LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A record 68 people teed off for this year's First Air Golf tournament in Fort Simpson, on Sept. 14 hosted by the Seven Spruce Golf Course.

Golfers also enjoyed some great weather.

Rylan Hardisty-Gillis sinks the ball and meets par on hole 18. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photos

"As nice a day as we've ever had," Robert Byatt tournament organizer said.

To accommodate the large turnout, golfers were split into two groups of 34.

"This is the first year that we've had too many golfers to go out at one time," said Byatt.

The event was relaxed and informal, despite the competitive nature inherent in tournaments. Some of the older folk sipped beer while they putted around, and the younger ones were joking around with their friends. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

The tournament was a "best ball" tournament where the score for each team comes from picking the best player score from the group.

The winners, in the end, were Owen Rowe and Conan Donahue. Their score was 70 - two under par.

"It was a great day, great turnout, and the people in Simpson are great to golf with so you can't have much more fun," said Rowe.

Though he was happy to win, Rowe said that he and Donahue, both avid golfers, weren't exactly on top of their game.

"We golfed terrible actually," said Rowe.

"We were missing some really weak putts."

Rowe said he hadn't golfed in about three weeks, and was coming off a late night.

Rowe said he golfs often with Donahue, and they are going to Palm Springs, Cal., on the first weekend in October to spend 10 days doing some serious golfing.

A reverse raffle was held after the tournament. Each person wrote their name on a golf ball, and the balls were drawn until only two balls, the winners, were left.

As a bit of a condolence to those whose golf balls were drawn, they got to draw the next one and keep the ball.

The raffle was won by Raquel Cli-Michaud and Alex Campbell. Campbell won a trip for two to Yellowknife, and Cli-Michaud won a trip for two to Edmonton, courtesy of First Air.

They joked after the draw that they would take each other on their trips.