2009 CANADA BREAD BC MATCH PLAY - RESULTS

36-HOLE FINAL RESULTS
Sunday, April 19th

Northview Ridge Golf Course, Surrey, BC | 6900 yards, Par 72

Mark Burke - Mewail Kidane (14)
2 up
Yves Bisson – Stu Dunaway (9) 

Morning Match - 7:30am

This BC Match Play Finals pairing was relatively unexpected as both teams fought through some of the best Professional pairings on route to this big event. Having watched a few of the earlier matches both these teams were deserving finalists having out-played their opponents with some excellent shot-making and countless birdies between them.

The morning 18 holes was no different for both teams and this match see-sawed back and forth with a flurry of birdies from both teams. It was Dunaway-Bisson (the amateur duo from Misson) who charged out of the gate early when Dunaway’s 8 iron finished 2-feet from the pin to go one-up after one. However, their lead was short-lived when they both made bogeys on the challenging 3rd hole on the Northview Ridge course.

 After halved holes on #4 & #5, the match took a swing the other way when Burke’s 9-iron to 5 feet was sunk for birdie to go 1-up through 6. Birdies on #7 & 8 by both teams and pars on #9 kept the match 1-up thru 9. When Kidane’s chip found the hole on #10 for his team’s 5th birdie in 7 holes, his team led 2-up through 10.

No sooner did this 2-up lead get squandered when Dunaway fired back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12 to go all square. A costly team bogey on #14 by Kidane - Burke and this match was back to 1-up Dunaway – Bisson. What a battle this 36-hole match would turn out to be as two holes later, Kidane drained yet another team birdie from 10 feet on the downhill 16th and return the match to all square.

 With his partner out of the hole on 17, Bisson made a clutch par to keep the match all square, then hit a super 3-hybrid approach to 20 feet for eagle from 200 yards over the water. Narrowly missing his eagle chance gave their team the only birdie on the hole after Kidane failed to get up-and down from behind the green and at the conclusion of the morning matches, Dunaway-Bisson held a 1-up lead.

Afternoon Match - 1:50pm

The complexion of the afternoon matches changed completely as both teams seemed to put on the defence and birdies did not come by nearly as frequently. Only to be expected when this was the first time both teams had reached the BC Match Play finals.

It was Burke-Kidane who drew blood first in the afternoon with solid teams pars on holes 19 and 20 and when Dunaway and Bisson made team pars after missing some very makeable putts, the match swung once again to 1-up Burke-Kidane. More tentative play from both teams through the next few holes meant the match remained 1-up to the Professional team from Fraserview.

On the par 5- 25th, Burke-Kidane extended their lead to 2-up when Kidane’s fairway wood got to the front of the green and he got up-and-down for the only birdie of the foursome. The downhill driveable 26th hole made for an exciting hole again as Burke turned it up a notch and smashed his driver from 290 yards to 15 feet from the hole. Bisson’s drive left him with a pitch from the front of the green which he hit to 6 feet. When Burke’s eagle putt slid down to within 2 inches his birdie was conceded and Bisson’s 6-footer now looked about 20 feet in size! When it failed to find the hole, Burke-Kidane led 3-up.

This match could have been all but over had it not been for Dunaway’s chip-in for par on the 27th hole and Burke and Kidane’s missed 5 footers for par. When it looked like it would be 4-up now turned the other way and with 9 holes to go, Dunaway and Bisson had a fighting chance! On the 30th hole of the day, and his partner in around 6 feet for birdie, Burke drained a 30 footer himself, putting the pressure directly on Dunaway with his own 12-footer. When it missed, Burke-Kidane once again led 3-up and only 6 to play.

With holes winding down and the pressure heating up, Dunaway clutched up on the 31st with a birdie from 8 feet to bring this match back to 2-down with 5 to go. Momentum shifted even more when Burke’s drive found the water on the 32nd hole and his partner’s ball kicked off the greenside bank into the pond as well. Dunaway lagged his 20 footer for a tap-in par and this match was getting tight. Burke-Kidane 1-up with 4 to go.

