Final totals and prize money at Royal Dornoch

HUTCH GOES THE DISTANCE TO WIN 

NORTHERN OPEN BY SIX STROKES

Six years after winning a weather-shortened tournament at Meldrum House, Greig Hutcheon is celebrating a Northern Open victory over the full distance at Royal Dornoch.

The 43-year-old claimed his second success in the Tartan Tour event in style, winning by six shots with an impressive 13-under-par 267 total at the world-ranked Sutherland links

Over a par-70 lay-out Hutcheon carded four scores in the 60s - his closing 66 was a flawless effort - to win comfortably from defending champion Chris Kelly, with Greg McBain two shots further back in third.

"I'm delighted as I played really well this week," said Hutcheon after signing for birdies at the fifth, ninth, 12th and 18th on a stress-free final day. "I had a fantastic week and it's one of my best four-round totals. 

"It was a washout and a 36-hole event in 2010, so I'm delighted to win it as a four-round event without any delays and no hitches."

The victory came less than a month after Hutcheon left Wentworth with mixed emotions, having finished as the leading PGA pro in the BMW PGA Championship but closing with a costly 82.

"I had a tough day in the last round at Wentworth, so it was really good to go out there and shoot 66 to win the tournament," added the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo player.

"It was one of those weeks that when I did get into a bit of trouble, I managed to save the situation with my short game and putting."

Kelly, who was bidding to become the first player to successfully defend the title in more than 20 years, closed with a 69 that contained three birdies in the last eight holes.

"I can't complain about second place," said the Fife-based player. "Congratulations to 'Hutch', who was on a different level this week!"

Newmachar pro Greg McBain, who did his PGA training at Royal Dornoch, clinched third place with a closing 71, which was illuminated by an eagle-3 at the ninth. 

"I played with Greig yesterday and he played flawless golf, as he did in all four rounds, so hats off to him," he said.

One of the best rounds of the final day was produced by Heather MacRae, the sole woman in the field for the second counting event on this season's Order of Merit.

The Archerfield Links player stormed to the turn in 29 and signed for nine birdies in total for a 66 to finish joint-22nd.

The Bookless Cup, which is awarded to the leading amateur, went to Turnhouse-attached Euan McIntosh (pictured left ) after he also produced an equally impressive 67 on the last day.

Giving him a four-over-par 284 total, the former professional finished six shots ahead of host club man Craig Mackay and Boat of Garten's Jordan Shaw.

                         PICTURES BY COURTESY OF ROBIN WILSON, BRORA

FINAL TOTALS

par 280 (4x70)

267 G Hutcheon (PLGC Inchmarlo) 67 69 65 66 (£3,900)

273 C Kelly (unatt) 69 68 67 69 (£2,800)

275 G McBain (Newmachar) 69 71 64 71 (£2,000)

277 S Henderson (Kings Links) 65 73 68 71 (£1,500)

278 G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 73 69 67 69 (£1,200)

279 A Forsyth (Mearns Castle) 72 71 67 69, P O'Hara ((Clydeway Golf) £925 each.

281 C Ronald (Carluke) 73 72 69 67 (£750)

282 D Orr (Eastwood) 74 67 72 69 (£700).

283 S Gray (Lanark) 74 68 69 72, C Currie (Caldwell) 71 69 70 73, L Gaughan (Bathgate) 74 64 68 77 (£640 each).

284 E McIntosh (Turnhouse) (am) 78 68 71 67

285 G Hay (Grantown on Spey) 74 70 70 71 (£600)

286 D Stein (Ranfurly Castle) 76 72 71 69, G Wright (West Linton) 70 75 72 69, C Gordon (Edinburgh GC) 76 68 71 71, S Binning (Mearns Castle) 73 69 71 73, M Owenson (Gullane) 70 70 72 74, P Wardell (North Berwick) 72 68 70 76 (£530 each)

287 C Marr (Musselburgh) 74 68 4 71 (£400).

288 Heather MacRae (Archerfield Links) 75 72 75 66, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 75 68 72 73 (£435 each).

289 P Robinson (Largs) 71 74 71 73, J McGhee (Whitehill House) 74 70 70 75, G Brown (Montrose Links) 71 69 70 79 (£410 each).

290 S O'Hara (unatt) 73 72 75 70, J Lomas (Caprington) 74 74 69 73, M Patterson (Kilmacolm) 76 71 73 70 (£375 each); C Mackay (Royal Dornoch) (am) 73 71 72 74, J Shaw (Boat of Garten) (am) 75 69 70 76.

291 A Crerar (Panmure) 74 74 69 74 (£350).

292 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 71 71 76 84 (£340)

293 D Watters (Gourock) 74 72 74 73 (£330)

294 A Saddington (The Dutch) 74 73 76 71 (£320).

295 S McLaren (Blairgowrie) 70 73 79 73 (£305)

296 K McNicoll (Gullane) 77 71 77 71, M Hillson (Kilconquhar Castle) 70 73 81 72, C Goodwin (Duff House Royal 71 76 70 79 (£280 each); D Pearson (Royal Dornoch) (am) 70 76 75 75, F Fotherngham (Nairn) (am) 72 75 73 76,C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) (am) 72 71 72 81.

297 G Paxton (Ralston) 72 76 73 76 (£260)

298 C McMaster (Edzell) 75 72 76 75 (£250)

299 G Forbes (Mar Hall) 74 73 77 75 (£245)

300 A Welsh (Cathkin Braes) 73 74 73 80 (£237)

306 S Maxwell (East Renfrewshire) 72 73 75 86 (£227)

308 M Urquhart (Nairn) 72 76 83 77 (£220)

310 R Munro (Duddingston) 78 69 78 85 (£215)

312 G McFarlaine (Clober) 77 70 87 78 (£210)