Greig Hutcheon in good shape at Little Aston

GREIG Hutcheon made a purposeful start to his challenge in the Srixon PGA Play-Offs at Little Aston in Birmingham yesterday.

The Tartan Tour's order of merit winner posted a four-under 68 to sit in second place at the halfway stage, two shots behind local hopeful Matt Morris.

Hutcheon, who is looking to add to the starts he already has in the BMW PGA championship and the Barclays Scottish Open, made an early move with three birdies on his opening seven holes. Despite spilling shots at nine and 13, the former Challenge Tour champion kept himself within sight of Morris with a further trio of birdies.

Chris Doak, the new Scottish PGA champion and the winner of the play-offs at Royal Liverpool in 2008, opened with a one-under 71 to share sixth while Stirling's Craig Lee posted a level-par 72.

At the head of the pack, Morris, the PGA's Midland region No 1 and the pro at the Walmley club in nearby Sutton Coldfield, powered to the front with a 66.

The 32-year-old reeled off six birdies in a tidy round as he moved into pole position for the 2,000 first prize as well as invitations to a number of European Tour and Challenge Tour events.