Chilliwack Golf and Country Club's Brad Clapp has won another tournament, going wire to wire to capture the 2012 Titleist/FootJoy PGA of BC Championship.
The biggest PGA of BC tournament of the summer was held at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community in Comox.
Clapp claimed his first PGA of BC Championship, shooting a three round total of 12-under par (65-66-73=204) to edge out Kevin Maxwell (72-64-72=208) by four strokes. Maxwell mounted a tremendous final round charge to trim a five shot deficit to one, but two late miscues by Mitchell and two long putts by Clapp cemented the title.
Maxwell was within a shot as they walked towards the 13th tee, but he found a fairway bunker and had to settle for a bogey. Clapp reached the green in regulation and drained a 40-foot snake for birdie to regain a three-stroke lead heading to the 14th hole.
After back-to-back birdies for Clapp and a par for Maxwell, the lead returned to four strokes.
Sticking with his game plan, Clapp chose his trustworthy driver from the tee box, only to push his next drive out-of-bounds. A double-bogey against Maxwell's par and the lead was back to two.
On the par three 16th, Maxwell watched Clapp roll in another 30-footer for birdie and missed his 12-foot birdie to match.
The lead was three with two holes to go.
After both bogeying the 17th hole and matching pars on 18, the trophy and $5,000 winner's check was presented to Clapp.
Maxwell earned $3,750 for the runner-up finish.
"Today's round was quite a battle,” Clapp said. "I holed quite a few putts, including two long ones, and I'm glad it was enough to win. I was disappointed to see my lead drop to one stroke, but kudos to Max for playing so well and applying the pressure.”
Clapp, who has been on fire of late, won this third tournament in the last two years. He was on the winning team at the inaugural PGA of BC Pro-Pro Championship last fall. Six weeks ago claimed the PGA of BC Assistants' Championship at the Vernon Golf and Country Club, blowing the field away with a nine-stroke victory.