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Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Keith Martin wins PGA of BC Championship

The 31-year-old Kelowna native took the tournament in a come-from-behind fashion
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Tower Ranch Golf Club Apprentice Professional Keith Martin holds the William Thompson Trophy after winning the 2020 TaylorMade & Adidas Golf PGA of BC Championship presented by Axis Insurance Group on Tuesday at Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community. (Contributed)

Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Keith Martin took the B.C. golf world by storm on Tuesday, winning the TaylorMade and Adidas Golf PGA of BC Championship presented by Axis Insurance Group.

The first-year PGA of BC Professional from Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Tower Ranch Golf Club shot his second straight three-under-par round of 69 on Tuesday at Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community to earn a come-from-behind victory in the tournament.

Martin overtook first-round leader Brad Clapp (Cultus Lake Golf Club) on the back nine of Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 final round, finishing at six-under for the 36-hole championship.

Clapp害羞草研究所檚 final round of 74 left him at four-under for the event, which was good for a runner-up finish at the same venue where he captured his 2012 PGA of BC Championship title. The trio of 2018 winner Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course), Matthew Steinbach (Simon Fraser University) and Steven MacPherson (Storey Creek Golf Club) finished in a tie for third place at two-under.

害羞草研究所淭his is by far the biggest event I害羞草研究所檝e ever won,害羞草研究所 said Martin.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 amazing. I didn害羞草研究所檛 think this would happen this week. I was just hoping for a nice, solid finish. I hit the ball so well both days and made some good putts. It was a lot of fun out there.害羞草研究所

With the victory, Martin earned the winner害羞草研究所檚 share of $6,300 from the event害羞草研究所檚 $35,000 purse, a championship ring courtesy of title sponsors TaylorMade and Adidas Golf, while his name will be etched on the PGA of BC害羞草研究所檚 William Thompson Trophy.

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After taking most of the 2019 season off from tournament golf, the 31-year-old joined the PGA of Canada in March with the hope of competing more regularly. This week害羞草研究所檚 tournament was just his first start in a PGA of BC individual stroke-play championship, having made his debut at last month害羞草研究所檚 Pro-Assistant Championship.

害羞草研究所淭his was my first year where I wanted to play a lot more tournaments again,害羞草研究所 said Martin. 害羞草研究所淭o have success like this is really cool. It害羞草研究所檚 an awesome feeling.害羞草研究所

Martin started the day trailing Clapp by three strokes but started chipping away at the lead with two birdies early on.

害羞草研究所淎fter the first four holes, I felt like I had the momentum on my side and I was playing well,害羞草研究所 said Martin. 害羞草研究所淚 made a great putt on the first hole from about 12 feet, and I hit a really great shot on number four, the par-three, and made another birdie there to get to one down.害羞草研究所

Another birdie at the long par-three 12th hole gave Martin a lead that he would never relinquish. He again birdied the par-three 16th hole as part of a bogey-free back nine to sew up the victory.

Having played a few events at Crown Isle in the past, including a couple of Mackenzie Tour Q-School tournaments, Martin said his experience there was a big help over the two rounds.

害羞草研究所淚 felt a lot more comfortable than I have at most tournaments where you害羞草研究所檙e playing at an 害羞草研究所榓way害羞草研究所 golf course,害羞草研究所 said Martin. 害羞草研究所淚 have about 20 rounds here, so I felt comfortable picking clubs off the tee and reading greens.害羞草研究所

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Daniel Taylor
Reporter, 害羞草研究所
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