Hutcheon claims Scottish PGA crown

Banchory man reins in rival Wright to seal second victory at Gleneagles

Delighted: Greig Hutcheon with the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship trophy (© Andy Forman)

Greig Hutcheon showed the kind of form that helped him top the Tartan Tour Order of Merit in 2012 by claiming the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship.

Banchory man Hutcheon recovered from a disappointing opening round of 73 to post two consecutive rounds of 64 followed by a closing 66 to finish on 17-under-par and take the most coveted title on the domestic professional circuit by one shot from West Linton’s Gareth Wright.

Wright, who made the cut on his Open Championship debut at Muirfield a fortnight ago, had started the final round with a four-shot lead over Hutcheon after rounds of 65, 67 and 67.

However, he saw that disappear the first three holes as he got off to a bogey-double-bogey start and Hutcheon opened with a pair of pars and a birdie.

Wright regained his composure after that shaky start and there was little to separate he and Hutcheon under the Aberdeen man birdied the 14th and then picked up another shot by holing a 30-foot putt at the 15th to go two clear.

Hutcheon retained his two-shot advantage as the pair arrived at the 18th and, after Wright converted a 25-foot putt for eagle, Hutcheon needed to hole a five-footer for birdie to take the title and £9,000 first prize, which he duly converted.

“I’m really chuffed to win this event,” said Hutcheon, whose only previous win in the tournament came back in 1999. “I managed to claw my way back into it this week after an opening 73 and the main reason I was able to do that was definitely my putting.

“Gareth and I both played some loose shots today as well as some good ones and it all came down to some lucky breaks here and there.”

Wright, meanwhile, was philosophical in defeat. “It’s disappointing to have lost a four-shot lead,” he said. “I didn’t get off to a good start but all credit to Greig as he putted well all day.

“I’ve shot level-par in the final round, meaning Greig had to break par to beat me. I was due the putt for my eagle at the last but I didn’t expect Greig to miss his and was proved right.”

Buchanan Castle’s Jason McCreadie took third on 11-under with David Orr of Mearns Castle Golf Academy a further two shots adrift.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor