Three weeks on the greens staff at Gleneagles this winter working on drainage of course gave Chris Kelly the lift to his second Scottish PGA Championship victory.
The 38-year-old produced a brilliant eagle on the 18th yesterday morning to win a play-off against Paul McKechnie after the championship was reduced to 36 holes by constant rain over the four days.
Kelly’s tee shot in the play-off was his first hit in 40 hours, his second round 66 finishing on Monday night. After a second day lost to rain, he was left with McKechnie atop the leaderboard once the second round was finally completed yesterday morning.
Former champion Paul Lawrie missed his chance to get alongside the leaders finishing with a two-over 73, leaving Kelly to take the title from McKechnie.
Both were on in two at the famous par five – Kelly 20 feet away and McKechnie inside eight feet – but the St Andrews-based 2003 champion rolled in his putt dead weight while the Braid Hills man missed.
Kelly worked on the greens staff finishing the drainage improvements on the King’s and Queen’s last winter and paid tribute to the work of the team in his winner’s speech.
“I was brilliant, I loved it,” he said. “I learned so much, and I was only helping out because they needed more guys.
“It’s massive for me. I’ve been working on my game for 80 hours a week for the last month, and I’ve lost a lot of weight to try and get stronger.
“Of course I would like to have played another round at least, but there is nothing you can do about the weather.
“Paul and I got the better side of the draw, but you still have to go out and hit the shots to take advantage of it.”
Lawrie still had a chance when re-starting yesterday, but he four-putted the 14th with lying water still an issue.
“Tee to green it was magnificent,” he said. “I had two four-putts and any number of three-putts, but that’s early season greens, and I’m still encouraged for Spain next week.”
Leading final scores (par 71)
139 C Kelly (unatt) 73 66; P McKechnie (Braid Hills GC) 70 69 (Kelly won play-off at first extra hole)
140 G Wright (West Linton) 71 69
141 J Lomas (Caprington) 71 70; D Orr (Eastwood) 67 74
142 A Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 71 71; G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 69 73; C Currie (Caldwell) 76 66
143 M Hillson (Tandridge) 75 68; G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) 73 70; C Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) 70 73; P Lawrie (Carnegie Club) 70 73; P Robinson (Largs) 71 72; G Brown (Montrose Links) 72 71
144 M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 72 72; S Binning (Mearns Castle) 67 77; K McNicoll (Gullane) 70 74; C Ronald (Carluke) 71 73