Greig Hutcheon goes the distance to win Northern Open

Six years after winning a weather-hit shortened event 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 Sutherland venue.

Northern Open winner Greig Hutcheon, left, with Bookless Cup winner Euan McIntosh. Picture: David Houston.

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.”

The Bookless Cup, which is awarded to the leading amateur, went to Turnhouse-attached Euan McIntosh after an 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.