Mark Burke, Mewail Kidane--Match Play Champions

The two assistant professionals, ranked 14th when the 36-team championship began, dueled with amateurs Yves Bisson and Stu Dunaway (9th) for 36 holes before winning 2-up when the match was conceded on the final hole.

Kidane, waiting to putt for an eagle from 25-feet on the par-five 18th hole---the 36th of the match---was allowed to pick up after Bisson and Dunaway saw their best hope splash down short of the green, their other ball in a greenside bunker.

For all four players, it was their first time to the finals of a tournament that has traditionally signaled the beginning of the golf season in BC dating back to the early 1930's.

Bisson and Dunaway grabbed the early lead with a birdie on the opening hole but lost it two holes later. By the 10th hole Burke and Kidane were 2-up, however, the lead changed hands three more times with Bisson and Dunaway sitting 1-up at the lunch break through 18 holes.

When play resumed Burke and Kidane quickly squared the match with a birdie on the 19th hole. A par at the 20th put them in front to stay. By the 30th hole they were up by three.

Bisson and Dunaway reduced that lead to 1-up by the time the teams found their way to the 32nd hole but Kidane's laser shot from 225 yards to the final green behind Northview's tantalizing green-side pond forced the amateurs to change their strategy and going for the green was costly.

For a complete view of the tournament scorecard visit
Vancouver Golf Tour Canada Bread BC Match Play Open Championship.

www.vancouvergolftour.com/live.htm