PORT HARDY—As there was no "Paddy" registered, nor anybody who admitted to being a saint of any kind, perhaps it was fitting the fourth annual Daffodilly title went to a guy named Mickey.
Sporting a dapper leprechaun's hat in honour of St. Patrick's Day, Mickey Walker guided his foursome/rink to a slender one-point win Sunday in the event, which combines golfing and curling.
The day began with a nine-hole scramble at Seven Hills Golf and Country Club and wrapped up with a round-robin series of four-end curling matches at Fort Rupert Curling Club.
"We do this to recognize two great clubs that provide a wonderful benefit to the North Island," said Gene Cadwallader, curling club president, before signaling the shotgun start at Seven Hills.
Walker's team, which included Rob Paterson, Carolyn Webb and Bert Stromstead, scored 29 points in the hybrid scoring system used for the event. That was good for a one-point edge over the quartets of Kylie Anderson and of John Maday, who each scored 28.
Maday was grouped with Meghan Cadwallader, Dave Bjornson and Naomi Stead.
Anderson was teamed with Ryan Humphrey, Andy Osberg and Roger Yuri. Humphrey enjoyed a banner day, winning both the closest-to-the-pin and men's long-drive awards on the golf course.
The ladies long drive prize went to Anderson.
Doug McCorquodale, whose foursome posted the top golf score, settled for fourth place with 27 points after splitting his two curling matches.
Between events, participants were treated to a buffet lunch at the curling club, and every player received a prize at the end of the day.
The unique combination event is one of two held each year by Fort Rupert Curling Club. The Daffodilly marks the final weekend before the curling ice goes out and signals the arrival of the spring golf season.
Another event, the Fall Funkin', recognizes the reversing of the seasons, and is traditionally held the first weekend after the ice goes in for the new curling campaign.
Rinks earn two points for each end won, and another two points for winning the game. Organizers added a new twist Sunday, requiring each player to skip one end of each four-end curling game.