LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The promise of clear skies and hot weather wasn't enough to draw a full cohort of golfers to the Seven Spruce Golf Course on Saturday.

The course's Opening Day Tournament was marked by a lower-than-normal turnout. A total of 34 golfers participated in the one-day event on May 28 compared to the 54 who played last year.

Roger Pilling, who organized the tournament along with Kele Antoine, said he wasn't sure what caused the lower numbers. A few regular golfers missing here and there because of other commitments, however, can quickly add up, he said.

The tournament, which followed a two-person Texas scramble format over 18 holes, is played more for bragging rights than the token prizes involved. The team of Darren Hardisty and Rylan Hardisty-Gillis finished in first place with a score of 75.

The win was a true team effort, said Hardisty.

"We both had our drives, we both had our short games," he said.

In addition to taking first place, Hardisty also had the longest drive of the tournament in the men's division. On hole eight, Hardisty got a new ball and lined up the shot but said he didn't set out to kill the ball with his swing.

"I had a lucky bounce. It just rolled and rolled and rolled," he said.

Hardisty estimated that his drive travelled approximately 325 yards down the fairway, a personal best. The tournament itself was perfect with good food, people and weather, he said.

Second place in the tournament went to the team of Kele Antoine and Darcy Acker with 76. While Antoine is well-acquainted with the course, Acker, who's originally from Nova Scotia and recently moved to the village, had only played it a few times.

The course is nice, Acker said. Good chip shots and a few good drives helped the team keep the score low, he said.

"It was fun," Acker said.

The team of Darrell Littlechild and Byron Blyth came in third place.

Longest drive for the women went to Laurie Ozmun while Scott McIntosh was closest to the pin for the men.

Honourable mention went to Ramona Hardisty-Gillis and Mark Gillis who had the lowest mixed-team score at 79 and Lee Scobie and Laurie Ozmun who had the lowest ladies team score at 82.

The next golf tournament in Fort Simpson is the Aboriginal Day Tournament on June 18.

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