Some missed opportunities for birdies from both teams on the 33rd and 34th holes meant a 1-up match coming down 17 – a great par 4, second shot over bunkers and water to this tucked pin. After all approaches were made, it was down to Bisson and Burke’s putting to decide the fate of this match – All square, 1-up or end of match. Bisson had the first crack from 20 feet – the identical putt he had in the morning match. His putt looked great right up until it jumped off line at the last second and it was now Burke’s turn to seal the fate of this match if his birdie found the hole. He stepped up from 18 feet and stroked it with enough speed, but just under-read the putt and this match was going the stretch!

An errant tee-shot from Bisson on the last and a bunker shot that failed to exit, and the match rested squarely on the shoulders of his partner to win the hole to go extra holes. Burke laid his up down the left side of this par-5 hole for his 3rd shot from 90 yards out. Dunaway was next from 230 yards out and this had to find the green or game over! Although the shot looked good in the air, Dunaway’s bid to take this extra holes fell a few feet short and splashed in the water. Kidane’s fairway wood from 225 landed safely on the island green to within 25 feet and Dunaway made one last attempt to hole-out from 150 yards (which he nearly did!), but when his ball missed, the match was conceded by Dunaway and Bisson and Mark Burke and Mewail Kidane were crowned 2009 BC Match Play Champions 2-up!!!

This match could have been all but over had it not been for Dunaway’s chip-in for par on the 27th hole.

Burke drains a 30 footer, putting the pressure on Dunaway

Dunaway made one last attempt to hole-out from 150 yards (which he nearly did!)

Congratulations to both teams for making it to the finals of this prestigious event and creating such great drama in this match. Special thanks must go out to all the fabulous golf courses that played host to the 2009 CANADA BREAD BC MATCH PLAY this year. Without your support, this event would not have such a great history of 60 + years!

Thanks very much to our Title Sponsor CANADA BREAD for their tremendous support of this great event and to all our staff and volunteers who assisted in refereeing or scoring all the matches through the tournament. It really does give an exciting start to the golf season in Vancouver!!

Reported by Fraser Mulholland and Brian Small

SEMI FINAL RESULTS
Saturday, April 18th

(Winning Team listed first)

Capilano Golf & Country Club, West Vancouver, BC | 6589 yards, Par 72

Stu's par on the 1st hole put them 1-up right away . After par-halves on 2 , Yves' 3-wood from 225 set up his 10 foot Birdie on the long par 4, 3rd to put them 2-up .

Dan's lone Birdie on 4 cut the lead back to 1 but a Birdie conceded to Stu on the par 5 5th put Bisson-Dunaway back to 2-up.

Dan's par on 7 wins them the hole cutting the lead back to 1 yet again . Yves holed out a chip-shot on the 10th for a par save but then Dan's long Birdie set the Match at All Square thru 10 holes of play.

Stu's birdie putt is the only one to find the cup on the par 3 11th , regaining for them the 1-up lead . There were Par-halves on 12,13 and also on 14 where Stu and Dan both made great saves.

On 15 things heated up . With a 6-iron from 165 , Yves stuck it 2 feet from the pin . His lone Birdie put them 2-up with 3 holes remaining . The 16th at Capilano is a 245 yard Par-3 . Richard's chip to 1 foot was conceded for par . Yves had 8 feet for Birdie . In it went (also see video) .

Yves Bisson and Stu Dunaway 3&2 over Dan Swanson and Richard Kellington.

Match #1

Yves Bisson – Stu Dunaway (9)
3&2
Dan Swanson – Richard Kellington (28)

Yves Bisson makes a nice birdie putt on the Par-3 16th hole to end the match 3&2.

Reported by George Sterling

Capilano Golf & Country Club, West Vancouver, BC | 6589 yards, Par 72

After two team fours on hole one, Burke and Kidane got off to the first lead in the match with a par on the 404 yard 2nd hole when Yonemoto’s drive sprayed right and Jenkins’ approach found the greenside bunker and both failed to make their 4’s. Halves on #3 and #4 kept the match 1-up until Kidane’s eagle chip on the par 5 – 5th came up just inches short from going in and with that the only birdie of all three, his team now held a 2-up lead. Six and seven were both halved and it was then the past Capilano Associate Burke’s local knowledge on the green on #8 paying dividend as he drained a 15 footer for his birdie and extend the lead to 3-up after 8.

