''Klein'' might mean ''small'' in German, but there was nothing minor about David Klein's performance at the New Zealand Open.
The young Te Anau professional provided one of the stories of the revamped tournament in Arrowtown, and his performance has not gone unnoticed.
Klein (23) finished third, carding a 5-under-par 67 in the final round to finish 13-under for the tournament, five shots behind another rising star, Australian Dimitrios Papadatos.
He pocketed $57,375 - comfortably the biggest cheque of his fledgling career - and he has just received a bump in status on the PGA Tour of Australasia, which will guarantee him a spot in events such as the Australian Open and the Australian PGA.
Not that all of this is going to German-born Klein's head.
Asked if he was still buzzing after his breakthrough performance, he replied, ''Yeah, not really, no.''
Klein even downplayed his rise in status, pointing out he would probably have got into the fields for most of the major Australian events anyway.
But, based on his play over four rounds at The Hills and Millbrook, this is clearly one young golfer to watch.
''It was a really good week,'' Klein said.
''I'd played well the week before. I thought I'd do well but I certainly didn't think I was going to finish third.
''I just wanted to minimise mistakes, really. Cut out the bogies as much as possible.''
Klein was right in the hunt making the turn in the final round before he, along with the field, was left in the dust by Papadatos.
''It was all open till about No 13. I was one off the lead or something. But Dimi played really well the last five or six holes.''
Klein is an unequivocal supporter of the new format of the New Zealand Open, which will involve a pro-am and be played over the two Arrowtown courses for at least two more years.
Now, he will keep an eye on his email to see if his efforts have opened up any other doors in the months while the Australian tour is quiet.
''I'm hoping to find out if I can get into any events in Asia,'' Klein said.
''There's not much happening for a while. I've got a few events but nothing major. There's a one-day event in Hamilton, and a corporate day at the end of the month. And we've got Muriwai in May.''
Klein lived in Germany till he was 12, when parents Franz and Maria emigrated to New Zealand.
The family briefly lived in Hastings and then Ohope Beach, before relocating to Te Anau about seven years ago.
Klein, who picked up a club for the first time at the age of 4, won the Taranaki Open, part of the Charles Tour, in 2012, and last year tied for 14th at the Australian PGA.
