Keith Vandenbrink was no match for his rivals in 2015.
The Hillview pro won the $4,000 Callaway Interior Professional Golf Association’s 2015 match play tournament, defeating Kelowna’s Greg Forbes of Black Mountain 3 and 2 in the championship match played at the Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear course in Kelowna.
Vandenbrink bogeyed the second hole to go one down, but a Forbes bogey on No. 6 squared the match. Vandenbrink pocketed $500.
Each player scored birdies on back-to-back holes and the match was all-square heading to the back nine where Vandenbrink took control. Forbes bogeyed 10 and 11, giving Vandenbrink a two-hole lead, which he increased to three with a birdie on No. 12.
The next two holes were tied and Vandenbrink was in a position to close out the match on No. 15 after holing an 18-foot birdie putt.
With pressure on to extend the match, Forbes calmly rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt of his own.
Vandenbrink finally put the match away on the par 4, 441-yard 16th hole.
After each player hit solid drives and wedges to the green, Vandenbrink was a foot away from a gimme birdie which Forbes conceded, ending the match.
Vandenbrink iced Russ Latimer of Kelowna’s Black Mountain in earlier semifinals in Salmon Arm.
