LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The golf course is where 51 golfers celebrated Aboriginal Day in Fort Simpson.

Twenty-five teams and one single player participated in the 10th annual Deh Cho Open Golf Tournament at the Seven Spruce Golf Course on June 21. Each team played 18 holes, two-rounds on the nine-hole course.

William Michaud winds up to drive from the tee box at hole six of the Seven Spruce Golf Course during the Deh Cho Open Golf Tournament. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Aaron McNab, the executive director of the Deh Cho Friendship Centre, which hosts the tournament, said he was pleased with the turn out.

Having organized some of the other Aboriginal Day events in previous years, McNab said he prefers to spend the day on the golf course.

"I like to play out here and run this tournament," he said.

Lawrence Norwegian and Owen Rowe were also glad to be on the course.

"It's the next best thing to spending time on the land," Norwegian said.

Norwegian and Rowe won the tournament with a 68. Their score card included an eagle on hole six and four birdies. Their worst hole was hole one which they bogied twice.

The win was all about consistency and teamwork, said Norwegian.

Norwegian, who's originally from Fort Simpson but is now living in Thunder Bay, said Seven Spruce is evolving into a good golf course.

"It's good to be back in Fort Simpson playing golf for the day," he said.

Coming in second with a 69 was the team of Mike Baden and Dave Magarey. The pair made six birdies during the 18 hole, two-person best ball tournament.

Magarey credited chips and wedges for their low score.

"Our short game was going well and that's what kept us in it," he said.

Their best hole was hole eight, which they birdied twice.

"It was a really good day," Magarey said.

Erin Wyatt and Pam Olafson took third place with a 73.

The tournament also included individual prizes. Bruce Waugh won the longest drive for the men while Keyna Norwegian took if for the women. In the closest to the pin competition Kevin MacPhail took the men's division while Alex Roche took the youth division.

The next tournament at the Seven Spruce Golf Course is the Kingland Ford from July 25 to 26. The tournament will be played following a four-person best ball format.