Scott Grieve (left) and James McGhee who combined well for a competition-winning round of 65 at Old Musselburgh today (Picture by courtesy of Sandy Young of Getty Images).

Turnhouse pair lead qualifiers for PGA

Four-ball final at Forest Pines

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA

Turnhouse Golf Club head professional Scott Grieve celebrated a debut victory with assistant James McGhee in the SkyCaddie PGA Four-ball Championship supported by Sunderland – by putting a shift in back at the club.

Just hours after the pair had led home the field at Musselburgh with a flawless seven-under-par 64, Grieve was back in charge of affairs, having only being elevated to the top job back in March.

But while he came to the aid of the club members, Grieve was able to do so in satisfaction after securing a place in the 54-hole £30,000 final at Lincolnshire’s Forest Pines in October.

“It’s the first time I’ve played in it and I’m pretty sure it is for James too and when I entered I thought it would just be a bit of fun and a opportunity to play with my assistant in a quality event,” said Grieve, who teed off at 7.40am and expected to close the pro shop doors at 7pm.

“Now we’re off to the final and looking forward to giving it a go when we get down there and hopefully playing as well as we did today. We don’t play very much, I’ve not long been made head professional and so I’m busy at the club while James tries to fit in playing with his coaching and his studies.

“But James played very well at Musselburgh, while I came in with a few birdies on the back nine. Importantly we kept the bogeys off the card and when one us was out of the hole the other always came up with a par or birdie.”

The duo were coasting to the final reaching the turn in four-under-par before completing their majestic round with three more on the home stretch.

A total of four teams qualified from Scotland with Keith Lobban (Keith Lobban Golf) and Garry Harvey (Kinross) a shot further back in second place. Third place went to Inchmarlo duo Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Locke, who shot five-under-par.

A play-off was needed for the final spot with travelling companions and Tartan Tour high-fliers Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) and Mark King (Kingsfield) denying Sean O’Donnell (Balbirnie Park) and Michael Rae (Alyth) at the fifth extra hole after they were locked at four-under-par.

QUALIFIERS

Par 71

64 Scott Grieve & James McGhee (Turnhouse)

65 Garry Harvey (Kinross Golf) & Keith Lobban (Keith Lobban Golf).

66 Andrew Locke & Ryan Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo).

67 (after play-off) Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) & Mark King (Kingsfield)

DID NOT QUALIFY
67 (after play-off) Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) & Michael Rae (Alyth).

*Full results from the event at Musselburgh can be found under ‘Schedule, Scores and Results’ at http://www.pga.info/PGAFourballChampionship.aspx