You know you’re going well when a course record at Royal Melbourne feels like a par round.
So said a modest Cameron Davis today after he etched his name into the rich tapestry of this great club, equalling Tom Crow’s West Course mark set in 1956 with a stupendous nine-under-par 63.
Davis, 19, of Sydney, was typically more worried about his previous round of 77 that cost him a realistic chance of winning the Australian Master of the Amateurs than rejoicing his third-round blitz.
But while he said his feat of getting his name on a famous board in the hallowed club “hadn’t quite sunk in yet”, he was extremely proud to have done so – “especially at Royal Melbourne”.
Even more amazing is that his eight birdies and an eagle were blemished by a bogey on the shortish par-five fourth when his tee shot left into trees forced a second shot just to be bumped clear.
“I got off to a great start, then it felt like birdies became pars and I was in the zone all day – it just felt easy,” Davis said with a wry smile.
“The guys I played with (Blake Windred had a 69 and Thomas Power-Horan a 68) and we all felt like we were just having a casual round of golf and in the end we all turned in great scores.
“They played great as well – it was just a day out. It felt like even par, I was shocked to find out it was 63.”
The Golf Australia national squad member has only had one previous course record – and that was only a three-under round at the then newly redesigned Roseville in Sydney.
“I’ve had eight-under (64) at (home club) Monash a few times, but never in a tournament … so this is my best score and it’s just happened to be at Royal Melbourne.
“It’s hard to believe, actually.”
Davis made three birdies to begin his round before his bogey, and was “only” four under at the turn with the harder back nine to come.
“But I just kept playing my game and didn’t miss too many putts,” said Davis, who eagled the 15th to cap a superb five-under stretch to open the back nine before parring home.
Crow, the founder of golf products giant Cobra, was thrilled to share his mark.
Now 83 and living in Wyoming in the United States, former Royal Melbourne member Crow offered his “warmest congratulations” to Davis.
“I’m absolutely delighted for him. Putting on Royal Melbourne greens you need to be damn good, so Cameron must be some sort of golfer.”