The match swung back two holes later when Yonemoto’s 12 footer for a birdie 3 found the hole on the par 4 – 10th. The momentum continued to swing back into Jenkins-Yonemoto’s court when Jenkins hit a superb 9-iron to 4 feet on the uphill 12th green and drained the downhill slider for another birdie. However, that momentum was short-lived when Kidane answered right back when his 9 iron from 135 yards finished a mere 6 inches from the 13th hole. Kidane-Burke 2-up thru 13 made it pressing for their opponents – which they did two holes later when both Burke and Kidane bogeyed the tough 15th and Jenkins-Yonemoto both securing their pars. With the match only one-up with three to go, we had a barn-burner of a finish. Two great up-and-downs from Burke behind the left bunker and Jenkins from just shy of the water hazard right and the match remained 1-up with 2 to go. After Jenkins 40 footer burned the hole for birdie on 17, Kidane now had a free run at his 15 footer to finish this match off – but when it slid by the hole, we were going down 18 with the match dormie.

By the time all players reached the 570 yard 18th green, all four balls were on or around the green with birdie chances – Kidane the first to go from 40 feet. His putt never left his line and his weight was absolutely perfect. Birdie 4 and the dagger went through the heart of Yonemoto-Jenkins who were relishing the opportunity to make their birdies to extend this match to extra holes. Burke-Kidane win this semi-final match 2-up.

Match #2

Mark Burke - Mewail Kidane (14)
2 up
Kendal Yonemoto - Stephen Jenkins (2)

Mewail Kidane drains a long birdie putt to win match 2up after 18 holes

Match reported by Fraser Mulholland

QUARTER FINAL RESULTS
Sunday, April 12th

(Winning Team listed first)

Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, Vancouver, BC | 7010 yards, Par 72

In the other Quarter-final match today at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club it was a long hard fought battle between Fraserview Pros Mark Burke and Mewail Kidane versus Canadian Tour Professionals Oliver Tubb and Mark Kitts. This match see-sawed back and forth for most of the day until the Canadian Tour duo finally ran out of holes as the Fraserview team of Pros took down the 11th seeded team 2 & 1.

Although some great shots were played by both sides, especially in the wet weather conditions, a key putt missed by Tubb on #3 to go down one seemed to give Burke and Kidane the momentum they needed to begin their run. An impressive 12 foot chip-in on 7 by Kidane had them at +2, then an unfortunate bogey on the Par 3 8th by Tubb & Kitts pushed them to what seemed a lead that would be difficult to catch.

The match stayed at +3 for some time until A great approach and birdie putt by Kitts on the par 5 15th, got them back within 2, but the consistent play of Burke & Kidane  was able to hold them through to a halved hole on the beautiful par 3 17th, ending the match at 2&1.

Match #1

Mark Burke - Mewail Kidane (14)
2&1
Oliver Tubb - Mark Kitts (11)

Match reported by Fraser Mulholland and Mike West

 Quilchena Golf & Country Club, Richmond, BC | 6665 yards, Par 72

The match between #4 seed Dave Zibrik and Kevin Hogg vs # 28 seed Dan Swanson / Richard Kellington can be described in one word - "WET!" With rain the previous night plus rain in the morning and rain during the first nine holes in the afternoon, Quilchena Golf & CC was playing long! Zibrik and Hogg took a 1 up lead on the first hole with Dave's lone birdie on the hole. Swanson’s par on the 3rd hole was the only in the foursome and he squared the match. The shot of the day came on the par 5 fifth where Kellington holed his approach shot from 81 yards for an eagle and a 1 up lead - one they would never relinquish.

Swanson’s par on the 6th hole and birdie on the par five ninth increased the lead to 3 up at the turn. Zibrik countered with the only par 4 on the 10th that put them back in contention at 2 down. Despite numerous opportunities on the back nine, both Hogg and Zibrik struggled with the flat stick today and were unable to make any crucial putts that could have brought the match back to square. Swanson’s approach from 140 yards out on the 16th hole to within 3 feet from the cup sealed the deal giving them 3 and 2 victory.

