Hutcheon leads in bid for fourth Scottish PGA

Deer Park specialist Greig Hu tc he on peppered a round of 66 with half a dozen birdies as he took a first-round lead at the Loch Lomond Whiskies Scottish PGA.

Hutcheon is a three-time winner of the Tartan Tour’s flagship event and can rub shoulders with the likes of Sam Torrance, B ernard Gallacher, John Panton, Eric Brown and Ross Drummond in the pantheon of Scottish PGA multiple champions.

The Torphins man is also well versed in playing the Livingston venue and triumphed there as recently as last month, when he won the Deer Park Masters for a seventh time in his career.

Hutcheon’s six-under par round gave him a one-shot lead over Alastair Forsyth, the Scottish PGA champion in 2000, whose 67 included seven birdies.

Scott Henderson, the runner-up in 2003, is a shot further back in a tie for third place with Ross Cameron and Kyle Godsman.

Andrew Oldcorn is handily placed after a round of 69 left him three off the lead in a group alongside Andrew Crerar, Greg Dalziel, Chris Currie, Graham Fox, Craig Ronald and Ross Munro.

Deer Park is hosting the 72- hole Scottish PGA for the first time since 199 0 and the championship will conclude on Friday.

●TheZozo Championship, which was won last year by Tiger Woods, has been moved from Japan to California due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Woods won the inaugural event at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club last year to match Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour titles, but will defend the title – if he opts to play – at the familiar venue of Sherwood Country Club instead.

The 15- time major winner hosted his World Challenge event at Sherwood from 2000 -2013, winning five times.

TheZozo Championship will remain a 78-man event and retains its original dates of 22-25 October, forming par t of a make - shift West Coast swing in the US.