Te Puke golfer Charlie Hillier in form at Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

Charlie Hillier in action during the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship held in Wellington. PHOTO/Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media

Charlie Hillier did not win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship that finished at Royal Wellington Golf Course on Sunday but the Te Puke golfer performed well to finish 14th in a star-studded field.

China's left-hander Lin Yuxin, with four remarkable rounds in the 60s, won a place in next year's US Masters and Open Championship fields.

Hillier is positive about the experience at his first appearance at an Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

The 20-year-old took the opportunity to test himself against some of the very best amateur golfers in the world. He showed how much his game had improved since moving to Kansas University, where he is in his third year on a golf scholarship.

Hillier shot a four-under 67 in his final round that at one stage had the international media contingent buzzing with a potential course record.

He began with three birdies and he had putts for birdies on three of the next six holes, before he holed out on 11 from 70 metres then birdied 12 to be six under the card and pushing that course record.

Three dropped shots to finish ended that dream but he was satisfied enough overall when reviewing his four rounds.

"Every event I go into I plan to win so obviously I was short this week. The first three rounds I had one bad swing that cost me double bogies and they are hard to catch up on. But if I can eliminate them going forward I can see myself in contention a lot more," Hillier said.

"It was my first [Asia-Pacific] so it was a really cool experience. The big crowds, seeing my family here, people from my home club and my caddy Mark Spitz was also from Te Puke."

Hillier's time at Kansas University has been hugely beneficial. He is already rated eighth best player all time there for the number of rounds at even or under par in competition golf.

He says his game has improved greatly, particularly in his damage control and consistency.

"Eliminating doubles and three-putts, just the 1 per cent small things, make the difference."

The former Tauranga Boys' College student is studying sports management in between all the golf but his main goal is to turn pro at some stage.

"This [Asia-Pacific] was a great stepping stone. It will move me up the amateur world golf rankings but from here on out I just need to keep playing well, contend in some big events over the summer and maybe look at next year's Asia-Pacific in Singapore and see what happens then."

Hillier's younger brother Harry is also on a golf scholarship at Kansas University making it a remarkable family double.

Tauranga's Jay Carter was coach/manager of the New Zealand team in Wellington, that also included Henry Spring from Whakatane.

Carter was impressed with Hillier's performance considering all the media pressure on the players.

"For him to front up like that in his first one was pretty cool. I have known him quite a few years with Bay of Plenty golf. He has matured within his game and is a pretty powerful athlete.

"He is a really good ball-striker and controls his ball flight well now, which I noticed this week."