Hutcheon ‘shocked’ after PGA Play-Offs victory

Torphins golfer Greig Hutcheon admitted he was still in shock after winning The PGA Play-Offs to bag seven starts on the DP World Tour.

The 49-year-old, pictured, defeated Adam Keogh (Woodhill Spa) on the second extra hole at PGA National Slieve Russell.

Hutcheon signed for a two-under par round of 70 in regulation play but was joined at the top of the leaderboard at seven-under par by Keogh who fired the round of the day, a five-under 67, to force a play-off.

The leading pair halved the first extra hole in five but after Keogh failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker at the next, Hutcheon’s par proved enough to capture the prestigious title for the third time in his career.

As well as the £3,500 winner’s cheque, Hutcheon has earned several DP World Tour starts, starting at next week’s Betfred British Masters at The Belfry.

He has also earned a spot at the BMW PGA Championship, Irish Open, Cazoo Open, ISPS Handa World Invitational, Cazoo Classic and Scottish Hero Open. He will also compete in the PGA of South Africa PGA Championship later this year.

Hutcheon said: “It’s a little bit of a shock, especially after starting off bogey-bogey this morning.

“I came back well, made some birdies and managed to win it finally in the play-off.

“I’ve managed to win this a couple of times before but I’m about to enter my 50th year so this was one last final swansong and I’m delighted.”

He added: “It’s a great start to the year – I’ve just got to find some accommodation now for The Belfry.”

“I get to play some of the big tour events now which is a little bit daunting at my age but you know what, as long as I can keep fit and keep flexible, I can still hit the ball reasonably well so I fancy I might be able to make a few cuts.”

l Michele Thomson has made a strong start at the Women’s NSW Open, after a ‘terrible’ week of golf at the Australian Women’s Classic.

Thomson is in the midst of an Australian double-header on the Ladies European Tour, and was left disappointed with scores of 74 and 79 in Bonville last week.

But now, at the Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club, she is just one just shot off the lead (69) and is happy to see an improvement after day one on the course.

“As much as I like Bonville, this is a type of golf course that suits my game. It is fairways and greens here and then hole a putt or two,” Thomson said.

“I managed to do that for most of the day. Obviously, I got a really bad lie in the bunker at the last and I hit two good putts that I thought I hit good, they missed, and I made double.

“But I can’t be too disappointed in that because I have got up and down a couple of times out there for par and it is only day one. I am delighted with the score because last week my golf was terrible.”

Sweden’s Maja Stark and India’s Amandeep Drall both fired rounds of 68 (-4) to be co-leaders at the end of the first day of action at the Women’s NSW Open.

Thomson shares third spot with Australian duo Belinda Ji and Jordan O’Brien, and England’s Alice Hewson.

Meanwhile, Thomson’s fellow Scots Gabriella McDonald and Hannah McCook shot 73 and 74, respectively.

l England’s James Morrison produced a brilliant burst of scoring to lie one shot off the lead following the first round of the Catalunya Championship.

Morrison carded a five-under-par 67 at PGA Catalunya to share second place with Haotong Li and Sebastian Heisele, with Denmark’s Jeff Winther and the South African duo of Oliver Bekker and Darren Fichardt setting the pace on six under.

Grant Forrest is the top Scot with a two under 70, with Ewen Ferguson one behind and Aberdeen’s Danny Law on 72. Richie Ramsay is one over par, Fife’s Connor Syme carded a three over 75 with Scott Jamieson three shots further back.