2007 Champions Swanson and Kellington will go head-to-head versus the relatively unknown amateur duo of Yves Bisson and Stu Dunaway from Mission. Their Semi-final match gets underway next Saturday, April 18th at Capilano Golf & Country Club. Kick-off time is 12:05pm.

Match #2

Dan Swanson – R. Kellington (28)
3&2
Dave Zibrik – Kevin Hogg (4)

Match reported by Fraser Mulholland

QUARTER FINAL RESULTS
Saturday, April 11th

(Winning Team listed first)

Vancouver Golf Club, Coquitlam, BC | 6783 yards, Par 72

The match at the Vancouver Golf Club pitted #2 seeds Yokemoto / Jenkins vs #10 seeds Mackinson / Daniels. The match saw numerous great  approach shots from the group and on many holes all four players were putting for birdies. It was back and forth until the par 3 eighth hole where Makinson chipped in from the fringe for a birdie giving them a 2 up lead. However Stephen birdied right back on the ninth putting in from the fringe and Kendal eagled the par five 11th with a 25-30 footer to square the match.

Another birdie by Kendal on the 13th gave them their first lead which they would never relinquish, eventually winning the match 2 and 1. Of note, Jenkins though rarely the longest off the tee was on in  regulation on nearly every hole continually putting pressure on the opponents the entire match.

Match #1

Kendal Yonemoto - Stephen Jenkins (2) 2&1

Matt Makinson- Matt Daniel (10)

Match reported by Brian Small

Marine Drive Golf Club, Vancouver, BC | 6361 yards, Par 71

The quarter-final match at Marine Drive Golf Club was a see-saw battle right from the start. The first move was made on hole #2 when Bisson dialled in a 100 yard wedge to 6 feet and was the solo birdie on the hole. The second move came from his partner Dunaway with a perfectly judged 15 footer on #4 that fell for birdie, putting the team 2 up after 4. Five and six were halved with birdies and pars respectively and the match then bounced back to 1 up when Bisson and Dunaway both bogeyed #7. After Palsenbarg's 10 footer for birdie slipped by the hole, Dunaway had 4 feet to move his squad back to 2 up - but his bobbling putt lipped out and Palsenbarg/Shin dodged a bullet to remain 1 down. This broke the 1 seeded team loose as they went on to win hole #9 to square up the match and Shin's birdie on #10 gave their team their first lead of the match 1 up.

Dunaway and Bisson stayed composed and rallied back with another birdie on #11 when Dunaway's 12 footer found the hole to put this match back to all square. Dunaway and Shin continued their fine play with birdies on the par five 12th. The short and narrow par five 13th turned out to be a pivotal hole as Shin and Dunaway were left alone to battle out this hole when their partner's drives put them out of the hole.

Dunaway's chip to 3 feet from across the green proved to be the difference as Shin's bunker shot to 8 feet left him with a slippery put downhill which he couldn't convert. Dunaway's third straight birdie gave their team a 1 up lead once again.

Both teams fired some great shots into the downhill #14 par three. Both Shin and Palsenbarg left with 6 and 8 footers for birdie and Bisson a mere 2 1/2 feet for his. After Shin's and Palsenbarg's slippery putts missed, Bisson jammed his teams fourth straight birdie in the hole for a 2 up lead and five to go. The 15th hole was decided on the putting green once again when Bisson and Dunaway both ran their 30 footers past the hole and Bisson made a clutch save for his par. Shin's 40 footer nearly went in, but alone to make the team par from 3 feet, it was too much pressure and after missing his team was now 3 down with 3 holes remaining. The match was officially 'Dormie'. After two great iron shots from both Dunaway and Bisson to the par three 16th, the pressure lay squarely on the shoulders of the #1 seeded team and after both players missed the green and Bisson chipped up to a foot for his par, the match was conceded 4 & 2.

Bisson and Dunaway definitely proved the stronger team today, making six team birdies on the day and kept both balls in play throughout most of the  match. They head into the Semi-finals next Saturday at Capilano Golf &  Country Club against the winners of today's match at Quilchena between Zibrik - Hogg and Swanson - Kellington.

