King’s ransom at Tartan Tour

Oct 11 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

STEPHEN Gray from Kirkintilloch teed off yesterday as the favourite to take the £50,000 first prize home from Gleneagles in the Scottish PGA Championship.

“I know what’s up for grabs this week, but you can’t get too ahead of yourself,” said Gray.

“You’ve just got to go and play the game, and if you don’t get the basics right, then the clever stuff’s hard to find.”

Victory in the Scottish Region’s flagship event, held over the King’s Course, has eluded him over the years.

That gap in his CV is one he would love to fill, and his coach for the past four years, Lanark pro Alan White, has every faith.

He said: “Maybe some of my other players might object but Stevie is the hardest worker I’ve ever coached. He’s knows he’s the favourite. All he has to do now is buckle down and win.”

Eight previous champions are in the line-up of 69 players, but holder Chris Doak, is pursuing Challenge Tour success this week in Rome, as is Craig Lee.

Others knocking at the door could be Gareth Wright, who lost only after a play-off last year, Paul McKechnie, Chris Kelly, David Patrick, Scott Henderson, and Alan Lockhart, who, incidentally, along with Wright, were the only two players a year ago to have four rounds in the 60s.

The championship is being played over the King’s Course for only the second time, having moved there last year.

Bernard Murphy, general manager of the five-star resort, said: “We’re fortunate to have three championship courses, and were delighted to be able to reintroduce championship golf to the King’s last year.”