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Richard Roberts cards 44 points,
wins Las Vegas Open 2000
You gotta love it. Sixteen year old Richard Roberts
will probably have a whole suitcase of stories to tell his mates when he
gets back home. Imagine spending the summer of your sixteenth year in
Pattaya. Now throw in golf. He has been here for five weeks and for the
first time in his short life he is playing golf regularly. He is getting
better. And now he is the 2000 Las Vegas Open Champion.
 Richard
Roberts (center) won the Las Vegas Open 2000 and received the coveted
trophy and prizes from Las Vegas Peter and a lovely lass.
He will probably live to see the year 2100, but he will
never forget the year 2000. He will never forget the feeling of going
around Phoenix with family and friends and playing really well. He will
never forget the excitement and anticipation of finding out just how high
he placed. He will never forget the sheer fun of climbing up on the stage
at Las Vegas and being presented his first major golf trophy with a
beautiful Thai girl kissing him on the cheek. Sixteen years old and
playing off 29, Richard won the 2000 Las Vegas Open with 44 Stableford
points. You really do have to love it.
Seventy-two golfers entered this golf tournament, the
fourth time it has been played. The conditions were almost perfect with
the ocean breeze and Benny’s golf cart loaded with beer keeping down the
heat. Phoenix is a fun course to have a tournament. It doesn’t beat you
up, but it does allow you to beat yourself. One golfer who didn’t beat
himself was Garry Parkinson. Garry took the Low Gross honors with an
impressive 73 off his five handicap. That score was good for 3rd Place in
the first division. He capped his trophy collection with a Long Drive off
the Ocean’s eighteenth hole.
The winner of Division One was Bill Hurd who had the
second highest Stableford score of the day with 43 points. Second place in
Division One went to John Kendall who described his day as a Formula 1
driver who is driving really well but keeps pulling into the pits to find
out why his car is missing. John may not have been hitting on all his
cylinders but he shot his best gross ever.
Brian Kelly won the first place trophy in Division Two.
Brian was playing in the same foursome with John Kendall and he also shot
his best gross ever. Brian’s 86 was good for 42 points and was the third
highest Stableford score of the day. Brian made a bunch of putts when he
had to have them, which is exactly what you have to do to win.
The post tournament festivities on Soi Post Office were
loud and raucous. The crowd inside Las Vegas was awash in a sea of russet
colored commemorative golf shirts with that most distinctive Las Vegas
Open logo. Somewhere in that buzz of music and laughter and beautiful
girls, Richard Roberts was having the day of his life.
Final Results:
Las Vegas Open Champion 2000: Richard Roberts, 44 Pts
Divisions Winners: Div. 3 Richard Roberts, 44 Pts.,
Div. 2 Brian Kelly, 42 Pts., Div. 1 Bill Hurd, 43 Pts.
Runners Up: Div. 3 Steve Wilkins, 40 Pts., Div. 2
Russell White, 41 Pts., Div. 1 John Kendall, 41 Pts.
3rd Place: Div. 3 Mike Ellis, 38 Pts., Div. 2 Claus
Ernlund, 40 Pts., Div. 1 Gary Parkinson, 40 Pts.
Best Gross: Garry Parkinson, 73
Ladies Winner: Urai Khongnok, 40 Pts.
Near Pins: Mountain #8: Div. 3 Somchai, Div. 2 No
Winner, Div. 1 John Ginnane. Ocean #5: Div. 3 Kim Fletcher, Div. 2 Bob
Westendorf, Div. 1 Anders Farstad.
Long Drive: Div. 3 Dan Dorothy, Div. 2 Russell White, Div. 1 Garry
Parkinson.
Frogs did it again!
On Sunday 23 July, six teams played football for charity
at the Pattaya Orphanage, raising 48,000 baht, double last year’s event.
 The
Belgian team poses with the VIP 1 team
A team each from Delaney’s, France, Belgium, VIP 1, VIP
2 and a team from the Orphanage battled it out in the hot afternoon sun, and
although everyone suffered from the heat, all who attended enjoyed the day.
