In the 36-hole final, over a mist-shrouded course overlooking the North Sea, Heap led all the way against Mark Loftus from Cowglen from the moment he collected his second birdie of the morning round at the third hole.

His victory ensured that he would lead Scotland in the home internationals at Newcastle, Co Down, in September and thus complete a set of international medals, adding to those he won at boys' and youths' levels.

"That's the best golf I have played all week," said the plus-two handicap champion, who went round in 67 in the morning and finished the match three-under-par.

"I felt a bit nervous when I started the second round. Even though I was seven up at that point I knew that Mark would come out and try to hit all the flags.

"He got it close on the first hole but then I rolled in a 15-footer for a birdie and he missed. That settled me down and kind of took the wind out of his sails a little bit."

Loftus was bitterly disappointed to lose. It is the fourth time he has finished runner-up in a national competition after coming second in the English and Scottish Strokeplay Championships and also in the Scottish Youths' event.

He was particularly upset that he did not do his game justice. "The main difference was that all week I had been holing the crucial four and five-foot putts but in the final I didn't," he said.

Loftus finally realised that it was just not going to be his day when he did get a big putt down - a 50-footer - from off the green for an eagle two at the eighth hole after lunch only to see Heap sink one from 20-feet for a half.

Although the East Kilbride man stumbled slightly with three successive bogeys after that and saw his lead cut to five he quickly regained the ascendancy.

A birdie at the 12th, his 30th hole of the match, increased the lead to six and when he was just 10 feet from the hole in three at the 550-yd next and Loftus lipped out for a four the match was conceded.