Taking his best shot
Adam Gallant says his game is rounding into form as he prepares for opening round of Island amateur
Improvements in his long and short games have Adam Gallant looking to contend for his first Cooke Insurance Amateur Golf Championship.
The first of three rounds starts this morning at the Stanhope Golf Course.
“I’ve always considered myself a decent putter, but this year it’s really set me apart I find,” Gallant said Thursday. “Inside 10 feet, I step up to it and feel like I’m going to make it and, most of the times, it goes in the hole.”
The 24-year-old Summerside native, who has been a member of the P.E.I. Ocean View Resort and Golf Club in his hometown since 2004, has always been able to hit the ball far off the tee, but he has learned shorter drives can be more effective.
“Now I’m starting to find more fairways, which makes it easier to hit it close to the hole and make those birdies,” he said.
“You have to put yourself in position to hit that second shot and give yourself looks at birdies.”
Gallant has played in the Island’s player of the year series since graduating from the Order of Merit junior circuit.
Initially, he said, it was a bit intimidating playing with the province’s best, but it has helped him improve his game and he enjoys measuring himself against those golfers every couple of weeks.
“You need to be on in all facets of your game,” said Gallant, whose best finish
on the series was a second in Summerside a couple of years ago.
Gallant said he had a down year last season, struggling to put consistent rounds together, and noted it was hard to pinpoint the reason.
“This year, I’m continuing to put the work in, and it’s paying off.”
Gallant is sitting third in the player of the year series after two events. He finished tied for fourth at Avondale and tied for seventh at Mill River. He is
rounding into form and looking for three strong rounds this week.
“Coming into this weekend, my game is feeling pretty good,” he said.
“I found something again and it feels pretty good right now.”
The amateur is worth twice the points in the player of the year series, is used to determine the Island squad for the Atlantic Golf Championship in New Brunswick and will factor into the selection of the Island squad competing in Newfoundland for the Atlantic Cup, formerly known as the Mel Murray Maritime Cup.
“It’s a very, very important and prestigious golf tournament,” Gallant said of the amateur.
“I try to peak my game right before the amateur. That’s the most important time of the year, for me.”
With so much on the line, being mentally strong is critical.
“If you hit a bad shot, you just have to shake it off and go hit the next one.”