After an opening speech from the mayor, the games began.
The Belgians started the round robin tournament with a 3-0 victory over VIP
1, followed by VIP 2 defeating the Orphanage 3-2. Next the French defeated
VIP 1, 6-0, with Delaney’s managing to get by VIP 2, 2-0. When the
Belgians lost to the French 2-0, and Delaney’s lost to the Orphanage 2-0,
the final was set to be between the French and the Orphanage. Ending in a 2
all tie, the French eventually won by penalties.
Filling out the rest of the places, the Belgians finished
3rd, VIP 1 4th, VIP 2 5th and Delaney’s 6th.
Thailand’s Windsurfing Team departs for
the Olympic Games
The Thai Windsurfing Team, comprising of Aran Homraryn
and Miss Nabhalai Tarasai with their coach Patid Waiwong and team manager
Navy Lieutenant Chairat Piranarong departed from Bangkok on 1 August heading
for Sydney, Australia.
Vice-Chairman of the Pattaya City Council accompanied the
team members to a send-off meeting with the Commander of the Royal Thai
Navy, Admiral Narong Yutawasong, who is also President of the Thai
Windsurfing Association.
The windsurfing competition will take place in September
and the early departure is to give the Thai team members the opportunity to
acquaint themselves with procedures during Olympic competition. Most
important too, is the practice required under Olympian conditions prior to
the start of the competition.
Aran and Nabhalai have been training for over a year,
preparing for the Olympics in Sydney. The two were chosen to represent
Thailand last September and have received full support from the Thai
Windsurfing Association and financial support from the government.
The two athletes entered the Nescafe Siam Cup in December
1999, the Singapore Open in January 2000, and later in February qualified
for the 2000 Olympics in the World Windsurfing Competition held in
Argentina. Both have been continually training under the guidance of the
Thai Windsurfing Association and have already tested the waves in Sydney
during the “Sail Sydney” event last April.
The pair has also trained with world-class windsurfing
athletes from Long Beach, California during July in preparation for the 2000
Olympics.
Volvo Fireball World Ch’ship starts
Monday
by Peter Cummins
The Volvo Fireball World Championship, being sailed off
the Royal Varuna Yacht Club at South Pattaya, opened on Monday, with a
splendid ceremony held at the Royal Varuna foreshore, even as a huge
‘fireball’ sank behind Koh Larn in a spectacular sunset. “Volvo is
proud to sponsor this international regatta, bringing together competitors
from around the world,” said Volvo Car (Thailand) President, Karl-Johan
Sandesjo at the formalities.
The international week, which started last Monday and
finishes today, was the pre-regatta series for the World Championship, which
starts on Monday. It will comprise a total of 10 races of which seven will
count to determine who is the world’s best Fireball sailing team.
It is Thailand’s - or, rather Asia’s - first big
international regatta of the new millennium. It was, in fact, almost 22
years ago, in November/ December of 1978, that the late Prince Birabongse
Bhanubandh, as Commodore of the Fireball Association of Thailand, welcomed
participants to the first world yacht-racing championship ever to come to
Thai shores - again, as now, also to Asia. That was the Twelfth Fireball
World Championship which, like this one, was also held off the Varuna Club
at Kasetsin Beach.
The winner of that particularly exciting event was Laurie
Smith who, one could surmise, has ‘advanced’ a little since those
halcyon days at Pattaya, being now one of the highest-paid yachting
professionals in the competitive world of Whitbreads - now the “Volvo
Ocean Race” - Admiral’s and America’s Cups.
In the intervening two decades, in spite of a punitive
tax levied on yachts, sailing and the marine leisure sector have flourished
and Pattaya, particularly, has been avidly solicited as a prime regatta
venue.
