Jesse Crowe’s final stint as captain of Team Vernon in the 11th annual Ryder Cup golf showdown with Kelowna will be a memorable one.
Crowe, who will switch teams next year now that he is a teaching pro at Two Eagles Golf Course & Academy in Kelowna, carded 13 birdies over 30 holes as he thundered Russ Latimer of Black Mountain in his afternoon singles match in the 11th annual event Thursday at the Vernon Golf & Country Club.
“Best I’ve probably ever played there, and I’ve probably played 2,000 rounds there,” said Crowe, who along with Vernon’s Shannon Glenesk is the only pro to compete in all 11 tourneys.
Other Vernon pros winning their afternoon singles matches include Hillview’s Keith Vandenbrink, who iced Mike Lowen of Sunset Ranch; AJ Eathorne, a former LPGA pro, now at Predator Ridge, defeated Jason Jarime of Gallagher’s Canyon; Glenesk downed Grant Oben, a rep with Callaway Golf; DJ Szestopalow of Vernon grounded Jon Kaden of Gallagher’s; Spallumcheen’s Kyle Wiebe stopped Bryce McDermott of Kelowna; Spall’s Myles Johnson stuffed Mark Lindsay of the Okanagan Golf Club; and Jeff Wills of The Rise earned the winning point over Chad Scott of the Harvest Golf Club.
Team Kelowna held a 3.5 to 2.5 lead over Vernon after the morning’s five best-ball matches, with Crowe, Szestopalow and Vernon’s Justin Baillargeon carding full points, and Brooks Jones (Vernon) and Wiebe counting halves.
Vernon holds an 8-3 edge in the annual event, which is scheduled for the Kelowna G&CC next year.
Vandenbrink, meanwhile, pocketed $900 for second spot in the Canadian Desert Invitational in Osoyoos last Thursday and Friday.
He carded rounds of 72 and 69, earning four birdies and one bogey for the low round on the second day.
