"He hasn't beaten me yet in any matches at all since he's come back," says Thomas but accepts Ollie hasn't been competing in tourneys as such or practising because he left here as a scratchie and, on return, blew out to a two handicapper.
Says Ollie: "I've been pretty busy. This is actually my first tournament in about 12 months.
"Oh yeah, I want to beat him. I'd love to beat him."
For the record, Ollie disputes any assertions from Thomas that he is better or trains any harder.
Yes, the younger brother finds more time but the older one says he used to beat Thomas regularly before he went abroad.
It is Thomas' second national outing, having teed off at the Bridge Pa course a few years ago although he missed the cut but for Ollie it'll be his debut.
The year 13 pupil puts in four hours everyday after school and 16 hours at the weekend at Hastings Golf Club where they are members.
The Hawke's Bay amateur under-18 champion, who last weekend won the Bay secondary schoolboys' crown last weekend at the neighbouring Hawke's Bay Golf Club, will no doubt be very disappointed if he doesn't make the cut this week.
Ollie has no expectations but takes heart in his practice and will be satisfied to finish under par for the course.
Thomas beat Cosmo Graham, a fellow Lindisfarne College pupil but younger, by six strokes.
But ask what works for him, plus-two handicapper Thomas replies: "I think it is about my hard-work ethics."
Listening closely to their coach, PGA professional Brian Doyle, of Hastings, and establishing a training routine to adhere to is imperative.
Their maternal grandfather, retired Bay pharmacist Ian Kerr, introduced them to the game during visits but the boys started taking it seriously fours years ago when they reached a 15 handicap.
While the brothers progressively left him behind in the handicap world Thomas says people have informed him the fellow Bridge Pa member is reservedly proud of his grandchildren's rise in the man-made Garden of Eden.
Both boys find strength in their short game and are hoping the home-course advantage will give them the rub of the green, as it were.
The cut will kick in tomorrow to see how many carry on for two more days in a field of around 120 males and females.
Career-minded Thomas is definitely got plans to make something of it and has put his feelers out for a tertiary scholarship in the United States.
"I want to play on the PGA Tour."
Thomas has been boarding for the past eight years.
"I have been boarding for so long that I've got used to being fairly self-reliant but I do go home every weekend," says the schoolboy whose non-golf playing parents, Jane, an employee of Hutchinson's, and David, an employee of livestock breeders Focus Genetics, live in the Bay.
Their father was a sheep/beef farmer in Manawatu and their mother is from the Bay but they sold up the farm four years ago before settling in Waipawa.
He believes if he keeps up with his academic pursuits in the advertising/media field then there's no reason why he can't keep teeing up from the mound.
"At this stage of my life academics is more important than my golf."
Ollie dreams of a golfing career but also is contemplating obtaining a degree in commerce or law although he will attempt to play as much as he can.
He is keenly driving a "Quail Tour" concept where he invites anyone from the Bay to join a group of amateurs keen on taming courses around the country.
