9th Super-Senior Coal Scuttle

Elkview ends Fox Hill’s Scuttle title reign

EXETER, Pa. — Elkview Country Club stopped the skulk supremacy Wednesday by winning the 9^th GAP/AGA Super-Senior Coal Scuttle Championship.

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For the first eight years of the event, Fox Hill Country Club (par 71, 6,034 yards), the host site, won. Bragging rights. Hosting rights. Hence the skulk supremacy.

Not anymore. Elkview posted a 9-over-par 222 total to dethrone Fox Hill, which finished tied for second with Emanon Country Club at 17 over. The low three of four scores count toward the team total.

Elkview’s Mike Heck carded an even-par 71 to earn individual medalist honors. Matt Froncek (74), Edward Cimoch (77) and John Zavada (80) rounded out the Elkview team.

“I just can’t believe it,” an overjoyed Heck, 67, of Jermyn, Pa., said. “It took nine years. Fox Hill is so good. Ed Hennigan, Jim Hoover … they’re legends. To beat those guys is unbelievable. When we ended up winning, I was surprised.”

“This is a nice achievement for our group. We’re a very close-knit group at Elkview. To beat Fox Hill here …” Froncek, 67, of Greenfield Township, Pa., added.

Heck, motivated by the shortcomings of years past, netted 13 of 14 fairways. He worked tirelessly on his putting stroke prior, loosening his hands for a more effective stroke. He bandaged his left knee (a replacement looms in October) so he can post with less pain. He felt confident.

Heck anchored Elkview atop the leaderboard throughout most of the day. The reigning GAP/AGA Super-Senior Player of the Year moved to 1 under with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 (par 4, 320 yards) and 16 (par 4, 354 yards). He hit a gap wedge 100 yards to eight feet on the former, a 56-degree wedge 90 yards to 15 feet on the latter. Heck asked Froncek and Zavada where the team stood as he approached No. 18 (par 4, 332 yards) green. Once the shock wore off, Heck realized that three putts afforded medalist honors. He decelerated on a three-footer for par, then happily tapped in for the win. An emotional Heck pumped his fist. Froncek intercepted his good friend for a hug as he walked off the green.

“No one works harder at the game than Mike Heck,” Froncek said. “He is on the range practicing, practicing, practicing. He keeps himself under control. He’s always in it.”

Now Elkview is firmly in the Super-Senior Scuttle conversation. Refer to them as champions.

“You want to make your club proud,” Heck said. “I still can’t believe it.”

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 340 Member Clubs and 100,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.