This is readily understandable. The last yachting world
championship - also sponsored by Volvo - was the Topcat Worlds sailed on
Pattaya Bay three years ago this month. On that occasion, the more than 400
sailors, supporters and spectators, mostly from Northern European climes,
had come to Thailand’s warm, sunny shores - many of them right out of the
bitter, sub-zero temperatures of Europe.
As is well known, Volvo has been a consistent and
long-standing supporter of many sports, including tennis and motor racing
and has recently taken over the major sponsorship of the quadrennial
Whitbread Round-the-World yacht race, the most gruelling test of man and
machine ever devised. The company’s leitmotif, “Volvo for Life”, is
most appropriate.
Louis Smyth, Commodore and Andrew Davies, Secretary of
Fireball International in the UK, have been the major force behind bringing
this event to Thailand again and are unabashed in their enthusiasm for the
event - and Volvo sponsorship. As Louis notes, for many of the competitors
it “will be a celebration of sailing rather than a bid for a world
title.”
There are some 55 participants from Australia, Britain,
the Czech Republic, Ireland and Japan. With some 10 entries from host
country Thailand, it is a case of “wall-to-wall ‘balls” off South
Pattaya.
An interesting entry is that of the Altens - Helge and
Christina - who, in the 1980s, were an unbeatable Fireball team. Helge is
here also on behalf of sponsor Volvo of which he is the CEO of Volvo Event
Management in the UK, which will be organizing the next round-the-world
race.
The Volvo Fireball World Championship is a fitting
tribute to the memory of Royal Varuna’s beloved sailor, Prince Birabongse
Bhanubandh who did so much to promote this great and challenging dinghy in
Thailand and, by extension, throughout the region in regattas such as the
Asian Fireball Championships, which he pioneered.
Unfortunately, wonderful Prince Bira will not be around
to greet the visitors this time, but his influence on yacht racing in
Thailand is still felt, even some 15 years after his death. Nevertheless,
his widow, the gracious Princess Lom was at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club last
weekend to place the Prince’s imprimatur on the championship.
Logjam atop Mickey Mouse Darts
The current Mickey Mouse Darts League season is just 3
weeks old, yet there is a logjam at the top of the table with 4 teams tied
with identical 2-1 records. Cheers, Beer Put, Yorkie and Rising Sun are
all battling for the top spot.
In week 3, Beer Put won the match and beer from
Mick’s Place, Cheers won the match but lost the beer to Devonshire,
Pleasure Dome gained their first win of the season, taking the match and
beer from Rising Sun, and Yorkie won the match but lost the beer to
Palmer’s.
So far, Stan from Cheers has the league’s highest
out, 99.
This week (11 Aug) sees Mick’s Place v Cheers,
Pleasure Dome v Beer Put, Rising Sun v Yorkie and Devonshire v Palmer’s.
|
Won
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Lost
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B/L
|
U10s
|
|
Cheers
Beer Put
Yorkie
Rising Sun
Devonshire
Palmer’s
Pleasure Dome
Mick’s Place |
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1 |
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
|
2
1
1
1
3
2
2
0
|
23
22
21
12
27
28
13
12
|
Jack’s holds tenuous lead in Tuesday
Darts
Jack’s Bar currently sits atop the table in the Tuesday
Darts League, but their lead is a tenuous one, as Pleasure Dome sits just
one game back in the standings.
To date, Alan from Pleasure Dome holds the league’s
highest out, a remarkable 142.
|
Won |
Loss
|
Beer Leg
|
|
Jack’s
Pleasure Dome
Mick’s Place
Café Kronborg
Bunker
Texxan Inn
Tippy’s
Beer Put
Lazi Pig
Mango
Rose Garden
The Ritz
Londoner
Thistle |
18
17
15
13
13
12
11
11
8
6
5
5
4
2 |
2
3
5
7
7
8
9
9
12
14
15
15
16
18 |
16
16
14
14
12
8
9
8
8
9
8
7
9
2 |
Ding Dong ringing atop Wednesday Darts
Ding Dong is chiming a friendly tune this week, as they
sit atop the Wednesday Darts League. Ding Dong maintained their lead with
a 7-3 victory over Mango.
