The tournament marks the resumption of the Tour following its winter break, with Mountcastle carrying a commanding lead in the season-long standings after winning the Brian Green Property Group NZ Super 6s, finishing tied second at the Autex Muriwai Open and fourth at the UNLIMIT Taranaki Open.

The months since have been eventful away from the domestic circuit.

Mountcastle married in June before travelling to Japan in July to play the Japan Players Championship, an opportunity earned through his tied-third finish at the New Zealand Open.

While the result in Japan was not what he had hoped for, the experience strengthened his desire to pursue further opportunities there.

“It gave me some incentive to go to Japanese Q School later this year, so I’ll be doing that,” Mountcastle said.

“I was definitely able to appreciate how they look after you and how amazing of a country Japan is.”

Back home, much of Mountcastle’s winter has been spent practising as he looks to continue the consistency that has made him the player to catch on the Summerset Charles Tour.

He credits an improved putting game as one of the biggest factors in his form.

“My most consistent improvement would be in my putting,” he said.

“When I’m not firing on all cylinders, I’m able to keep the round going and keep myself in contention with the putter, then hopefully sort out the rest of the game.”

Mountcastle returns to Mount Maunganui after finishing one shot behind Cooper Moore in last year’s tournament.

“I was kind of disappointed I wasn’t able to close it out last year,” he said.

Moore will not defend his title this week, with the Canterbury amateur representing the International Team at the Junior Presidents Cup in the United States, ensuring a new champion will be crowned.

Mountcastle believes the increasingly firm and fast conditions at Mount Maunganui suit the way he likes to play.

“You have to be a little bit better at placing your ball around there, which I feel like leans more towards my kind of game,” he said.

Mount Maunganui GC in the Bay of Plenty plays host to the Christies Flooring Mount Open. PHOTO: Supplied.

“You have to hit it in the right spots and there’s a little bit more thought involved in playing it rather than just smash it up there and see where it is.”

Another player to watch in the men’s field is Zach May, who is back on the domestic scene after completing his collegiate career at Iowa State University.

May recently represented New Zealand at the Nomura Cup in Beijing and has shown an ability to score at Mount Maunganui before, firing a seven-under 65 to share the opening-round lead at the 2020 Mount Open.

The women’s professional field features Rebekah Blackwell-Chin, who claimed the PNG Women’s Open in late August for her first victory as a professional.

Blackwell-Chin has positive history at Mount Maunganui, having finished as the leading women’s amateur at the 2023 Mount Open, and arrives as one of the leading contenders in the field.

For Mountcastle, the Mount Open also begins an important stretch in the Order of Merit race, with the Carrus Tauranga Open following the week after.

Despite holding a healthy advantage at the top of the standings, he has no plans to change the approach that got him there.

“I’m not consciously worried about the Order of Merit,” Mountcastle said.

“I just feel like if I’m playing the golf that I want and expect to play, then that will kind of take care of itself.

“For me, it’s just about going out there and playing the best golf I can and hopefully that’ll lead to another win or consistent results like it has been so far.”

The Christies Floorings Mount Open tees off at Mount Maunganui Golf Club on Thursday, September 17, as the Summerset Charles Tour returns from its winter break.