IT would be a bit unfair to say that yesterday’s opening round of the P&H Championship was a case of back to the auld claes and porridge for Chris Currie but after the giddy highs of Sunday’s PGA Cup success, you could forgive him for his sense of anti-climax.
“I’m struggling to get up for this to be honest, I’m flat as a pancake and the adrenaline has gone,” he said amid a couple of stifled yawns.
It was hardly surprising. Currie, and his compatriot Greig Hutcheon, flew back up the road from Surrey first thing in the morning to make their tee-times for this week’s 54-holer on the Tartan Tour at The Renaissance club.
After helping GB&I successfully defend the PGA Cup for the first time since 1984 with a rousing 16-10 victory over the USA at Foxhills, you couldn’t expect the Scottish duo to celebrate with orange juice, crisps and an early night.
“I got about three hours sleep,” added Caldwell pro Currie, who marked his terrific debut in the transatlantic tussle by racking up 3½ points from five which included the half-point which ensured GB&I would retain the Llandudno Trophy.
Currie has a bit of catching up to do here in East Lothian after a “weary” one-over 72 left him six shots behind early front-runner and defending champion Paul O’Hara, who opened with a fine 66.
Currie also has a bit of golfing catching up to do in general having spent his early years as a gardener and greenkeeper with West Dunbartonshire council before completing his PGA training. At 35, there’s plenty of time in this game.
“I’m a late developer,” said Currie. “I’m still relatively new to this and I just feel like I’m getting started. There’s a lot golf ahead of me and I’m getting better as I go along. I’m hoping to try the European Tour qualifying school next year.”
In the near darkness, Hutcheon fared even better. Having gulped back a bottle of “liquid vitamin C” to keep him going, this hardy competitor posted a battling 67 to finish in a share of second with Cameron Marr.
“I was running on fumes at the end but I’m delighted with that,” said Hutcheon, who highlighted his round with a 5-iron into 20-feet at the 190-yard 15th and holed the birdie putt.
O’Hara, the Northern Open champion, has been the dominant force on the Tartan Tour this season with nine wins while, on the wider PGA scene, he underlined his talents by winning the British Club Professionals’ title.
“It was as calm as you’ll get it here and the course was certainly there for the taking,” said O’Hara after a neatly assembled round.
Gareth Wright, the reigning Scottish PGA champion, lurks two shots off the lead in a tie for fourth with Gavin Hay and the Dalmuir 51-year-old Stewart Savage.
“The last time I spoke to the press was when I played in the Evening Times Casket,” joked Savage.
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