Every year, a group of local men gather for their annual Masters tournament. The 2019 event was the seventeenth year of this long and proud tradition.

More important than playing golf and enjoying each other’s company, the golfers raise money to donate to local families in need. Over the years, they’ve donated more than $50,000.

“Something the players are really proud of is the money the tournament raises,” says organizer Ray Dowse. “For the past five tournaments, the funds have gone directly to local families.”

Dowse says that this year’s donation of $5,000 went to a young family with small children, where one of the parents has a severe illness.

On August 17, all 36 golfers converged on the Hecla Island Golf Course and Resort for the two-day event. On Saturday, they held their eighth annual Ryder Cup competition, which divided the players into Team Red and Team Blue. After two rounds, Team Red won by a score of 20.5 to 15.5. The win puts Team Red ahead 5–3 overall in the eight years that this event has been held.

On Masters Sunday, a newcomer won the title. Nick Hagidiakow, owner of the Niverville Dairy Queen, took home the green jacket after carding the low gross score of the day, shooting a sizzling 80. Last year’s green jacket winner, Steve Fast, came in second with a score of 86.

The winner of the low net score, after handicap calculations, was Joey Sawatzky with a score of 70, earning him the gold jacket.

“It was another very fun weekend with a lot of great people taking part,” says Dowse. “We had amazing weather and an ideal facility. Those who attend really look forward to it each year!”