Close Shave...but Craig seals championship win in play-off

CRAIG Shave (Whetstone) won the Midland PGA Morley Hayes Championship in a dramatic play-off.

He shot a 9-under-par 135 in the two-day event, carding 65-70 rounds in the third Order of Merit counting tournament of the season at Morley Hayes GC, Derbyshire.

Shave, pictured, finished tied with Sam Dodds (Coventry) after 69-66135 to force the play-off.

They both parred the 10th, the first play-off hole, but Shave won at the 11th, where he hit his drive and 7-iron second to five feet.

But his putt just missed so he settled for a solid par.

However, his opponent drove into the rough and chipped up to 6 feet for three, but missed the putt.

Shave said: “The weather was lovely on day one and I led after the first round with my 7-under, but conditions deteriorated dismally on the second day, especially later on in my round, which made life extremely difficult.

“It was torrential rain from the 11th, like playing under a heavy shower, and into a gale force wind, so unnerving really.

“I was extremely pleased to get back into the winner’s circle after quite a few quiet months, especially in an Order of Merit competition.”

In his 65, Shave hit a total of eight birdies and collected five in his 70 card.

Simon Lilly from Northamptonshire 68-69-137 was third, with a tie for fourth including Matthew Cort (Beedles Lake), who had two 69s for his 138 total.

He shared this slot with Chris Evans from Warwickshire and a former county amateur golfer Lee Clarke (Wollaton Park), who also fired two 69 returns.