Australian Dimitrios Papadatos produced a dominant performance on the back nine to claim the New Zealand Open golf title in Queenstown by four shots.

The 22-year-old New South Welshman, who had started Sunday’s final day at The Hills with a one-stroke lead, fired a six-under-par 66 to finish at 18-under for the tournament.

His round contained seven birdies, five of them after the turn as he charged home.

It was Papadatos’s first professional victory and he put paid to local hopes of a first New Zealand champion since Mahal Pearce in 2003.

Wellington’s Mark Brown, the leading New Zealander the last time around, achieved the feat again by finishing runner-up with a 69.

Third, one shot further back, was Te Anau golfer David Klein, who carded a 67.

Papadatos follows good mate Jake Higginbottom as the NZ Open champion.

Higginbottom was a 19-year-old amateur when he won the title in late 2012, but his defence ended on Friday with a missed cut.

“I didn’t really think at the start of the week I would have my name on the trophy, but as the week progressed, I thought it was a good chance,” Papadatos said.

He was well aware that most of the spectators were willing on his New Zealand playing partners, but it didn’t affect him too much “and I was getting a cheer here and there”.

Brown, meanwhile, was disappointed he couldn’t make more of his opportunities, but he had plenty of praise for Papadatos.

“I didn’t play particularly well tee-to-green and sort of hung in there, but Dimi played a great round,” he said.

“You go out with a one-shot lead and you shoot six-under – it’s tough to beat. He deserves it. He went out and did what he had to do.”

At the same course last year, Papadatos was disqualified from the NZPGA Championship for hitting an incorrect ball.

There was no repeat this time around as he made a great start with a birdie at the opening hole.

There was a dropped shot at the par-4 fifth, but that was his only blemish.

Up by two shots when he stood at the 15th tee, he birdied the next three holes to build a decisive gap.

Brown was unable to make a move until late in his round when he collected three birdies but, by then, the title was all but out of reach.