Hutcheon and Currie lead at Gleneagles

Two-times winner Greig Hutcheon finished with a flourish to share the lead with Chris Currie in the delayed first round of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship.

The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre player went birdie-birdie-eagle for the last three holes on the King’s Course to open the £40,000 event with a five-under-par 66.

It matched the earlier effort from Currie after the Caldwell player had set the clubhouse target as blustery conditions made scoring difficult at the Perthshire venue.

“That was quite a nice finish,” said a smiling Hutcheon, having holed from three feet and ten feet for his gains at the 16th and 17th before rolling in a 40-footer for his eagle at the par-5 18th.

“I’ve not played much tournament golf over the winter and it’s strange to be playing in the Scottish PGA in the first event of the year, so I’m pleased with that start.”

Hutcheon first won the Tartan Tour’s flagship event in 1999 before reclaiming the coveted crown two years ago.

Out in one-under, Currie started for home by putting off the green at the tenth but recovered from that setback with birdies at the 11th, 13th, 14th and 18th.

“My game has been solid for the last two years,” said the 32-year-old. “It has gone to another level since I started working with Alan Martin, the teaching pro at Buchanan Castle.”

Three players - David Orr (Eastwood), Sam Binning (Mearns Castle) and Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) - all opened with 67s.

The highlight of Binning’s round was an eagle-2 at the 14th that was inspired by the spirit of his grandad, Thomas Sneddon.

“He was a member here for 40 years,” said the 25-year-old. “He died last year and his ashes were scattered at the 14th. My mum, Karen, was caddying today and she got a bit emotional when I made that eagle."

Two-times winner Paul Lawrie had a tough day on the greens as he carded a one-under-par 70 to sit a shot ahead of defending champion Gareth Wright.

“I four-putted the first and had two three-putts as well on the front nine,” said Lawrie. “From tee to green I struck it really good - the best I’ve hit it for a long time.”