A pair of 2 and 1 victories Thursday in Kelowna has moved Hillview Golf Club pro Keith Vandenbrink into the quarterfinals of the 2015 Interior Match Play Championships.
A field of 32 pros began 36 holes of competition at the Okanagan Golf Club.
Vandenbrink took on Justin Baillargeon of the Vernon Golf and Country Club in his opening morning match at the Bear course.
After Baillargeon went up by one on the third hole, Vandenbrink birdied the fourth to square the match. The pros exchanged birdies on six and seven, and nine and 11 to remain tied. Vandenbrink birdied 12 and 13 to go two up, and the pair tied the final four holes, resulting in Vandenbrink’s 2 and 1 win.
In the afternoon, playing the Quail course, Vandenbrink faced Scott Ellen from Kelowna’s Tower Ranch.
Vandenbrink took control early, winning holes four through seven. After Ellen cut Vandenbrink’s lead to two holes with back-to-back birdies on eight and nine, the Hillview veteran responded with birdies on 12 and 14 to go back up by four holes.
Ellen won holes 15 and 16 but a tie on the 17th hole gave Vandenbrink the match.
Vandenbrink will now face Clay Stothers of the Okanagan Club in the quarterfinals, date to be determined.
Shannon Glenesk, head pro of the Vernon Golf and Country Club, lost his opener to Russ Latimer of Black Mountain in Kelowna.
Players who dropped their first match spent the afternoon in a stroke play event.
Glenesk and Baillargeon tied for low gross, then Glenesk beat his clubmate to take the title.
