HEAP IS CHAMP FOR THE SIXTH TIME
Heap sees off challenge to win EK club title again
Craig Heap won East Kilbride Golf Club’s annual championship for the sixth time when he held off a spirited challenge to clinch an exciting 36-hole contest.
Despite starting with a triple-bogey seven on his opening hole in round one, Craig rallied impressively to finish his morning round with a level par 71.
He followed that up with an afternoon round of three under par 68, which included six birdies.
That gave Craig a 36 hole total of 139 and a two stroke victory from joint runners-up Jack McMorris (72, 69) and James Fleming (71, 70) who both posted totals of 141 at the Nerston club.
Accepting the trophy from EK club captain Michael Paterson, Craig praised the efforts of the two runnersup and admitted he had ridden his luck during the day.
“I’ve played this event enough times to know that a lot can happen over 36 holes so I just kept plugging away,” said Craig.
“I got a few kind bounces, which always help – and I’m delighted to have held on.”
In acknowledging Craig’s consistency in the competition over the years, Michael Paterson also paid tribute to the EK golfers who ran the 2018 champion so close.
He said: “While Craig’s sixth win is a great achievement, it was refreshing to see two players in Jack and James, who have not lifted the trophy in the past, make such a strong challenge. “It bodes well for the future of the club.” Two shots back from the joint runners-up was seven-times EK champion Kenny Gallacher (73, 70), who was bidding for a hat-trick having won the last two years.