In other league action, Country House beat Mick’s
Place 9-1, Jack’s defeated Pleasure Dome 6-4, Tippy’s whitewashed
Night Owls 10-0, and Lazi Pig beat Andy Bar 6-4.
Pook from Tippy’s currently holds the league’s
highest out, 153. Alex from Pleasure Dome holds the league’s most outs,
19, as well as most individual tons, 40.
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Won |
Lost |
Tons |
|
Ding Dong
Pleasure Dome
Tippy’s
Jack’s
Nick’s
Country House
P. Nut
Mick’s Place
Lazi Pig
Thistle
Mango
Lanc. Rose
Night Owls
Andy Bar |
29
25
24
23
22
19
19
17
16
13
12
11
10
10 |
11
15
16
7
8
11
11
23
24
17
28
19
30
30 |
30
85
46
54
18
56
24
31
26
15
33
32
15
6 |
Fitness Tips: All sorts of
fit tips
by David Garred
Club Manager Dusit Resort Sports Club
G’day All,
Fitness tips this week is rather diversified; we are
going to look at the health of your heart, the benefits of oysters and
finally something for my friends at PAWS and all the pet owners that care.
Heart Health: The American Heart Association is
reconsidering its guidelines on how much fat is too much and the type of
fats we should consume. The current guidelines recommend a diet ‘low in
total fat’ but will be modified to recommend a diet that is ‘moderate
in total fat’ but ‘low in saturated fat and cholesterol’. Research
has revealed that consumers are deterred by the term low fat and are more
receptive to a ‘moderate fat’ diet, even where the fat content is the
same.
In a similar move, the Australian National Heart
Foundation has recently released a reviewed policy on dietary fats. The
policy emphasises the importance of retaining fat in the diet, but
recommends that saturated fats be replaced with polyunsaturated and
monounsaturated varieties.
Studies indicate 13% of the average person’s total
energy consumption is derived from saturated fats. The Australian Heart
Foundation recommends no more than 8% of total energy be sourced from
saturated and trans-fatty acids, compared with their previous
recommendation of 10%. Cardiovascular disease and stroke remain
Australia’s biggest killers, responsible for 41% of all deaths every
year. With substitution for healthier fats, the incidence of high blood
cholesterol levels and heart disease could be greatly reduced.
The other benefit of Oysters: At your next romantic
dinner date it may be more beneficial than you think to order oysters from
the menu. While well-reputed for their seductive qualities, did you know
that half a dozen oysters provide a whopping 500% of your recommended
daily allowance of Zinc?
Zinc is essential for a healthy immune system and for
effective maintenance and repair of muscle tissue. It is also vital for
sexual functioning and sperm production in males. An entr้e of
oysters, therefore, could not only reap aphrodisiac benefits but it will
also assist in ensuring your muscles are adequately prepared in the event
of any expected or even unexpected bouts of physical activity!
Pet food calculator: There’s no excuse for a
pudgy pooch or a fat feline with the introduction of the online Pet Food
Calculator from www.petsmart.com
Pet owners can now make informed decisions regarding
their pet’s nutritional intake by logging into www.petsmart.com
By entering information such as the age, weight, life
stage and activity level of your dog or cat, the pet calculator identifies
appropriate foods for your pet’s individual needs. Based on the
variables entered, the pet calculator provides a recommended daily calorie
intake for your pet, with a list of appropriate foods and serving sizes.
The pet calculator can also compare the nutritional content of the
recommended foods, as well as provide an analysis of protein, fat, fibre
and moisture in each product.
Bet you did not expect to read that in the fitness tips
column.
