The talented 27-year-old was dropped from the Otago team along with Cameron Beel and Russell Newman for indiscretions during the Otago matchplay tournament at the weekend.
McEwan, who has been part of the Otago senior team for the past 10 years, failed to show up for his Sunday tee time and Beel and Newman withdrew from the plate after losing first-round matches in the senior championship.
Their opponents were forced to sit the match out, which was disappointing, considering the tournament was the last opportunity players had to impress the selectors ahead of the naming of the team to compete in the South Island inter-provincial in Nelson next month.
"I've already explained to the selectors and I'd rather just leave it at that," McEwan said when asked why he had failed to turn up.
"But where I'm going to go from here is to use the time to practise and get back into it next year. It has probably made me more determined than anything."
McEwan, who is believed to have been at a social event on Saturday night, said he had been treated fairly by the selectors.
Otago selector Alan Rose said the selection panel wanted to send a clear message to the region's golfers.
"The decisions that they made show that they aren't willing to give their all to Otago and we've got other guys who are."
The Otago matchplay title was won by 17-year-old Gore High School pupil Vaughan McCall. McCall is not available for Otago but Rose, who is McCall's coach, described him as a real talent.
"He is a very good player and played particularly well over the weekend. He showed maturity and, strategy-wise, he played the golf course pretty well.
"He is forever improving, really."
