GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

And the winner is .... GARETH WRIGHT. Pictured with the trophy at Gleneagles by Andy Forman

GARETH IS MADE OF THE WRIGHT 

STUFF! LAST-DAY 68s DO THE TRICK

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Glenmuir PGA professional champion in 2012, Gareth Wright added another big win to his CV with a last-day surge to earn the £9,000 first prize in the £50,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA professional championship over the King's Course
at the Perthshire Ryder Cup venue today
Last year, Wright was pipped by a shot by winner Greig Hutcheon and in 2010 Wright lost in a play-off to Chris Doak for he title.
The West Linton-based , London-born Welshman, who is 32, started the final day in joint sixth place, three shots behind halfway leaders Robert Arnott and Greg McBain, neither of whom could produce the sub-70 scores required over the last 36 holes.
But Wright could - twice. His third-round, three-under 68 pushed him up into a share of the lead on six-under 207 with McBain (71) and Arnott (71).
And then Gareth signed off with another 68 fir a nine-under total of 275. He had nine birdies and only three bogeys over the final two rounds. 
But, in the final analysis, it was a pair of eagles, at the 10th and 18th in his second round, that really put wings on Wright's title challenge. 
 After he had finally got his hands on the PGA in Scotland's flagship tournament trophy, Gareth said:

"I think the course owed me this one. I played steady golf this afternoon. I three-putted the second for the third time this week but then birdied the sixth and followed that by hitting wedge to foot and half down 9. 

"I missed birdies 10 and 14, gimme birdies today, and was disappointed with that, seeing the guys closing the gap. 

"But I hit a really nice drive and second down 15 to 10 feet and rolled that in. Then hit a driver, 7-iron and two putted at 18. 

"I had ten three-putts this week so If I'd putted half decent it could have been really special.

"It's nice to finally get the job done in this event. It's on par with my win in the 2012 British Club Pros Championship. I've lived in Scotland for 16 years and this is my national championship."

Jason McCreadie won the Scottish PGA championship in 2008 and he got to within a shot of a play-off with Wright. In fact, McCreadie faced a 20ft putt for an eagle 3 at the last. Had he holed it, that would have tied him with Wright ... but it slid past the hole.
The Buchanan Castle man, well known for his ability to go low, produced a last-round, six-birdie 67 for a total of 276 to pick up the £6,500 runners-up prize.n
McBain, now playing out of Kemnay, finished a creditable third with a closing 70 - 17 pars and a birdie at the 10th - for a total of 277 and a £4,500 payday. 
The Aberdonian, putting for an eagle 3 from 20ft on the last, would have forced a play-off with Wright had he holed it. Unfortunately, not only Greg miss it, but he also missed the one back the way to finish with a three-putt par 5!
Arnott, for so long in the front rank, eventually subsided to fourth place - a very good performance by the senior man who won the P and H championship only a few weeks ago. A couple of par rounds left him with a total of 278 to earn £3,250.
Defending champion Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) earned £2,300 in a tie for fifth place with Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) and Scottish Alliance champion Chris Currie (Caldwell) on the 279 mark.
Hutch's final two rounds of 69 and 68 would have made all the difference for McBain or Arnott!

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