Macaulay targets ‘big things’ after India boost

Callum Macaulay is predicting big things in 2012 after his season got off to an impressive start with a third-placed finish at the Gujarat Kensville Challenge in India, thanks to a two- under-par round of 70 which left him two shots behind eventual winner Max Kieffer.

The 28-year-old had a rollercoaster final round which concluded with three successive birdies on a positive day for the three Scots who made the halfway cut. Chris Doak and Raymond Russell matched each other as they both shot three-under-par rounds of 69 to finish in a tie for sixth.

But it was Macaulay who took the bigger prize of €12,000, though he had to work hard for his 70 as he followed up his three-under front nine with a double bogey on the 13th, followed by a bogey on the 14th.

“I just hit the wrong club on 13,” he said. “I hit a driver and the wind wasn’t as strong as I expected it to be, so it went too far left up against the wall. I tried to get an unplayable [drop] but I couldn’t, so I had to go back up onto the tee.

“I composed myself then and birdied the last three, so I’m really happy with the finish. It’s been a great week; my first time in India and I really enjoyed it. The course is great, it was good to play a hard, firm course.

“I suppose we’re used to playing links golf; bump and runs and things like that. It’s more about strategy, rather than just booming it. It’s good to play well on the first tournament.”

After two full seasons on the Challenge Tour, Macaulay is now confident he can push on this year and finally seal a top-20 finish in the rankings to earn a card for the European Tour.

“I’m looking for big things this year,” he said. “I feel like, having played two years on the Challenge Tour, I’m ready to make the step up again.

“In 2009 it was a fairytale year, I didn’t expect to be on the European Tour but qualified at Q-School as an amateur. It was more of a ‘finding my feet’ year, although I didn’t quite find them soon enough.

“I feel like now I’m experienced enough that I can go out and contend for one of the top five positions on the Challenge Tour, and this is a great start.”

Russell and Doak both bagged eagles in their closing efforts as they collected €7,200 each, the latter finishing in style as he saved his best round of the week.

Kieffer won after a tense play-off with home favourite Rahil Gangjee, the German’s par on the first play-off hole beating Gangjee’s double-bogey to claim his first Challenge Tour title.