Duncan’s Callum Davison Is On Fire
Compiled by VIGN Editors (excerpted from press releases by Rob Leth/Mackenzie Tour)
The Cowichan Valley product has returned home after two impressive wins...
His impressive run started in PEI at the 2021 Brudenell River Classic... and it almost did not happen.
Davison had been playing on the Forme Tour south of the border and had originally planned to only play the 2021 Prince Edward Island Open. He entered the final round with a chance to win but a 78 cost him.
In an interview, Davison explained his plan, “I was struggling on the (U.S. based) Forme Tour and was going to lose my card anyway. I was just going to play one event up here, but since they were so close together and I was already here, I decided to play the second one.”
That proved to be a wise decision.
With the remnants of Hurricane Ida rolling through, Davison persevered shooting a final round of 3-under, 69 to finish the tournament at 15-under (68-64-69—201). Callum and Ontario’s Noah Steele were the only two players to record three straight rounds in the 60s in this 54-hole event.
It rained all day at Brudenell River Golf Course, intensifying on the back nine as the lead groups came down the stretch. The grounds crew employed squeegees on the last few greens as puddles began to form.
“After (No.) 12, it was terrible,” said Davison of the weather as he bogeyed two of his last three holes. “I was just trying to make contact. If you miss it, at least miss it in the right areas so you can at least try to make a par. By the time we got to 17, it was not really very playable. I’m just glad on 18 all I had to do was make a six (to force a playoff).”
“It feels great,” said Davison, the only player on Tour to employ the unorthodox cross-handed grip on full swings. “I hit it great off the tee all week, so that was huge. I’ve been struggling with that this season, and I just made some putts when I needed to.”
See a video clip of the conditions here.
After the win, Callum had a new plan. “Now my goal is to make the top five on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada,” said Davison at the time.
“I was three years old when I started. I picked it up that way. I feel like there are so many ways of playing golf. I’ve had two or three coaches try to change me, and I’ve always thought that I can play this way. I don’t need to switch. You look at Jim Furyk, Matthew Wolff... there are so many guys. You can make it happen.”
Davison cooled off in Lake Waskesiu, SK, at the Elk Ridge Open finishing 14th before posting a top-10 at the ATB Financial Classic in Calgary where another BCer, Jared du Toit, took home the title.
In Kelowna at the GolfBC Championship, after the first round, Callum was three shots off the pace but by the end of round two, things had changed. He was now in a tie for the lead at 8-under after posting the best round of the day, a 4-under, 67, with six birdies and an eagle. Three of his circled numbers came from off the green, including a birdie putt from the fringe to finish his round on No. 9.
“I chipped in on No. 2 and that was the jump start for my round. I chipped in again (for eagle) on the par-5 sixth. That was a pretty straightforward chip-in.”
In round three, Callum took control with a 3-under round of 68 to get to 11-under, taking a one-shot lead over Brendan Leonard. And that lead could have been a lot bigger, “On the back nine… I missed five putts consecutively from within 10 feet.”
In the final round, the Duncan, British Columbia, native shot his third 3-under round of 68 of the tournament to take home the hardware. He was only one of two players to shoot all four rounds in the 60s.
“I never played very aggressive,” said Davison of his final round. “I made a sloppy bogey after hitting driver on No. 10. That kind of kicked me in the butt and [I said to myself] I can’t glide in; I’ve got to get after it. So, I made two birdies after that and that kind of got the round going... It’s so nice that my hard work this offseason is paying off. It just shows that if I can get it in the fairway, the rest of my game is there.”
Watch his interview after the win.
For his two wins, Davison has earned more than $25,000 CDN and, just as importantly, put himself in the driver’s seat to win the points title taking a commanding lead in the standings heading into the final event of the season, the Reliance Properties DC Bank Open presented by Times Colonist at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria. The top-five players on the final Points List will earn 2022 PGA TOUR Canada membership. First place will receive fully exempt status for the 2022 season, while second-through-fifth will earn exempt status up until the first reshuffle based on player performance.
And he feels pretty good about teeing it up just an hour’s drive from his home.
“It’s funny because if you told me I was going to win one tournament on this Tour, it would be Uplands,” said Davison. “I used to play there every week when I was home, so I’m comfortable on that track. Some friends and family are going to come out... I’m just looking to have another good week, put myself in contention and see what happens.”
Callum will also have some friendly support inside the ropes as well. Cowichan Golf Club Assistant Professional Andy Johnson posted in a tweet, “I look forward to being inside the ropes with you next week Champion!”
You can find out more about the Mackenzie Tour here and the Reliance Properties DC Bank Open presented by Times Colonist here.