Gareth Wright sees a changing of the guard coming at the M&H Logistics Scottish Professional Championship, but’s he’s not quite ready to give up the national title quite yet.
Wright, winner of the title in 2014, has seen his five-shot lead from the first day on the King’s Course whittled away over the last two days and he is now tied with Paul O’Hara going into the final round today of the 100th staging of the national championship.
O’Hara made up the final two shots yesterday with a 66 to Wright’s 68 – the Welshman was ailing slightly with a dose of a flu-like bug – and 23-year-old Louis Gaughan is only two strokes behind going into the final round.
Wright isn’t exactly at the veteran stage himself at 34 but he has noticed the natural progression of change within the Tartan Tour ranks as players like O’Hara and Gaughan start to come through.
“It’s like the Ryder Cup was, we’re seeing a few new faces coming through and it’s good to see that more guys who were good amateur players are now choosing the PGA route,” he said.
“It’s a good place to ply your trade, there are guys here who have played European Tour, played in majors, been Rookie of the Year on the big tour. The standard has always been high and if you’re playing well here then you’re going to be good in any type of golf.”
After being forced to his bed after yesterday’s round because of “a dose of the lurgy”, Wright admitted he “felt a bit ragged” for much of the round before regathering himself with two birdies in the last three holes to catch O’Hara, who had a slow start at one-over after four holes but played six-under golf the rest of the way, just over-borrowing an eagle putt from six feet at the last.
“I was just solid, fairways and greens, if you stay on the fairways here you’ll not be too bad,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed playing with the lead before and I’ve won plenty times before so it’s not going to be a problem for me.”
O’Hara is thinking about striking out for the big tour but he’s also building up a coaching portfolio back at the Lochview Golf Centre.
“I haven’t played in any tour events and I’d love to get the chance to do it, but I also want to work at the coaching part as a back-up,” he said.
“I caddied for my brother Steven at a lot of events when he was on the tour, both at Wentworth and at the Johnnie Walker when it was played here, so I’d love the chance to do it myself.”
Bathgate’s Gaughan hadn’t played in a final group before and had a bit of sticky front nine, but came home with four-under for his 68 to claim third place on his own.
“I actually hit the ball better than I’ve done all week today and I didn’t do a lot wrong on the front nine, but that came through on the back nine,” he said.
“I felt pretty comfortable all day and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I’m just going to be aggressive and go for my shots because I feel that’s when I play at my best.”
Sam Binning also shot 68 to lie fourth four off the pace, with Ross Cameron dropping back into a tie for fifth with Alastair Forsyth after a one-over-par 72.
Tartan Tour, M&H Logistics Scottish PGA Championship, King’s Course, Gleneagles, par 71
Round Three
200 P O’Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure) 69 65 66, G Wright (West Linton) 62 70 68
202 L Gaughan (Bathgate) 69 65 68
204 S Binning (Mearns Castle) 67 69 68
207 A Forsyth (Mearns Castle) 71 67 69, R Cameron (Saltire Energy) 67 68 72
208 G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 74 69 65, G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo) 70 71 67, C Doak (unatt) 67 73 68
209 I Campbell (Cheshunt Park) 70 70 69, G McBain (Newmachar) 72 66 71
210 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) 76 70 64, K McNicoll (Gullane) 73 69 68
211 J Lomas (Caprington) 67 75 69
212 C Currie (Caldwell) 72 69 71, C Ronald (Torrance House) 69 71 72, G Hay (Grantown-on-Spey) 70 70 72, S O’Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure) 74 65 73
