Vernon’s Chris and Matt McEachran-Law and Austin Bosquet will play in the B.C, Junior Men’s Golf Championships, July 10-13, in Sechelt.
Chris McEachran-Law, 18, came out in tough conditions Saturday and fired a 1-under 71 (36-35) to hold a one-shot lead over Steven Lee (Kelowna G&CC) and a two-stroke margin on Bosquet, 15, in the Zone 2 provincial qualifying tournament in Revelstoke.
Matt McEachran-Law, 16, carded a solid 77 to sit in 10th entering Sunday’s round. Russell Day of Vernon, 16, struggled a little and went 89-84 in his first appearance at the Zone 2 playdowns.
Sunday saw better weather, though Chris McEachran-Law may have preferred rain again as he struggled on the front nine. He got up and down from the sand on nine for a nice birdie to get to 5-over heading into the back nine, and gained some much needed momentum as Bosquet lit up the front with a 1-under 36 to take a two-shot lead.
Settling in, McEachran-Law went par, par, par, birdie to start the back and overtook Bosquet by hole 16, only to find out that Devon Swallow (Kelowna) had careered with a 69 and was in the clubhouse with a two-day total 146 (77-69). This meant McEachran-Law needed to birdie one of the remaining two holes to force a playoff.
A narrow miss on 17 and an up and down par on 18 resulted in a 71-76-147 and a solid, yet disappointing, second-placing. Bosquet finished with a 77 to place fifth.
Meanwhile, Matt McEachran-Law met his goal of a top-10 finish by shooting a second round 76 to take seventh.
As the top two low gross Juveniles in the field, McEachran-Law and Bosquet get their entry fees paid for the B.C. Juvenile Championships, Aug. 21-23 at the Princeton Golf Course.
Mackenzie Barrie of Vernon went 79-83 in Revelstoke, earning one of two spots for the Zone 2 team (Okanagan) in the B.C. Girls tournament in Oosyoos.
“Overall, my weekend was pretty good; I hit the ball well but struggled with my putting,” said Barrie.
Matt McEachran-Law, Day and Barrie are also playing in the B.C. Summer Games, July 19-22, at Hazelmere in Surrey.
n Another pro tournament, another runner-up finish. So it goes for Hillview’s Keith Vandenbrink this season.
The 50-year-old earned $550 after tying for second spot with host pro Dean Claggett in the Two Eagles Open in West Kelowna last weekend.
Justin Jurimae of Gallagher’s Canyon won by a stroke and pocketed $800.
Vandenbrink, who was second in the PGA of B.C. Seniors tournament last week at the Vernon club, shot a 1-under 64 Saturday in cool, rainy conditions. He was one shot in front of Brice McDermott (Black Mountain) and Sheldon Tucker, two up on Claggett and three ahead of Jurimae.
Claggett opened sunny Sunday with four straight birdies, then recorded four pars before reeling off three more birds to sit at 7-under after 11 holes. Claggett ended up with a 62. Vandenbrink fashioned three birds and two bogeys for another 64.
n The father-daughter team of Paul and Tori Reid won the Men’s Choice Mixed Net Scotch Ball Tournament Sunday at Spallumcheen.
The Reid combo led by an incredible 4-under gross after the front nine and hung on to finish ahead of Colin O’Hara and Kelli Verhagen.
Don Helm and Patsy Osachoff placed third, while Jeff Parker and Elaine Evans were fourth and Gord Fox and Julie Pisch fifth. Bob Shannon and Deb Heale ended up sixth.
Hubie Petersen of the Men’s Choice committee praised Fred Soderberg of Sterling Mutuals for his support of the event.
