Twelve months is a long time in professional golf and young Dimi Papadatos is living proof of that.

This time last year, the 22-year-old from NSW was still finding his way as a rookie pro, getting starts in one day pro-ams and occasionally winning them. Now his career has a little more stability after his breakthrough win on the PGA Tour of Australasia at the New Zealand Open.

Dimi Papadatos is showered with champagne after winning the New Zealand Open. PHOTO: Getty Images

Starting the final day at Queenstown's The Hill course with a one-shot lead, Papadatos looked solid throughout the round firing a six under 66 to finish off the tournament at 18 under, four shots clear of Kiwi Mark Brown, who was trying to end the 12-year Kiwi drought at the Open.

A further shot back was David Klein (NZ), while Ash Hall (VIC) and Richard Lee (NZ) rounded out the top-5 on 12 under.

But this day was all about a coming-of-age performance from Papadatos who admitted etching his name into the Brodie Breeze Trophy hadn’t sunken in yet.

He said the final few holes were all a bit of a blur as he tried to close out the victory.

“I just wanted to concentrate and not get too overwhelmed with what was happening,” said Papadatos about playing the final hole.

When he hit the green in two and comfortably made the two-putt for par he could finally relax. He was swamped by a swagger of young Aussie pros, who showered the 2013 Australian Golf Writers Association Rookie of the Year with champagne.

“It’s awesome, great bunch of guys and they’re very supportive. We all try and beat each other but at the end of the week … there’s no hard feelings.”

Papadatos’ best previous result on the PGA Tour of Australasia was a third place finish at the ISPS Handa Perth International last October.

The champion wasn’t too sure how he handled the pressure all day.

“I kept believing in myself and telling myself I could do it, the whole way round. But there’s always that thing, deep down wondering if you really can.”

He said it was “unreal” to follow in the footsteps of some great Aussie players – the likes of Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Peter O’Malley and Craig Parry – who had won the New Zealand Open.

He also followed the lead of his good mate Jake Higginbottom, who won the event as an amateur at Clearwater in 2012.

“I didn’t really think at the start of the week I would have had my name on the trophy behind him, but as the week started to progress, I thought there was a good chance so I’m pretty happy,” Papdatos said.

Papadatos believes the win – which earned him world ranking points, status on the PGA Tour of Australasia until 2016 and three starts on the Japan Tour – is just what his career needed.

Papadatos joins a host of great Australian golfers with their name on the NZ Open trophy. PHOTO: Getty Images

“Obviously some great players have won this event, it’s a massive honour. I wouldn’t have told you at the start of the week I was capable of this. I’m really happy,” he said.

New Zealand amateur Jordan Bakermans finished as the leading amateur to claim the Bledisloe Cup when Southland No.1 Vaughan McCall was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Meanwhile in the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship West Australian Brody Ninyette and amateur Sam Hamilton claimed the title in the best-ball format despite Ninyette shooting a 13-over 85 in the final round.

They won the first NZ Pro-Am, to be staged in conjunction with the NZ Open, by two shots from Nick Gillespie and John Bowring on a 39-under-par total.

OPEN LEADERBOARD

1. Dimi Papadatos (NSW)   68-69-67-66–270

2. Mark Brown (NZ)   67-72-66-69–274

3. David Klein (NZ)   69-70-69-67–275

T4. Richard Lee (NZ)   68-67-70-71–276

T4. Ashley Hall (Vic)   67-73-66-70–276

T6. Ryan Fox (NZ)   70-69-69-69–277

T6. Terry Pilkadaris (Vic)   66-73-69-69–277

T8. Adam Blyth (Qld)   70-65-73-70–278

T8. Andrew Martin (Vic)   67-75-68-68–278

T10. Cameron Smith (Qld)   70-71-67-71–279

For the full leaderboard, click here

*Story courtesy of PGA of Australia