Greig Hutcheon in action today. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images (c)

HUTCH HALFWAY LEADER AFTER WET AND WINDY SECOND DAY IN TURKEY

PGA PLAY-OFFS  NEWS RELEASE

MATTHEW SUDDABY REPORTS

The hat-trick is well and truly on for Greig Hutcheon as he battled with the wind and rain to lead the season-ending PGA Play-Offs at the halfway stage.

The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre pro made use of all his experience, including two previous victories here, to shoot a level-par round of 71 and climb to the top of an ever-increasingly congested leaderboard.

Scoring was tough on the south coast of Turkey, as wind and rain battered Antalya Golf Club for the second successive day.

How bad was the weather? Well, Hutcheon lost an umbrella to the conditions, as strong winds battered the 13^th fairway and snapped it clean in half.

The loss of his shelter will be a sacrifice worth making, though, if the Tartan Tour supremo from Aberdeenshire can become the first man in history to win the PGA Play-Offs on three separate occasions.

On offer in Antalya is multiple European Tour and Challenge Tour starts as well as the £2,000 first-place prize.

While the event avoided the long delays that beset the first 18 holes, many of the field struggled to make inroads in the conditions. Only two, James Ruth (China Fleet), with a 66, and Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf), 68. were able to shoot a round under par.

Hutcheon’s round had looked to be unravelling after three bogeys on the back nine – that was until he saved par at the 18^th, landing a sensational bunker shot from 155 yards to within eight feet of the pin in the process.

After 36 holes the Scot sits one shot clear of the rest of the field with a three-under-par total of 139.

“I’m pleased to be leading, it was so difficult out there and you were having to punch a five-wood to cover 180 yards,” he explained.

“I did well over the front nine – but then I reached the 13^th and the heavens opened.

“I managed to hold it together, thankfully, and I’m glad that I’ve now got the lead.
“There’s a long way to go, I’m well aware of that – there’s 36 more holes so I need to keep playing well and try to minimise mistakes.”

Ruth’s excellent five-under-par round of 66, meanwhile, set an early benchmark that would not be beaten – and looked better the longer the day went on.

He made the most of the slightly calmer early conditions to card six birdies over his first 13 holes.

He now sits second at 142 on the leaderboard alongside PGA Cup player Welshman Gareth Wright, of West Linton, who had a 72 after his opening 68.

Behind them on one-under-par are the Irish duo of David Higgins and Colm Moriarty. The latter had held the overnight night lead going into round two.   

HOW THEY STAND AT HALFWAY  

                                    
PGA Sultan Course, Antalya Golf Club

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28

Par 142 (2x71)
139  Greig Hutcheon 71 68  Paul Lawrie GC

140  James Ruth  74 66             China Fleet

140  Gareth Wright  68 72           West Linton
141  David Higgins  68 73                Waterville

141  Colm Moriarty 67 74      D G Performance

SELECTED SCORES
142 Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) 74 68 (T6)
147 Chris Kelly (unattached) 75 72 (T14)

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