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Andy Couvrette and Shereen Naidu win men's and women's titles respectively in Yellowknife Golf Club August Long Weekend Tournament

Whenever there are big tournaments at the Yellowknife Golf Club, there are players you expect to see at the top.

Andy Couvrette is one of them and showed why he's always a threat when the chips are on the table.

James McCarthy/NNSL photo
Andy Couvrette watches his putt roll toward the cup on the fifth hole during action in the Yellowknife Golf Club August Long Weekend Tournament on Monday.

The veteran Yellowknife golfer managed to outlast the field to win the men's title at the Yellowknife Golf Club August Long Weekend Tournament on Monday. His 54-hole total of 231 was two shots better than Brandon Walterhouse and Gord Delorme, both from Fort Smith.

“I may have left some shots out there on the course but I played well enough for the win,” said Couvrette.

Couvrette started the final round one shot back of Walterhouse and tied with Ewan McLean as they teed off. As Couvrette described it, he played a steady front nine and finished one-over-par and actually took a one-shot lead heading for the back nine.

With the lead, Couvrette said he played conservatively but not so much that he would make a silly mistake.

“I do watch the scoreboard and that determines how I press on,” he said. “I don't want to give away any shots or take too many risks with the lead but I'm also not the type of player who's going to take a club less for a shot. It's all about concentrating and executing and that's what I did.”

Cole Marshall, the club's assistant pro, said he honestly didn't expect Couvrette to be on top.

“I thought Jake Roche would be in it but the bad weather derailed him a bit,” he said. “Andy proved again that he steps up at big moments and he earned it.”

Shereen Naidu was the women's champion with her total score of 296 for her 54 holes. Yellowknifer did attempt to contact Naidu but she didn't respond by press time.

The bonus prize for Couvrette is a spot at the 2018 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship next August in B.C. and it will be the first time he'll get to represent the NWT at the tournament. Delorme and Walterhouse will join him as the other two representatives.

Couvrette has won the long weekend tournament in the past but that was before it was designated as a qualifier for the national championship and he's looking at the chance as a reward.

“The golf gods were shining down on me,” he said. “As time approaches, I may look at getting a coach to help me prepare and get ready for it. I'll be one of 270 players and I'm not going down there expecting to win it all by any stretch but I do want to be competitive.”

He also said the trip will be a chance to see some family on Vancouver Island and he plans on taking some time to play on a grass course before playing in the big show in 12 months time.