It's third time lucky for Wright

07/05/2014

Welshman Gareth Wright became the first non-Scot in 80 years to win the £50,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship after making it third-time lucky in the Tartan Tour’s flagship event.

The 32-year-old West Linton player closed with a pair of 68s over the King’s Course for a nine-under-par total of 275 and a one-shot victory from Jason McCreadie, the 2008 champion from Buchanan Castle.

It was the first time a non-Scot had claimed the title since Englishman Mark Seymour recorded the last of his three victories in the prestigious event 80 years ago.

Wright was born in London and raised in Wales but has lived in Scotland for the last 16 years and was part of a tartan triumph in the 2012 European Team Championship.

“This is what I regard as my national championship and it’s on par with winning the Glenmuir British Club Professionals’ Championship in 2012,” he admitted.

Three shots behind co-leaders Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) and Greg McBain (Clydeway Golf) at the halfway stage, Wright moved alongside that pair with a round to go after the first of his three-under efforts on the closing day.

In a tension-packed final circuit, McCreadie briefly moved ahead before Wright joined him on eight-under by hitting a 7-iron to ten feet for a birdie at the 15th.

When McCreadie then dropped a shot at the 17th, it allowed Wright to set the clubhouse target after a birdie at the last, where both McCreadie and McBain were unable to hole eagle attempts from 20 feet and 35 feet respectively to force a play-off.

McCreadie closed with a 67 - the best score on the last day - to finish a shot ahead of McBain after the Kemnay player three-putted the last for a closing 70.

Arnott, winner of last week’s inaugural P&H Championship at Dundonald Links, finished fourth after a brace of 71s to finish.

“I think the course owed me this one,” said the new champion, referring to the fact he’d twice previously finished runner-up in the event - losing in a play-off to Chris Doak in 2010 then being pipped by Greig Hutcheon last year.

“It feels nice to have finally got the job done,” added Wright, who picked up a cheque for £9,000 and can look forward to a luxury stay at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel when he returns as defending champion.

In the last professional event at the Perthshire venue before it stages the Ryder Cup in September, Carluke’s Craig Ronald produced the shot of the week with a hole-in-one at the 11th in the third round.

** Watch TV highlights on Sky Sports 4 on Tuesday, May 13 at 7pm and 11pm and again on Sky Sports 4 Wednesday May 14 at 11am and 4pm.