Hutch outscores Lawrie in Portlethen wind

Tartan Tour supremo Greig Hutcheon continued his domestic dominance by winning the North-East Alliance championship for the first time at a windy Portlethen Golf Club.

Hutcheon, who recently joined the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre "stable," captured the Uniroyal Quaich by outscoring new boss Lawrie over the final 18 holes with a one-under-par 70 for a total of six-under 135 - three ahead of Lawrie who had a 73.

They had been level on 65 after the first round at Buckpool last week.

"It was hard work in that wind and when I went out of bounds to run up a double bogey seven at the second, I knew I was up against it," said Hutcheon.

"But I got three birdies in a row after that so that spurred me on. Nice to win this year after losing out on a countback last year."

Hutcheon, in fact, finished with a bag of six birdies - great ball control in in the wind and he was hitting some drives over 300yd downwind - and was able to finish with a bogey six and still win comfortably with halves of 35.

Lawrie's challenge diminished with five bogeys in a row between the eighth and the 12th. Birdies at the 13th and 16th could not retrieve the situation in halves of 37-36.

Paul's son Craig outscored his father with a second-round 71 to tie for third place with another young rookie pro, Sam Kiloh (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) (70-71) and Royal Aberdeen amateur Neil Macandrew (71-70) on 141.