Callum Mowat’s first round performance on Thursday at the Vodacom Origins of Golf event at Simola Golf and Country Estate suggests he is on a mission to salvage his not-so-brilliant season on the Sunshine Tour.
Tied at two-under-par 70 for second, one off the early lead on the opening day at Simola, the 24-year-old put up a strong fight to see himself amongst the leading pack – making four birdies and bogeys on the fourth and the fifth.
He hopes the good start at Simola will carry him throughout the tournament. “I am very excited today. It’s been a long time coming because I started off this year quite badly but I am just trying to get my golf up. I have not had an under-par start in a long while so I am just happy,” he said.
Maintaining the good start will require a lot of discipline and making sure there are as few mistakes on the card as possible, and last season’s runner up of the Vodacom Origins circuit is filled with confidence.
“I feel very confident. I’m just trying to keep to my game plan and not make too many mistakes. I changed my game plan, I think I just got a bit nervous, so I decided and said ‘you know what, just play your game; the game you played as an amateur golfer’,” Mowat said.
And he admits that it is very satisfying to be among the leading group so far. “I don’t think people understand how satisfying it is after you go through such a slump and it’s just negative. You start doubting yourself and not believing in yourself anymore. This is just like a booster for me; it’s like having an energy drink so I am feeling really good at the moment and I am looking forward to the rest of the tournament,” he said.
Mowat has not made a top 10 in the 13 tournaments he has played this season while 2015 was his best year on tour. He finished in the top-10 five times, and that included runner-up positions at the final of the Vodacom Origins series at Zebula Country Club and the Sun Windmill Challenge respectively. He currently lies 79th on the Order of Merit.
From sunshinetour.com
