Hard work pays off for Bowditch

The rub of the green has finally gone Steven Bowditch&aposs way as he fired a course-record seven-under 65 on the second day at The Hills course. Coming to Australasia at the end of an American year that he admits was a &aposhuge disappointment&apos, Bowditch decided to change his approach after missing the cut at last week&aposs MasterCard Masters in Melbourne. “I&aposve been practising good and doing everything I need to do to compete at a high level but haven&apost been able to put it on the golf course,” Bowditch said after a brilliant seven-under 65 on Friday. “The last couple of days I just went out there and had fun, still put in all the work but played like I didn&apost care to a certain degree.” The result was a round where his approach shots rained down on the pins with unrelenting accuracy, needing to make no putts over 20 feet in eight birdies including five in a row. After carding a gutsy 69 on Thursday, where he played much better than the score represented, there was plenty of justice in his hot form finally paying off a day later. “I played really well yesterday, I thought I played a lot better than three-under but just couldn&apost make any putts.” “This morning I went out there and was striking the ball really nicely and again couldn’t make any putts and started to get a bit frustrated.” “I made an easy bogey on number seven and that got me fired up, then made a 20-footer on nine and hit close for the rest of the day. It was one of those sort easy days.” While there was still plenty of golf to be played after his round, it seemed likely Bowditch would go into the weekend with a handy advantage and he said that was something he was completely comfortable with. “It&aposs a position I am familiar with but it&aposs been a while, so I&aposm definitely looking forward to it.”