Anthony Quayle is teetering on the edge of a breakthrough victory as he tees it up in the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open.

Turning professional at the end of 2016, Quayle spent last year competing on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia after earning his card at Qualifying School.

It was a solid rookie year for Quayle who played 11 tournaments making 10 cuts, recording three top-10 results and finishing 28^th on the Order of Merit.

Continuing his steady career progression, Quayle earned his Japan Tour card after finishing fourth at Qualifying School in December.

“Something my team and I have done really well is our progression from when I was a young amateur even where we are now, it’s continued,” said Quayle.

“Obviously you have ebbs and flows but it’s continued to improve each year and I continue to I guess compete at a higher level each time as well.

“Getting a card on an international tour then coming back and playing some ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia events you sort of go into it feeling like one of the name players I guess rather than the rookie out there.

“There’s a few guys that are doing it. Lucas (Herbert) has just got his card in China as well as a lot of other good young guys that are getting their cards overseas, so we all kind of push each other I guess.”

Enjoying a strong start to his 2018 season, Quayle arrives in Queenstown in top form. He put himself in a good position at the Oates Vic Open before finishing third, missed qualifying for the match play at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in a four hole playoff to eventual champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat and was in contention late on Sunday at the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship.

“I guess I would have liked it (a win) to happen sooner. I have put myself there a few times now but I think putting myself in that position as regularly as I have been is only a good sign,” said Quayle.

“I don’t think it adds pressure. I think it actually relieves that by giving me more confidence, which in turn makes handling the pressure a little bit easier because I back myself a little bit more.

“So I’ve got incrementally closer to winning each time I put myself in contention so I have to just keep doing it until I work out how to get it done.”

Playing in the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open for a second time, Quayle feels more prepared to contend for the title this year.

“Last year this was my first tier one event I’d ever played, it was the biggest purse I’d ever played for and for me it was sort of like a bit of a wow, I’m just going to enjoy everything this week.

“This year I feel like if I bring somewhere near my best I can be competitive to win rather than just here for the ride,” added Quayle who finished tied 15^th in 2017.

“I did play well here last year and it was after the New Zealand PGA which I also played pretty well at. To go from sort of being in contention and burning up a bit of energy to having to learn two courses and playing made it a pretty long couple of weeks.

“Whereas this time, I know the courses, I can go out there and kind of just play pretty casually, I don’t have to study too much and not be too intense or too worried during the practice rounds. So it puts me in a bit better shape going into the week.”

The ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open has been a happy hunting ground for young Australian players with three of the last five winners being Aussie first time winners.

Jake Higginbottom won as an amateur in 2012, Dimitrios Papadatos in 2014 and Jordan Zunic in 2015. Quayle hopes to be the next player to engrave his name on the Brodie Breeze trophy and will tee off his campaign at Millbrook Resort at 12.44pm on Thursday playing alongside two time Japan Tour winner Shunsuke Sonoda.

For all round 1 tee times please visit pga.org.au.

Tickets to the tournament can be purchased via Ticketek or on the gate with children under the age of 18 admitted free.