Thursday, October 27, 2016

Hutcheon's great finish to earn PGA Cup 

place praised by captain MacKenzie




** Greig Hutcheon, Rob Coles, Albert MacKenzie and Matt Cort

On a day when Lossiemouth-born Albert MacKenzie celebrated his wedding anniversary, Great Britain and  Ireland’s PGA Cup captain was also able to toast the first three members of his 2017 team.
The trio of Matthew Cort, Rob Coles and Greig Hutcheon secured their spots in the side to face the United States at Foxhills Club and Resort next September, courtesy of finishing in the top three in the PGA Play-Offs today at Saunton Golf Club, Devon where MacKenzie is also the head PGA pro.
Champion Cort (Beedles Lake) and runner up Coles (Maylands) qualified automatically while Hutcheon beat Ireland’s Damien McGrane at the first extra play-off hole on Devon’s club’s East Course after both were tied at five under for the 72-hole tournament.
“I realised quite late on that four of the respective regional Order of Merit winners were going to finish in the top four,” said MacKenzie.
“I feel sorry for Damien as I watched him play some great golf but I think that Greig’s run on 13, 14 and 15 where he went two, three, three (birdie-birdie-eagle) – and two strong pars to finish to get into contention for the play-off, and then the birdie at the first extra play-off hole, was worthy of winning any event.
“So I know we are off to a great start. It was a very strong field at the start of the week, I knew that Saunton would throw up three wonderful players and the golf course has not let us down, I could not be happier.
“I think we found at CordeValle that the players that won the Play-Offs to go to CordeValle were going to be pivotal to our success. No question, the same is going to happen this time round.
“I’m going to dinner with my darling wife tonight because it is our wedding anniversary and with her company and the three guys I’ve got for the PGA Cup team – what a wonderful day.
MacKenzie spent much of the week keeping a close eye on the action and was full of praise for Cort who survived a mid-round wobble to beat Coles by one shot.
“Matt hit a beautiful shot into 15 – the shot the hole required to make an eagle to get back to consolidating his position at the top,” he added.
“And I think that the up and downs he made at 16 and 17 just showed what a class act he is. He is just a wonderful player and we’ve seen in recent weeks how good he is. He just looks like the finished article.”
Coles also earned plaudits – the former European Tour player began his week with a 76 but hauled himself into contention with rounds of 65, 70 and a last round 67.
“I watched Rob late on the second day when he shot 65, and it was evident from the first swing he made that he is just a class act.
“He is very experienced and has great control over his golf swing and more important to me than that is he is going to be a wonderful asset in the team-room – he is such an affable chap.
“And all the guys this week have all been so nice to have at Saunton, and I would really like to personally thank them for how they have conducted themselves and how well they have embraced Saunton.”

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