SOMBA K'E/YELLOWNIFE If you ever wanted a chance to show up Gord Brayton, Sept. 4 was your big chance.

The general manager and head pro at the Yellowknife Golf Club put his reputation, and several hundreds of dollars at the club's pro shop, on the line as he took on all comers in the annual Beat the Pro competition. In all, a total of 20 players looked to best Brayton and when all was said and done, five players managed to shoot a better score than 75, Brayton's gross score, including Pat Loran, who shot 74 once her handicap was factored into the equation.

Loran admitted she didn't even know her score was good enough until the end of the round.

"I don't worry about that when I'm playing," she said. "I just go out and always try my best and hope my score would be good enough."

The format of the tournament saw Brayton take on everyone over 18 holes. Brayton's gross score would be put up against the net score – gross minus 75 per cent of the handicap – of anyone else who entered. Players who did try to beat Brayton had to lay down a wager of some kind to a maximum of $200. If a player was successful, he or she would win double their wager back in a golf club gift certificate or they could pick any item on sale at the pro shop for half price.

Loran ended up staking $100 and she chose to take a $200 gift certificate for her efforts and plans on using it next year when the new stock comes in.

"I haven't picked anything out yet," she said.

In an odd twist, Loran said she and one of her fellow players actually predicted what Brayton would shoot on the day.

"We were talking about it and we both figured it would be about 75," she said. "Once I checked my score and saw his score, I was happy."

Brayton had a chance to stem the tide against him with his final putt on the 18th hole, but he missed.

"Had I made that putt, only one player would have beat me," he said.

That one player was Don McLellan.

In total, $1,600 was wagered among the 20 players and the payout was around $2,000 in gift certificates and pro shop merchandise, according to Brayton.

This was the first time Loran had managed to win in the event and it was also the second time this year she had managed to break 100 on the course.

She said that made the win a lot better.

"I'll give it a shot again next year," she said.

Reprinted with permission courtesy of Northern News Services Limited.