Scotland's Greig Hutcheon held his nerve in a three-man showdown to complete the most memorable year of his career by winning the Srixon PGA Play-Offs at Little Aston.
The 37-year-old, who also won the PGA Scottish Region's Order of Merit, sank a 15 foot putt for a birdie on the first play-off hole to hold off the challenges of James Harris and Richard O'Hanlon.
The putt not only earned him the first prize of £2,000 but also entry into next year's Celtic Manor Welsh Open and three Challenge Tour events.
Hutcheon had already qualified for the prestigious BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond as a result of winning his homeland Order of Merit. However, with the possibility of some invitations to other European Tour events in the offing, Hutcheon has had to rethink next year's schedule.
Hutcheon had already qualified for the prestigious BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond as a result of winning his homeland Order of Merit. However, with the possibility of some invitations to other European Tour events in the offing, Hutcheon has had to rethink next year's schedule.
Hutcheon, a PGA pro at Banchory near Aberdeen, had decided to end his long quest to become a European Tour regular, not least because of the birth of his first child earlier this year.
"It looks as though I'm going to have a few European Tour events to play in, so I'm more than happy to give them a go."
Hutcheon was indebted to legendary PGA coach Bob Torrance for advice he gave him at Gleneagles earlier this year.
Hutcheon was indebted to legendary PGA coach Bob Torrance for advice he gave him at Gleneagles earlier this year.
Hutcheon recalled: "I was hoping to get a late spot in the Johnnie Walker and practising on the range when Bob Torrance came along. I told him I was having a few problems with my game and he asked me what was the strongest part of my body. When I replied 'my legs', he told me to start using them properly. Since then my game's been great and I haven't looked back.
Hutcheon, who was second overnight and followed up his first round of 68 with a 69 to finish seven-under-par, was forced to look over his shoulder by both O'Hanlon and Harris.
O'Hanlon, the PGA pro at Llanhydrock in Cornwall who was level par after the first day, gate-crashed the three-way play-off by carding the round of the tournament. His seven-under-par 65 was bogey-free and included an eagle and five birdies. Three of those came in the last four holes but he was unable to continue that momentum into the play-off, bowing out with a bogey to finish third.
That earned him £1,200 and qualification for the Barclay Scottish Open and four Challenge Tour events, a scenario he agreed was unlikely at the start of the day.
Harris, from the Nevil Club in Kent who began the day five shots adrift of overnight leader Matt Morris and three behind Hutcheon, also carded an eagle, chipping in at the par five 12th en route to a round of 66. Harris came within inches of following suit at the first play-off hole with a superb escape from a bunker to force Hutcheon to sink his putt for victory.
By way of consolation, Harris has also qualified for the Barclay Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and four Challenge Tour events.
David Mortimer of FORE Ireland completed round two in level par to finish in a two way share of seventh place at Little Aston on Thursday and five shots off the winning score of 7 under par.
“Very windy today and tough day for scoring”, explained Mortimer, “Obviously the four other guys burned it up and had no problems. I played solid and just didn’t get any luck on the greens which made it a tough day.”
David Higgins of Waterville also signed for a level par round of 72 but having started out one shot further adrift finished one under par and in ninth place. For Higgins the major setback was a double bogey at the 10th but then covered the two dropped shots with birdies at the 12 and 15th to finish level.
Damian Mooney had the most contrasting fortunes again Thursday with a double bogey on the second, a quadruple bogey on the par four 10th and an eagle three on the 13th hole to finish with a 74.
Srixon Play-Offs Final Result
Srixon Play-Offs Final Result
