Golf: Pro Tour’s season-end in Spain is hailed a success

TOURNAMENT director Alan Tait today hailed the success of the Optical Express Pro Golf Tour’s first event outside Scotland.

Won by Greig Hutcheon as Swanston New’s John Gallagher slipped from second overnight to joint-tenth after a second-round 78, the Tour Championship was held at Son Gual in Mallorca.

It featured 19 players who were competing for a £10,000 end-of-season bonus pool.

“My fellow tournament director, Nigel Scott-Smith, and I are absolutely delighted at the success of this week’s event,” said Tait. “It could not have been a more fitting way to finish off the season on this year’s Optical Express Pro Golf Tour.”

Tait, the director of golf at Marriott Dalmahoy, added: “To stage a Tour Championship at such a fantastic venue as Son Gual is a dream come true. The professionals all thoroughly enjoyed the week and it’s great that we have been able to reward our leading players, who more importantly have shown their support to the Optical Express Pro Golf Tour in its first year.”

Paul McKechnie, who is attached to Braid Hills, catapulted himself up the leaderboard thanks to a best-of-the day 70 in the second round.

He finished joint third on 145, four shots behind Hutcheon.

Final scores: 141 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 69, 72; 144 Lorne Kelly (Pro Dream USA) 74, 70; 145 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 75, 70; Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie Links) 73, 72; 146 Graham Fox (North Gailes) 73, 73; 147 Chris Currie (Caldwell) 71, 76; James McGhee (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) 73, 74; 148 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 73, 75; Graeme Brown (Montrose) 74, 74; 149 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 77, 72; John Gallagher (Swanston New) 71, 78; John Henry (Clydebank & District) 74, 75; Paul Wardell (Whitekirk) 75, 74; 151 Lauren Mackin (Son Gual) 75, 76; 153 David Roger (Windyhill) 75, 78; 154 Mark Kerr (Murrayfield) 82, 72; 157 Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) 76, 81; NR Scott Herald (Mearns Castle); Retired Steven Duncan (Loch Lomond).