Carpe’ Diem
Jackalope sightings reported
There have been at least three separate instances where
the legendary Jackalope has been reported spotted in Chonburi. Were these
sightings believable, there would be some cause for alarm. The Jackalope
is a very dangerous animal and many an ankle has been gnawed to the bone
by these horned rabbits. However, the Jackalope, a cross between an
antelope and a jackrabbit, has as his only known habitat the Great Plains
of North America. There would be no earthly reason for the Jackalope to
travel halfway across the globe to South-East Asia. Unless they have taken
umbrage at having one of their brothers stuffed and mounted as a permanent
golf tournament trophy. Like an old bull elephant, revenge is something
the Jackalope understands well.
 Jackalopes
in their natural habitat
The Canadian Jackalope Open 2000 golf tournament is
being held at Eastern Star on Friday, the 8th of
September. The winner of this tournament will have his name engraved and
placed on the permanent trophy that now sits in The Haven. It might be a
good idea for last year’s winner, Harry Riley, to hide out until these
rumors of Jackalopes being seen can be laid to rest. After all, Harry’s
name is the only one on the trophy and he isn’t much taller than a
full-grown Jackalope. Should they decide to take their revenge on The Wee
One, things could get nasty.
It would be a lot more sporting for the Jackalopes to
go after Canadian Mark Gorda. First, anyone from a place with name of
Moose Jaw already knows the dangers of messing around with Jackalopes.
Secondly, Mr. Gorda is one of the organizers of the Canadian Jackalope
Open. He’s a big ol’ boy and he can probably hold his own against an
attacking warren of Jackalopes, especially if he can find a golf cart.
Another Canadian who should be worried is Moe
Deverdenne. Last year, it was Moe who brought back to Pattaya the poor
unfortunate stuffed bunny with a slight rack of antlers that serves as the
symbol of the Canadian Jackalope Open. Between a herd of Jackalopes
hell-bent on revenge and the local chapter of the SPCA, Moe might be in
big trouble. Someday we might be watching a movie of the last stand of
Mark and Moe fighting off the horde of Lepus-temperamentalus.
Should there be any golfers out who are still willing
to chance an encounter with rabbit with a serious attitude problem, then
the details of the Canadian Jackalope Open are here to peruse at your
leisure. Just don’t say you weren’t forewarned.
The Canadian Jack-A-Lope Open 2000 Charity Golf
Tournament will take place on Friday 8 September at Eastern Star Resort.
The format is Singles Stableford, shotgun start at 09.30 am playing in
groups of four. Maximum handicap: Men 28, Ladies 36 (Plus Rabbits Division
29-36).
Entry Forms with entry fee should be given to Stephen
Beard at the Haven Soi 13, Steve Ross at Lewiinski’s, Roy Mitchell at
The Bunker, or Kim Fletcher at Delaney’s. Field limited to 128 players.
The entry fee is B.1250 per player and includes: green
fee, caddy fee, Canadian Jack-a-lope shirt, buffet & prize giving at
The Haven, lucky draw with fabulous prizes.
Charities: El Shaddai Home For Children &
Banglamung Disabled Ladies Home.
Local rower to compete in the Olympics
The annual ‘Merlion Regatta’ in Singapore will be
the last chance for racing for Thailand’s Phuttaraksa Nikree, before the
Sydney Olympics. After a gruelling 6 weeks and two tours of Europe, where
she competed against some of the world’s best in rowing, Phuttaraksa and
coach Gay Horan are hoping to compete together in Singapore on 25-28th of
this month. However, a shroud of controversy within the rowing association
may force the young rower to forfeit her last chance at competing before
the Olympics in September.
 Phuttaraksa
Nikree (Pack) going through her paces at Maprachan.
If she does go, she will compete in 6 events both in
sweep and sculling covering a full 2000-metre distance. Coach Horan
believes that Phuttaraksa will win all 6 events including the lightweight
and open weight women’s single sculls, lightweight and open double
sculls, women’s pair oar, quadruple scull and indoor rowing races. The
pair previously competed together as a lightweight double scull in the
1998 New Zealand Rowing Championships attaining 4th place overall.
Since returning to Pattaya from the European
Championships, Phuttaraksa has been undergoing some rigorous training. She
has been rowing up to 200 kilometres a week on the water at Maprachan
Reservoir, as well as spending numerous hours in the gym at the Royal
Garden, which is her only sponsor.
