Local professional Camiko Smith perhaps best summed up the Gosling’s Invitational when he described the annual event as “one of the Island’s best golf tournaments” in a recent interview.

And this year’s 72-hole tournament may have been no exception.

In one of the most exciting instalments of the event in recent memory, Canadian tour player Kent Fukushima won the championship on the last hole by three strokes over American Jordan Mitchell.

Fukushima led by one stroke heading to the 18th and managed to put more distance between himself and the chasing pack after Joe Horowitz, the two-times former champion, made triple bogey after driving out of bounds.

“He [Fukushima] was a very popular winner,” E Malcolm Gosling, the president and chief executive of Gosling’s Export Bermuda, said. “He is just a steady golfer and it was incredible what he did. The second day was a challenging day and the wind was blowing, and he just stuck with it. It didn’t matter what the wind did.”

This year’s tournament was held in ideal weather conditions for the most part. “It was the most perfect week we could ever hope for,” Gosling added. “The weather was incredible and the course is in great shape. Belmont is such a unique course. It is a real challenge and will challenge any game out there.”

This year’s event attracted a record 43 professionals, mostly from overseas. “The word is spreading with a lot of these pros and as that word spreads, I’m sure it will become more and more popular,” Gosling said. “But due to the daylight we can’t really have that many more people playing in the tournament than we do now, in case it is a play-off.

“The social aspect of the tournament — the camaraderie, the friendships and the bonds that are formed during this week — are very meaningful to a lot of people. The camaraderie that you experience when you are part of the Gosling’s Invitational is second to none. And I think the visitors and the locals alike had a fantastic time down here.”

Gosling thanked all those behind the scenes who go to lengths to ensure that the tournament is run smoothly.

“The staff at Belmont and Newstead along with Karen and Rebecca [tournament directors Karen Marsh and Rebecca Madeiros] just adds so much to the tournament,” he said. “They are such wonderful and welcoming ambassadors for Bermuda and it really, really makes a difference and is something you just can’t buy.”