The 5th annual Swing for Scholarships golf tournament teed off last week, and despite the windy conditions, a hole-in-one was made when it came to the funds raised and the experience.

The event is put on by the Southeast College in partnership with a variety of sponsors in order to supply money for their student entrance bursaries.

"Mother Nature was not on our team that day. However, I am very proud to say that we all powered through. The old adage of, 'a bad day of golf beats a good day of work every day' stood true," said Jeff Richards, the College's Vice President of Strategic Development.

"Frankly, it was a great day of citizenship and camaraderie on the course, and then back in our facilities where we had supper."

He was also quite pleased at the outcome of their fundraising efforts.

"We are excited to say that, at the tournament in Estevan, we raised $20,000 from private industry. We are able to match that through our Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship, so we now have $40,000 available for learners at our College in the coming months and years."

Richards pointed out that one of the highlights from the occasion was a presentation from former Southeast College alumni and current provincial Minister of Energy and Resources, the Honorable Dustin Duncan.

The lead partner in the tournament was a local business, Wil-Tech Industries, and one of the first items President Jim Wilson noted was the conditions and subsequent attendance.

"The weather sure made for a difficult day, however, the turnout was pretty good for that and the result was excellent. We were very pleased with the dollars raised and the whole event."

He added that they wanted to support the education institution as a way to celebrate their own 25 years of business.

"Skills change lives. The ability for people to gain these and change their place or get into the workforce is a great cause. It's something that might not be available to everybody otherwise."

Wilson is serious about this, as his company pledged to a five year plan, for a total of $25,000.

"The whole team was pretty strong, and I look forward to keeping that together and moving over the next few years."