Greig Hutcheon wins PGA Play-offs ... after a play-off

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
Banchory's Greig Hutcheon held his nerve in a three-man showdown to complete the most memorable year of his career by winning the Srixon PGA Play-Offs at Little Aston, Birmingham today.
The 37-year-old, who won the PGA Scottish Region's Order of Merit, sank a 15 foot putt for a birdie on the first play-off hole to repel the challenges of James Harris and Richard O'Hanlon.
The putt not only earned the Scot first prize of £2,000 but also entry into next year's Celtic Manor Welsh Open and three Challenge Tour events.
Hutcheon had already qualified for the prestigious BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond as a result of winning his homeland Order of Merit.
And with the possibility of some invitations to other European Tour events in the offing, Hutcheon has had to rethink next year's schedule.
Hutcheon had decided to end his long quest to become a European Tour regular, not least because of the birth of his first child earlier this year.

"It can be hard doing it week in week out for as long as I did," he said before Little Aston.

"My circumstances have also changed at home with the wee boy and I'll be more than happy to play in Scotland."

Victory in the Play-Offs and its beneficial spin-offs, however, has changed that and he added: "It looks as though I'm going to have a few European Tour events to play in, so I'm more than happy to give them a go."

As well as looking forward, Hutcheon also reflected on the part two senior PGA members have played in his success.

Ironically, he was trained at Knole Park in Kent by Peter Gill, who began his career as an assistant at Little Aston to Charlie Ward.

And he was also indebted to legendary PGA coach Bob Torrance for advice he gave him at Gleneagles earlier this year.

Hutcheon recalled: "I was hoping to get a late spot in the Johnnie Walker and practising on the range when Bob Torrance came along. I told him I was having a few problems with my game and he asked me what was the strongest part of my body. When I replied 'my legs', he told me to start using them properly.
"Since then my game's been great and I haven't looked back."
Hutcheon, who was second overnight and followed up his first round of 68 with a 69 to finish seven-under-par, was forced to look over his shoulder by both O'Hanlon and Harris.
O'Hanlon, the PGA pro at Llanhydrock in Cornwall who was level par after the first day, gate-crashed the three-way play-off by carding the round of the tournament.
His seven-under-par 65 was bogey-free and included an eagle and five birdies. Three of those came in the last four holes but he was unable to continue that momentum into the play-off, bowing out with a bogey to finish third.
That earned him £1,200 and qualification for the Barclay Scottish Open and four Challenge Tour events, a scenario he agreed was unlikely at the start of the day.
"Getting anything after starting at level par is great, he said. "But I should have been awarded an extra 500 quid for that round!"
Harris, from the Nevil Club in Kent who began the day five shots adrift of overnight leader Matt Morris and three behind Hutcheon, also carded an eagle, chipping in at the par five 12th en route to a round of 66.
And he came within inches of following suit at the first play-off hole with a superb escape from a bunker to force Hutcheon to sink his putt for victory.
By way of consolation, Harris has also qualified for the Barclay Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and four Challenge Tour events.