Golf: Capital pro insists he's got the Wright stuff despite Gleneagles defeat

The West Linton assistant pro, 28, was pipped to the national crown at the fourth play-off hole last night by Greenock's Chris Doak after both players had tied on 15-under 269s.

Wright, who closed with a two-under 69 on a testing, blustery day to set the clubhouse target, will now look to lift himself from tomorrow's Sprint to St Andrews Final at the Duke's course, the closing event of the 2010 Tartan Tour campaign.

But the former Wales amateur cap, who joined the pro ranks in 2005, insists he'll be heading to the home of golf in a positive mood despite his extra-hole anguish in Perthshire.

"Yes it was disappointing but I can't complain and if I was offered a play-off for a title at the start of the week I would've gladly taken it," said Wright, who picked up 6000 as well as the trophy for the leading assistant pro.

Capital ace Mark Kerr, sharing the lead with Doak after 54 holes, closed with a two-over 73 and slipped back into a share of third on a 13-under 271.

The 28-year-old, who spilled three shots early on but was still in the title hunt until a brace of bogeys at 16 and 17, missed the first six months of the season after a breach of training rules.

And Dalmahoy man Kerr admitted: "I think my lack of serious action this year showed."

Kerr's high finish at Gleneagles pushed him up to 15th on the order of merit, however, and secured his exemption for the major events on the next year's circuit.

Edinburgh's David Patrick finished in ninth on 276 while Andrew Coltart signed off with a 70 and tied 10th on 277.

Duddingston pro Tom Buchanan suffered severe ligament and tendon damage after catching his foot.