Match #2

Stu Dunaway - Yves Bisson (9)
 4&2
Matt Palsenbarg-John Shin (1)

Match reported by Fraser Mulholland and Tom Gabe

2ND ROUND RESULTS
Sunday, April 5th

(Winning Team listed first)

Richmond Country Club, Richmond, BC | 6742 yards, Par 72

The match between Patrick and McAdie vs Burke and Kidanne came down to a few great chip-ins and putts by Mark. Mark made the best of his opportunities to grab a two up lead. Sean and Chad fought back twice with birdies on the back nine to narrow the gap to 1 down, but Mark would answer with long putts of his own on the following hole(s) to restore the 2 up margin and eventually winning the match 2 and 1.

Match #1

Mark Burke-Mewail Kidane (14)
2&1
Sean Patrick-Chad McAdie (3)

The other match of Oliver Tubb and Mark Kitts vs Richard Wardroper and Steve Henderson was never in doubt after the turn. They traded some birdies to keep it close on the front nine, but neither Richard nor Steve had any answer to Mark Kitts who chipped in twice on the back nine sealing the victory 2 and 1.

Match #2

Oliver Tubb-Mark Kitts (11)
2&1
R. Wardroper-S. Henderson (27)

Match reported by Brian Small

Kings Links by the Sea, Boundary Bay, BC | 6865 yards, Par 72

Right out of the chute, Matt's L-Wedge to 15ft and a great putt put them 1-up. Kevin answered back on the second hole with a chip-in Eagle 3 to go back to All-Square. Then Andrew's birdies on holes 3 and 5 put his team 2-up thru 5 holes of play, but bogeys on 6 for them, cut the lead back to 1. After par-halves on 7 & 8 , Kevin's 2 ft. birdie on 9 squared the match at the turn . On the par 5-11th, Dave's 5-Iron from 223 left him 20 ft. for Eagle. He sank that and birdied the 12th for a 2-up lead. Matt and Andrew's bogeys at 13 cost them another hole. On 15, from 173 Dave's 8-iron to 1 ft. sealed the deal, 4&3 Zibrik Hogg.

Match #3

Dave Zibrik – Kevin Hogg (4)
4&3
M. Rohatensky – A. McFeeters (20)

Par at the 1st puts Dan and Richard 1-up. Jeremy answers back with a birdie on 2. Costly Bogeys on 3 give Jay and Jeremy a 1-up lead. After Par-halves from 4 to 7, on 8 Jay and Jeremy both bogey returning the match to All-Square . With no one on the the green at 10, par wins the hole for Jay and Jeremy. Their lead held 'til the 12th where Dan's Wedge from 115 set up his 5 foot Birdie. The Match was All-Square until Richard put his second shot on and 22 feet from the pin. Though he missed his Eagle, the easy Birdie put his team 1-up with 4 remaining. On 15 with the pin low at the front, one after the other, Dan and Jeremy both drain 35 foot putts from just off the green (the most exciting half of the match). Pars all the way to the 18th hole where Dan had just 18 ft. and 2 putts to half the hole and win the Match. Swanson Kellington 1-up.

Match #4

Dan Swanson – R. Kellington (28)
1 up
Jay Balloch – Jeremy Paradis (21)

Pitt Meadows Golf Club, Pitt Meadows, BC | 6549 yards, Par 72

It was all Palsenbarg and Shin right from the get-go of this match. After both teams got off to a conservative start par-ring the first two holes, Shin and Palsenbarg’s par 3’s on the 3rd were good enough to break the match open 1-up after errant tee-shots from both Didula and Wray. A tap-in birdie from Palsenbarg on the par 5 – 4th hole took the match to 2-up for the pair and another birdie from Palsenbarg on # 5 broke put his team to 3-up in as many holes. A struggling team of Didula and Wray failed to make a team par on #6 and this match was now 4 up Palsenbarg/Shin. The high point of the match was on hole #7 where Didula drained a 30 footer for birdie to bring the match back to 3-up Palsenbarg/Shin. Too little-too late, as it was Shin who caught fire next, birdying the next three holes and pushing the match to 6 up with 8 to go. Par’s by both teams on 11 and 12 and this match was in the books 7&6 for Palsenbarg/Shin.

