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    NNSL Photo/Graphic

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    A day on the links

    Roxanna Thompson
    Northern News Services
    Published Thursday, August 14, 2008

    LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A brief rain shower wasn't enough to dampen the spirits of the golfers who participated in the seventh annual Nahendeh Classic Golf Tournament.

    Forty-six golfers on 11 teams played through the rain on the Seven Spruce Golf Course on Aug. 10 in Fort Simpson.

    NNSL Photo/Graphic

    Madison Pilling chips her ball towards the green on Hole 5 during the Nahendeh Classic Golf Tournament while her mother Val Gendron watches. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

    The rain soon cleared, leaving behind great golfing weather.

    The tournament was co-sponsored by the golf club and MLA Kevin Menicoche.

    "I thought the day went very well," said Menicoche.

    He said the tournament provided a nice ending to the week as people got onto the golf course and enjoyed themselves.

    Fittingly, the team of Menicoche and former MLA Jim Antoine along with John and Louisa Moreau was among the top teams in the tournament.

    The team's second place finish at 67 was mostly due to strong playing by Louisa, said John Moreau.

    Louisa saved the team on four separate holes.

    "Her putting was just awesome," said John.

    Over the 18 holes, which were played in a four-person best-ball format, the team got seven birdies but also two bogies.

    Every time the team got a birdie the players let out a yell to celebrate, said John.

    "It was a really beautiful day, you couldn't ask for better," he said.

    With a finish of 61, the team of Ted Grant, Owen Rowe and Phyllis Harris and Steve Malesku from Fort Liard took first place.

    The team donated their $200 prize back to the golf course.

    The win was a team effort, said Phyllis Harris.

    "Everybody was contributing and if one fell through someone else came through," she said.

    The team's best performances came on holes four and six.

    On hole six Owen Rowe drove to the green with one hit followed by a putt that sank the ball, giving the team an eagle.

    The team also took a second eagle on hole four, a par five, where they reached the green in two shots and putted it in with a third.

    Harris said she enjoys coming to Fort Simpson to play in the tournaments because there's always a good group of golfers.

    Third place in the tournament went to the team of Kele Antoine, David Shaw, Wes Hardisty and Steven Lenoir with 68. Prizes for the longest drive went to Trent Hayward for the men and April Bell for the ladies. Roger Pilling and Susie Hanna won the closest to the pin competition.

    The tournament was also notable for including two golfers from Spain, the farthest origin of a golfer who's played on the course.

    Owen Rowe said Antonio Reguera and Benito del Peral were visiting the village and asked if they could participate in the tournament.

    Although they spoke very little English, the two men fit right into the tournament and waved at passing teams.

    "They had a great time," said Rowe.