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Idylwylde Invitational returns to Sudbury

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Sudbury -

Some of the province's best golfers will put it all on the line this weekend as the oldest match play tournament of its kind kicks off at Sudbury's Idylwylde Golf and Country Club.

This weekend marks the 73rd annual 'Idylwylde Invitational' and everyone looked grateful to be back on the links.

"It's such a great format with the match play qualifier with a tight bracket of 16 for the championship flight, it's always contested," said Idylwylde golf professional David Bower.

"We have always a playoff, generally speaking, for those last spots in which is awesome. We have a few spectators out there."

The tradition of the tournament is a long and storied one and it's one many in the club are proud of.

"It's an incredible history at this event -- the list of champions is incredibly impressive and includes a lot of the great amateur players that have played in Canada throughout the years," Bower said. "It's really created a name for the Idylwylde in Ontario."

Golfers were eager to hit the greens and fairways for their shot at some pretty impressive hardware.

"I grew up ball spotting on the 12th hole and just watching all the people come through, so to be able to be a part of it -- much less a champion -- is pretty cool for me considering I was just a little runt just a handful of years ago," said past champion Tristan Renaud.

Renaud, who's originally from Sudbury and is now studying in Texas, said it's comforting to be hitting the links again.

"I would say, because it's a long event and you have to get through all the different pieces of it, you have to get through the Friday and then from then on make sure you have match after match," he said. "It's a marathon, not a sprint."

Berk Keaney sits on the tournament committee and will also be playing in the coming days. He said it's nice to see everyone back after the long pandemic.

"It's so cool to get back together with old friends, renew acquaintances who come up here every year for the tournament," said Keaney. "There's still competitive golfing -- some of the other flights with the other golfers -- and then as we go down and get to the higher scores, there's more of the beer cart, laughing and having fun -- it's a great combination, a hybrid event, for sure."

"It's so great to see it back, we're all excited to be part of it, from the staff to the members, it's an exciting thing to have," said Bower. "Everybody from past Ontario amateur champions, some of the best players that have played in Ontario to all the way down to guys who are 25, 30 handicappers who are just down to have some fun."

Half of the 176 participants are members here at Idylwylde; the other half are golfers who have come from across the province.

The threat of rain also isn't getting anyone down. The tournament will wrap up on Sunday. 

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