OPTICAL EXPRESS TOUR MOVES UP TO THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

News Release From The PGA in Scotland

Tain and Brora Golf Courses will stage the third of the PGA Optical Express Tour series next Monday and Tuesdsay, with 18 holes being played on each of the highly-regarded northern links courses.
Following hard on the heels of the second event, which was staged last week at Spey Valley Golf Course, Aviemore, this tournament follows the format of the 36 hole PGA competition played over the same two courses last September, with the first round at Tain on Monday, followed by the second round at Brora on Tuesday.
The winner of the 2011 version, Hayston’s Stephen Gray will be one of the favourites to land the title in a field which also includes the winner of the opening Optical Express event of the season, Gareth Wright, who took the honours in the 54 hole tournament at Dundonald in mid-April.
Almost all of the leading Tartan Tour players will be present, including 2011 Scottish PGA champion, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), who missed the opening two events due to his wedding.
Also present will be Scott Henderson (Kings Links), runner-up to Gray in 2011 and Banchory’s Greig Hutcheon, the 2010 Scottish Order of Merit winner.
There will be plenty of local interest with Stuart Morrison, the Professional at Tain and the Carnegie Club’s Jody Rostock, a former Tain club champion in his amateur days, along with Gary Dingwall (Royal Dornoch) and David Thomson (Carnegie Club) also in the field, while Greig McBain and Joel Hopwood will also be well known in the area having recently worked at Royal Dornoch and the Carnegie Club respectively.
Hopwood has moved to join the Royal Aberdeen PGA staff at Balgownie.