Hutcheon lands second Scottish PGA title

Banchory's Greig Hutcheon won the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship for a second time today - some 14 years after his first win when he was based at Bristol.

In a remarkable last-day turnaround over the par-71 King's Course at the Perthshire golf resort, Hutcheon made up four shots on overnight leader Gareth Wright (West Linton) with a five-under-par 66 for a total of 17-under-par 267 to win the £9,000 first prize.

Wright failed to break 70 for the first time over the four days and a par 71 for a total of 268 relegated him to second place and a £6,500 cheque.

The two men finished well clear of third-placed Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) who had made the running over the first two rounds. McCreadie signed off with a 70 for 273 and a payslip for £4,500.

Welshman Wright's four-stroke advantage disappeared over the first three holes with a bogey (three putts), double bogey, par start compared with Hutcheon's par-par-birdie for the same holes.

Wright took a double-bogey six at the second after his approach took a big bounce through the green and landed in bushes, from where he had to take a penalty drop.

Hutcheon's birdie at the third saw him draw level but it was still nip and tuck until the Banchory man birdied the 14th and 15th, holing from some 30ft at the latter hole to go two shots clear.

Hutcheon still led by two coming down the par-5 18th where he raced his putt for an eagle three five feet past the hole.

Wright holed from 25 feet for his eagle and Hutcheon held his nerve to hole for a birdie for a one-shot win.

The 40-year-old winner, who was No 1 on the Tartan Tour last year, heading both the Order of Merit and the Money table, said: "I'm really chuffed to win this event, especially as it was part of the European Tour in 1999 and I won as the leading Scot in that.

"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 said: "It's disappointing to have lost a four-shot lead. 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."