LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Attendance records were shattered over the weekend as an unprecedented number of golfers participated in the Seven Spruce Golf Course Scramble Tournament.

A total of 67 people on 17 teams competed in the two-day tournament was sponsored by Kingland Ford. The attendance broke the previous record of 51 golfers that was set two weeks ago during the Deh Cho Open Golf Tournament on Aboriginal Day.

The team of Kele Antoine, left, Owen Rowe, Mike King and Conan Donahue finished in first place at the Seven Spruce Golf Course Scramble Tournament sponsored by Kingland Ford. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"It was a superb turnout," said Val Gendron, who organized the tournament along with Pat Rowe.

Thirteen out-of-town players who came in from Hay River, Fort Smith, Behchoko and Wrigley boosted numbers. The tournament also attracted its highest-ever number of junior players with 11 golfers under the age of 16 taking to the course, said Gendron.

All of the teams played 18 holes on both July 5 and 6 for a total of 36 holes.

"I think it was excellent," Gendron said about the tournament.

"The weather was excellent; perfect golf weather."

After two days of play, the team of Owen Rowe and Kele Antoine from Fort Simpson along with Conan Donahue from Behchoko and Mike King from Hay River took first place. The team had a 63 on the first day and 64 on the second for a finish of 127.

The win was the result of an all-around team effort," said Rowe.

"In four-person best ball you need everyone to play good and we did," Rowe said.

"Everyone was just consistent."

The team's best performance came on the second day when they birdied three holes in a row. Getting birdies on holes eight, nine and one secured the win for the team, said Rowe.

Despite the number of other teams in the tournament, Kele Antoine said the team didn't take the competition too seriously.

"We were just having fun today," said Antoine.

Coming in a close second at 131 was the team of Calvin Lizotte, Dallas Weaver and Andy McKay from Hay River and Sholto Douglas from Fort Smith. Third place went to the Hay River team of Marc Miltenberger, Wayne Kotash, Greg Rowe and Mark Harris at 134.

Prizes for the longest drive went to Alex Roche and Rylan Hardisty for the juniors, Conan Donahue and Dallas Weaver for the men and Keyna Norwegian on both days for the ladies.

Prizes for closest to the pin went to Madison Pilling and Tyler Pilling for the juniors, Dallas Weaver and Sholto Douglas for the men and Sheila Pollard and Leah Keats for the ladies.

During the tournament there was also a contest to see whose ball went closest to a tire on the fairway on Hole 9. Ironically, for putting his ball 3.1 metres from the tire, Pat Rowe won the prize of $500 redeemable at P.R. Contracting that he had donated. Rowe went on to donate the money in the form of a cheque to the soccer teams from Fort Simpson that will be competing at the North American Indigenous Games in August.

Kingland Ford, which sponsored the tournament, donated $1,500 to the Seven Spruce Golf Course for course improvements.