Powerade PGA Assistants' qualifier

Chris Currie in action at Auchterarder.

London calling! Third time lucky

at Auchterarder for Chris

PRESS RELEASE

Renfrewshire professional Chris Currie booked his place in the prestigious final of the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship, in association with FootJoy, after sharing first place in the qualifier in only his third competitive start.

The 25-year-old turned professional last September and recorded joint14th and joint 25th places in the two Linkslands Series Young Pro'sevents at Kingsbarns and Dunbar last month.

But in his first attempt at the Powerade he carded a one-under-par 68 at Auchterarder to share top spot with Blairgowrie's Stuart Reekie and Archerfield Links' Lee Harper, winner of the qualifier last year.

"Qualifying was the main objective. I'm a first-year assistant so this was my first experience of qualifying," said Currie.

"The greens were a bit slow but they were running okay, especially on the back nine when the breeze started to pick up.

"Before I went out I knew level par or better wouldn't be far away and I was striking the ball nicely.

"I have only read a few bits in the PGA magazines about the final but it is all a whole new experience for me. I just want to keep on focusing on posting decent scores."
Harper was in the first group out and set posted the target for everyone, haing recovered from two over after six to record three birdies in his final 11 holes. It took a while for anyone to catch him but Currie and Reekie finished within minutes of each other to take a share of first place.

Reekie was equally pleased with his effort, especially after hitting a six-iron to two feet for birdie at the 188-yard last to clinch a share of top spot.

"It was a good day. I was playing reasonably well so I was quite pleased with a 68," said the 27-year-old, who admitted he may have benefited from some local knowledge.

"I played in this event last year but missed qualifying by a couple of shots so I didn't have a score in mind.

"But I played quite well round here as an amateur and I am only 20 miles up the road in Perth so I know the course quite well."

There were 16 qualification places available from the 55-strong field and a play-off was required decide who made it to The London Club in August after six players tied on two over - with only four places free.

One of the earlier starters, Stuart Winter (Callander), was not present when called for the start of the play-off and David McLure (Troon Municipal) was the unlucky man to lose out as he bogeyed the first extra hole

LEADING SCORES (16 to qualify)

Auchterarder Golf Club
Par 69
68 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Christopher Currie (Caldwell), Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie).
69 Greg McBain (Royal Dornoch), James McGhee (Turnhouse), Kenneth Glen (Royal Musselburgh), Ross Neill (Drumpellier), Neil Peter Fenwick (Dunbar), Mark Finlayson (Edzell).
70 Scott Pithie (Carluke), Alastair Love (Charleton), Graeme Lornie (King Links).
71 Scott Finlayson (Charleton), Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park), Stuart Robin (Kilmarnock Barassie), Joel Hopwood (Carnegie).
Eliminated after play-off:
71 David McLure (Troon Municipal) (Stewart Winter (Callander) was not present for play-off).
Other scores:
72 David Knapp (North Gailes), Richard Valentine (Craigielaw), David Broadfoot (Dumfries & Co).