Published: Wednesday, 6th August, 2008 12:00
Kincardine golfer wins Scottish Championship
By Hugh Hunter
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Callum Macaulay with former British Open Champion Paul Lawrie.
Pic by: Rob Eyton-Jones
A DELIGHTED Callum Macaulay is celebrating this week after becoming the Scottish Amateur Golf champion at Carnoustie.
The Kincardine 24-year-old sees this outstanding win as the springboard to better times ahead on the golf scene.
He told the Adverttiser, "I am absolutely delighted to be the Scottish champion because it is something I have been aiming towards for a long time.
"Hopefully this will be my last Amateur victory because I hope to be turning professional soon. I will be going to Oxfordshire for the first stage of the Tour School where I have to finish in the top 30 per cent to qualify for the second stage, which will be in Spain in November."
Callum, as always, was grateful to those who have been right behind him at the Carnoustie event – and others before that.
He said, "I would like to thank everyone who supported me because they helped give the competition a great atmosphere for me."
It was at 4pm last Saturday when the small contingent of Tulliallan and County supporters saw history being made.
Callum's opponent had just putted past the 15th hole on the Carnoustie Championship Links, and walked forward and shook hands, and in doing so made Callum Macaulay the 2008 Scottish Amateur Champion.
This was a first for Callum, Tulliallan Golf Club and the first Amateur Champion in the 105 year history of County Golf.
But it was not easy. Callum demonstrated great skills of determination as well as his golfing skills in nine gruelling rounds of Match Play Golf.
Callum was the number one seed in the event, and was the only seed left in the closing stages. His path to the final reads as follows:
Graham Sharp (Dumfries and County) 3/2; Anthony Bews (Murcar) 21st ; Stephen Carruthers (Pitlochry) 5/3; Glenn Taylor (Meldrum) 4/3 Scott Knowles (Kingsknowe) 4/3; Paul Betty (Hayston) 4/2.
At this point he had reached the semi-final, taking on Greg Paterson (St Andrews New).
Callum was one down most of the way, but at the 16th hole he squared the match when his opponent could not get up and down from the edge. When Greg missed a birdie chance at the 17th, it was Callum who seized the chance by holing a 10ft putt for his birdie, taking the lead for the first time.
A solid par at the last hole was enough to put Callum into the 36-hole final against Steven McEwan (Caprington).
After halving the first in bogey 5s, Callum's supporters became a bit gloomy when he lost the next four holes to go four down. A stroke of luck at the long sixth helped Callum as his drive directed down the famous 'Hogan Alley veered left, hit the out of bounds fence and bounced back to the fairway.
From this position he made a birdie four, which proved to be the start of an amazing fight back to start the second round all square.
Callum found himself one down again at the 20th after bunkering his approach, but he showed great putting skill to hold this margin for the next four holes.
The match was suspended at the 7th tee (25th) with the threat of lightning – and around 60 spectators tried to cram into a small shelter!
After 15 minutes, the match restarted. A 12 ft putt dropped for a birdie at the next to square the game, and with bunker trouble for Steven at the 27th, Callum went ahead for the first time in the match.
He took the next two holes with solid pars when Steven missed the greens.
At the 30th, a 10 foot winning putt from Callum probably decided the event by giving him a four-hole lead.
Steven might have thought he had a chance when he holed from 15ft for a two at the short 31st, but Callum followed him in to keep the four hole lead.
Two holes later it was all over when Steven conceded a six foot birdie putt for the title.
It was an outstanding performance with golf shots worthy of top professionals, and his top seeding was fully justified.
His win brings another national title to Tulliallan Golf Club and the Wee County – Bob Stewart took the Scottish Seniors title earlier in the year.
Not only do the two champions play at the same golf club, they both stay in Kincardine – in the samee street!
For the statisticians, Callum played 149 holes of competitive golf over the week and must have walked well over 30 miles on Carnoustie links – as did dad Harry who provided great inspiration as his caddy.
This win will put Callum in good position to try to retain his 2007 Scottish Golfer of the Year title and also the Order of Merit.
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