Golfers get mixed and matched
Randomly drawn teams compete in first Fort Simpson tournament
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, May 29, 2014
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Golfers mixed and mingled during the Luck of the Draw Opening Day Tournament at the Seven Spruce Golf Course May 24.
The winning team at the Luck of the Draw Opening Day Tournament at the Seven Spruce Golf Course included Kevin Menicoche, left, Lucyanne Kendo, Kelley Andrews-Klein and Owen Rowe. - photo courtesy of Lucyanne Kendo
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To start the season with something a bit different, the 20 participants weren't allowed to choose their own teams. Instead, they were placed on five teams through a random draw that ensured each team had a mix of men and women.
The randomly created teams were fun and allowed the golfers to share each other's company and golfing tips, said Kim Hardisty who organized the tournament along with Roger Pilling.
The draw worked out well for Kelley Andrews-Klein, Lucyanne Kendo, Kevin Menicoche and Owen Rowe. The team finished in first place with 68, four under par for 18 holes.
"For the first tournament of the year it was a good idea," said Menicoche about the way the teams were chosen.
Many of the teams were comprised of people who had never golfed together before. It was the first time Menicoche had been on a team with Rowe or Andrews-Klein.
"We all had some straight drives," he said.
Menicoche made one of the team's better shots – a chip in birdie on hole three.
Everyone also encouraged each other, said Kendo. It was only the second time she'd competed in a golf tournament.
"It was awesome, fun. I enjoyed it," she said.
Kendo plans to play in the rest of the tournaments this season.
"I've got the golfing bug," she said.
Climate Muyambo also enjoyed the tournament's random draw format.
"It was a good mix and match," he said.
Muyambo ended up on a team with three people he hadn't played with before – Kristen Morrison, Thor Amundson and Allyson Skinner. Together they finished with a 69, earning second place in the tournament.
It was a team effort with everyone making some good drives and chips and Amundson sinking some good putts for birdies, said Muyambo. The team had four birdies and one bogey.
Weather also played a factor in the event. The first few hours of the tournament were pretty chilly, but it warmed up by the end, he said.
Muyambo also won two individual prizes – one for closest to the pin on hole two and one for the longest putt at 5.8 metres. Andrews-Klein won the women's category with a putt of 2.6 metres.
The longest drive awards went to Gordie Thompson and Val Gendron on hole eight.
