is the third amateur to win on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour since 2020, with his good mates James Hydes and Kazuma Kobori winning the Autex Muriwai Open in 2020 and earlier this year.

Thompson says it’s great to have a Jennian Homes Charles Tour event of his own.

“I don’t know if I can throw shade at Jimmy [Hydes]. I think I need about ten more victories to equal him,” Thompson laughs.

“He’ll be loving it, and I’m sure we’ll be celebrating when he gets here tomorrow.”

The amateurs dominated at Mt Maunganui Golf Club this week, occupying the top four places on the leaderboard.

Thompson says it’s not surprising given amateurs’ success in big events this year.

“It’s amazing. It’s a real testament to the amateur players that are coming through in New Zealand. We’re all starting to play really well, not just here in New Zealand but internationally as well. It’s great to see that three National Academy amateurs were the leaderboard's top three players.”

Munchin Keh finished as the leading woman at even par in equal 18th.

Guy Harrison (Napier) took out the inaugural Christies Floorings All Abilities Mount Open, played over the weekend alongside the main event.

Harrison won by a shot after rounds of 81 and 83 to hold off a fast-finishing Wayne Eder (Waimairi Beach).

There was a lot on the line for the all abilities golfers, with EDGA world ranking points up for grabs.

Harrison says it’s a great feeling to win and secure some needed ranking points as he aspires to compete overseas in the near future.

“It was a real battle out there. Wayne [Eder] played unbelievably well, but it feels so good to get over the line today.

“The nerves were okay during the front nine, and then I started to feel them when I got to the 14th as I knew what was on the line with world ranking points. To be able to hold on feels really nice.

“I have a few events in November; one in Christchurch and another in Wellington. I’m going to make sure I work hard and practise to make sure my skills are refined so when I go to these events, I’m able to shoot lower than what I did this week.”

Christies Flooring Mount Open scores: https://www.golf.co.nz/tournament-detail?tournamentid=321&competitionid=922975&clubid=271

Christies Flooring All Abilities Mount Open scores: https://www.golf.co.nz/tournament-detail?tournamentid=321&competitionid=942782&clubid=271