18/11/08
Scotland’s number one amateur golfer Callum Macaulay has secured his place on the European Tour for 2009 after a rousing performance at the PGA Catalunya green course today to finish well inside the much coveted top 30.
The 24-year-old, who has enjoyed a glittering amateur season, has rounded it off in style at the Tour School final after a marathon six round effort earned him a share of 20th place and the chance to play for superb prize funds around the world in the inaugural Race to Dubai in 2009.
Playing solid tournament golf from start to finish over the red and green courses in Spain, his earlier rounds of 71, 67, 72 and 69 enabled the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Champion to vie for a place in the upper reaches of the leaderboard among a strong field of 73 players who had made the cut .
The early Christmas present for the Clackmannanshire ace came after the Scot held his nerve in the closing two rounds to card a 1-under 71 followed by a solid level par 72 to finish in that joint 20th place with a six round total of 422, which included a total of 22 birdies.
Speaking after today’s deciding final round Macaulay – part of Scotland’s recent World Amateur Championship winning team - beamed, “I’m ecstatic about my performance this week. To qualify to play on the European Tour is a dream come true.”
“I’ve played solidly all week and felt comfortable from start to finish. I felt a bit nervous last night but once I got out on the course I felt fine. I gave myself plenty of birdie chances although didn’t hole any putts. My dad Harry who was caddying for me lost my putter cover on the 11th so it must have gone cold!”
From an army of Scots who embarked on their Tour card campaign, Macaulay proved his credentials as a budding professional by producing outstanding rounds on both courses used in the final qualifying tournament and avoiding taking anything worse than a bogey at any of the 108 holes.
He was among four successful Scots today, with former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart, David Drysdale and Chris Doak securing their immediate future on the forthcoming Tour circuit. Coltart finished with a 10-under six round total of 420 which saw him tied for 12th place, whilst Drysdale and Doak shared 15th on 9-under (421).
Macaulay added, “It’s been a great day for the Scottish contingent with all four of us going through today. I’m going out for a meal with my dad tonight to celebrate.”
The Tulliallan player will make his Tour debut in South Africa on 11 December and the SGU wishes Macaulay and all of the qualifying Scots every success in the future.
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