Chris Currie emerged triumphant from a prolonged play-off with Heather MacRae to win the latest 36-hole Order of Merit Challenge on the Arnold Clark Tartan Tour at Strathmore.
After two days of terrific competition over the beautifully presented Perthshire venue, Currie and MacRae ended up locked at the top on eight-under aggregates.
Currie, who set the pace after round one, came within a whisker of winning in regulation play when his eagle attempt on the final hole stopped on the lip.
He tapped in for a birdie in a 70 to finish alongside MacRae, who signed off with a spirited 68.
The sparring duo couldn’t be separated over the opening two play-off holes while MacRae trundled in a 20-footer to keep the tussle going when they played a third hole.
Currie struck a decisive blow in the sudden-death shoot-out when he birdied the fourth hole to plunder the £1500 top prize.
“It was a great battle,” said the in-form Currie, who has reeled off a series of top-five finishes on the domestic circuit this season.
“I’ve been playing well for a while now and, thankfully, luck was on my side for a change.”
Currie had made a slow start to his title tilt on the opening day and was one-over at the turn before he conjured a barnstorming blitz which thrust him to the head of the field with a 66.
The 43-year-old covered the 10th to the 15th in seven-under during a rousing run that included five birdies and an eagle. His card for that profitable stretch featured five threes.
“I wasn’t playing that well and then out of nowhere I went on this run and that really got me into the tournament,” he added. “It’s a bizarre game at times.”
As an area sales manager with Wilson, Currie continues to find fulfilment in both his day-to-day activities and the competitive cut-and-thrust.
“The job with Wilson has been a real god send and it’s given me a bit of a release on the golf course,” he said. “I can balance both and I’m enjoying playing golf again. For a few years I wasn’t.”
MacRae had created Tartan Tour history at Strathmore back in 2022 when she fired a closing 62 to become the first female to win an Order of Merit event.
At her happy hunting ground, the former Ladies European Tour player flirted with glory again but had to settle for second after a ding-dong duel.
“Heather played some great golf, and her game is in great shape just now,” said Currie.
Click here for all the scores from Strathmore.
