Jordan Zunic has returned to the Northern Territory PGA Championship this week as the defending champion but also a more experienced player.

Following his wire-to-wire victory at Palmerston Golf Course in 2016, Zunic secured staus on the Challenge Tour after finishing 151st on the Race to Dubai.

It has been a steep learning curve for the 25-year-old who played eight tournaments making the cut in four with his best finish coming at the Swiss Challenge where he finished tied fifth.

“I went over and played the Challenge Tour for about three months, which was a new experience for me. It was amazing, I got to see so many amazing European countries,” said Zunic.

“I didn’t play as well as I would have liked but it was all a learning curve for me and I continued to learn about myself, my game, what works for me and what doesn’t.

“I think I might have come home in the middle rather than stay for three months straight. Logistically it was easier but being away from my family was hard. So in the future I will look to play four or five weeks then come home for a week or two and then go back,” added Zunic.

“It was my first experience playing full time on a Tour overseas, so I’ve learned some lessons and won’t make the same mistakes again in the future.”

Putting into practice his learning from Europe, Zunic has brought his girlfriend, Olivia, with him to the Northern Territory.

“I’m not really feeling any pressure, it’s another tournament, there are a lot of guys playing this week who are all good players, so it’s just a matter of whose week it is,” added Zunic.

“For me I want to have a good time and have fun. I have played a lot of golf this year and I have learned that I started to lose the enjoyment and that is when I stopped playing well so I am just trying to enjoy the game.

“Having Olivia here this week makes it a bit easier and the people here are fantastic. Olivia has been carrying the bag for me in the practice rounds.

“We plan to go and have a look around Darwin because she has never been here; we have been recommended to go to the National Park, there are some cool waterfalls and some swim spots without crocs.”

While it isn’t all fun and adventures, Zunic has been busy preparing for his title defence at a course filled with positive memories.

“Coming back to a tournament where you had success in the previous year is always exciting, I am very grateful to be back,” added Zunic.

“I managed to play 9 holes on Sunday, 18 yesterday and then 9 holes again today. I’ll play the pro-am again tomorrow. The good thing is that I got here nice and early, getting plenty of practice on the course and the conditions and how it’s running out on the fairways.

“I remember it being exactly the same. My strategy on every hole hasn’t changed. It seemed to work well last year.”

The Northern Territory PGA Championship tees off on Thursday 31 August with the winner decided on Sunday 3 September.