Match #5

Matt Palsenbarg – John Shin (1)
7&6
Derek Wray – Mike Didula (16)

In the second match it was the team of Williams/Williams who lead the way after 2 holes with sloppy bogies from Bisson and Dunaway. Some great iron shots from Kyle Williams to 4 feet and Dunaway also to 4 feet resulted in birdies and the match remained Williams-Williams 1-up thru 3. Team Williams furthered their lead on the par-5 fourth hole when both Ryan and Kyle chipped and one-putted for birdies and Dunaway and Bisson failed with their attempts. The match remained in the Williams’ control through the front nine as neither team could convert for birdie and pars were halved thru the 10th hole. When Dunaway was the only one to convert his birdie on the short-four #11, this match was back to 1-up Williams-Williams and a shift of momentum could be felt. Holes 12 thru 14 were again halved with pars. Both Williams’ brothers missing out on great birdie chances from 8-10 feet on #14, which would have put a strangle-hold on the match. An unfortunate break for Dunaway on this hole cost him a sure birdie as his 8 iron approach from 150 seared off the pin and rolled some 40 feet away from the flag.

The turning point in the match came on hole 15 when Dunaway drained a 15 footer for the lonesome birdie of the hole and the match now lay all square thru 15. Two more great iron shots from Dunaway and Bisson left them now staring at 12 and 8 footers for birdie. After both Ryan’s chip and Kyle’s 30 footer slipped by the hole, it was Bisson’s 12 footer that found the hole first, putting their team 1-up and 2 holes to play. The match came down to a dramatic finish with two near misses for birdie by both Ryan and Kyle Williams on #17 and needing a win on the final hole to cause extra holes. After all 4 had tee’d off, Bisson laid up 30 yards short of the par-5 18th in two and it was Dunaway who put the pressure on the Williams’ brothers approaches when his hybrid landed on the green some 30 feet from the stick. With Ryan’s second catching a limb and him surely out of the hole, it was up to Kyle to keep his team’s hopes alive. After his 4-iron pitched just short of the green in two, Kyle stared down his chip shot knowing he surely needed to make it to force a playoff. A crisp strike off his wedge sent the ball up the slope of the green and missing a hole-out by inches! What a shot! Dunaway now needed only to two-putt for the win. Up the slope the first putt came, but with the dew forming late in the day, he left himself with a good 4-5 footer for birdie to win the match. All eyes now on Dunaway, he stepped up and drilled the 5 footer in the heart of the hole and figuratively through the heart of the William’s team for a 1-up victory!

Match #6

Yves Bisson – Stu Dunaway (9)
1 up
Ryan Williams – Kyle Williams (8)

Matches reported by Fraser Mulholland and Mike West

Beach Grove Golf Club, Tsawwassen, BC | 6208 yards, Par 71

The match between Kendal Yonemoto - Stephen Jenkins and Patrick Ericson - Sergej Dronov looked like a sure thing for Kendal Yonemoto and Stephen Jenkins since they were 3 ahead after 10 holes. However Patrick Ericson and Sergej Dronov put up a real fight and drew up to even by the 14th and kept it that way till the 16th. On the 17th Kendal Yonemoto and Stephen Jenkins were able to get a birdie and pull ahead by one and hang on to their lead when Patrick Ericson missed a short putt on the 18th green.

Match #7

Stephen Jenkins – K. Yonemoto (2)
1 up
Pat Ericson – Sergej Dronov (18)

The second match between Matt Makinson - Matt Daniel and Chris Lutes - Mike Hobson went back and forth right up to the 13th green when both were still even. However on the 14th and 15th Matt Makinson and Matt Daniels pulled ahead by one and two respectively. Matt Makinson fired a shot within 1 foot of the flag on the 16th par 3 and taped it in for a birdie, which made it 3 and 2 for Matt Makinson and Matt Daniel with the game ending early.

Match #8

Matt Makinson – Matt Daniel (10)
3&2
Chris Lutes – Mike Hobson (26)

Matches reported by Bill Schabes