Late excitement at South East District Championship

Clark squeezes home from Wright


Kilmacolm banker Matt Clark won the South East District Championship at Turnhouse today - the final SGU Order of Merit counting event - by a single stroke from the fast finishing Highlander, Jeff Wright of Forres.
Clark finished with a 10-under-par total of 266 over Turnhouse's 

par-69 lay-out.
Clark, pictured right, who had cruised three shots ahead of the field through the second and third rounds, suddenly came under pressure over the last few holes of the 72-hole event.
He  was four ahead with four to play before dropping shots at the 16th and 17th while Wright birdied the 17th

Clark found the green with a 4-iron second shot at the 18th and made birdie. Playing in the match behind, Wright hit his second to 15ft but missed with his eagle attempt to force a play-off.

Clark, 33, said: "This is my fourth SGU Order or Merit title but first since the 2013 Sutherland Chalice.

"I had an average season that turned around at the Home Internationals, where I picked up five points from six.

"I'm playing against the young boys these days and it's sweet to  get a victory."

Wright, 23, pictured left, said: "I'm pleased with my performance but fed up finishing second, having also ended up in that position in both the East of Scotland Open at Lundin and Leven Gold Medal this season."

Another man from the North, Moray's Kyle Godsman, winner of the North-east District Open at Cruden Bay, finished third at Turnhouse. That may have been enough for the Hopeman player to have won the SGU Order of Merit.

SGU Press Officer Ed Hodge said: "We won't be workint out the final Order of Merit totals until later in the week."

In finishing third, it is believed that Moray's Kyle Godsman has topped the SGU Order of Merit.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 276 (4x69)

266 M Clark (Kilmacolm) 67 67 66 66

267 J Wright (Forres) 71 66 66 64

272 K Godsman (Moray) 68 66 67 69

276 K Cantley (Liberton) 69 70 70 67 

277 C Syme (Drumoig) 70 69 71 67 

278 M Howard (Royal Birkdale) 69 73 67  69, J Savage (Cawder) 64 74 72 68
279 L Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 74 69 68 68

280 C McLean (Balmore) 67 75 68 70 , R Thomson (Gullane)  71 70 70 69, L Bain (Turnhouse) 70 69 73 68 

281 S Simants (Dunbar)  71 71 67 72, C Cochrane (Marriott Dalmahoy) 72 70 71 68

282 J A Wilson (Balmore) 72 70 69 71, A Sutherland (Cupar)  67 68 74 73 

283 J Shaw (Boat of Garten) 74 69 69 71
284 S Heads (Hexham) 77 67 71 69, B Fotheringham (Forres) 69 69 75 71
285 R Campbell (Falkirk) 72 75 70 68, J Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) 75 70 72 68, E McIntosh (Turnhouse) 69 75 71 70
286 A Culverwell (Dunbar) 74 72 70 70, F Davren (Williamwood) 72 71 71 72, M Bacigalupo (Longniddry) 69 71 74 72 
287 K Willox (Deeside) 73 73 72 69
288 C Low (Tantallon) 74 68 70 76 
289 A Crawford (Deer Park) 78 69 72 70
291 S Gibson (Southerness) 73 69 73 76
292 B McLeod (Musselburgh)  71 75 75  71
293 S McGarvey (Glencorse) 74 73 74 72, J Rhynd (Kingsfield)  67 75 71 80, M Stein (Craigielaw) 66 75 77 75
294 Craig Chalmers (Cawder) 74 73 77 70, L Reid (Longniddry) 78 69 72 75, R Smith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 78 68 74 74, S Rennie (Drumpellier) 74 71 78 71
295 J McVey (Turnhouse) 71 72 78 74
Disqualified - M Paterson (Bruntsfield Links) 77 70 DQ