“Pack is the current reigning champion for the region
and possibly doing more training than any other rower in South East
Asia,” said coach Gay Horan.
“This should be a great opportunity for practising
new race tactics and race protocols before competing at the Olympics
Games,” added Horan.
Providing all goes well the successful duo will travel
on to Sydney, then to the north coast of New South Wales for final
pre-Olympic training and familiarisation.
Close competition dominates the week
PSC TAGGS... golf from The Haven
Monday, July 31 - Phoenix (Medal)
1st: Jeff McLaury, 81, 68 net C/B
2nd: Brian Kelly, 88, 68 net C/B
3rd: John Kendall, 87, 68 net
Playing in a stroke play competition at Phoenix
(Mountain/Ocean), the gentlemen from The Haven found themselves in an
extremely close contest. Eight golfers shot within three strokes of the
lead, with the top three all finished with scores of 68 net.
American Jeff McLaury won the count back with a back
nine score of two over par gross. Jeff, who plays off 13, had seven pars
and two bogies on the Ocean layout to seal the victory and take home his
first TAGGS Knotted Putter trophy.
Brian Kelly finished with a nasty pair of double bogeys
and let the “medal” slip out of his grasp, as did John Kendall who
took a disastrous triple bogey on the Ocean’s par four eighth hole.
Wednesday, August 2 - Laem Chabang (Medal)
1st: Mark Campbell, 77, 66 net
2nd: Danny Evans, 86, 71 net
3rd: Brian Kelly, 91, 71 net
It wasn’t that long ago that Mark Campbell,
struggling to break 80 for the first time, four putted the eighteenth hole
to finish with an eighty. The golf gods continued tormenting him; teasing
him; and finally releasing him as he, at last, shot the magic number
seventy-nine. Since that day, Mark has broken 80 enough times to almost
expect it. On Wednesday, at Laem Chabang, Mark shot a 38/39 on the A/B
layout to win a TAGGS Medal play competition. His net 66 lapped the field
by five strokes and gave Mark his sixth singles win in the year 2000.
Danny Evans took second place with a 71 net in a count
back over steady Brian Kelly.
Multiple winners this week in PSC Golf from
Cafe Kronborg
Monday 31st July - Pattaya Country Club (Stableford)
Fifteen golfers teed off at a very hot Pattaya Country
Club for a Stableford competition.
Claes Ernlund took first place for the second month in
a row with 44 points. Fred Marshall on 39 points came in second, while
Mike Parsons and Ebrahim, both on 38 points, tied third.
Near the pins were taken by Toy Theobald at hole #5,
and winner Claes taking the twelfth.
Thursday 3rd August - Bangpra (Stableford)
Bangpra was the scene for another Stableford
competition with twenty-three golfers taking to the course.
Danny Evans won the A Flight with 39 points, Dave Ball
came in second place with 34 and consistent Ebrahim came in third on 33
points.
Fred Marshall won the B Flight with 38 points. Evan
Trotman took out second spot and Fred Theobald placed third, both with 34
points.
Near the pins: #2 Fred Marshall, Rick Evans on the 8th,
Danny Evans taking out the 12th and Anders Farstd at the 17th.
Len Jones triumphs at Treasure Hills
PSC Pattaya Golf Society from The Bunker
On Tuesday the 1st of August 32 golfers from the Bunker
went to play a Stableford competition at Treasure Hills. The course was in
first class condition, but the weather was very hot.
The field was split into two groups: high and low
handicaps. In the high handicap group, Len Jones scored 37 Stableford
points - a very good round after a poor start. Since his return from
England, Len has been high on the leader board every week and he is now
playing consistent golf.
In second place, appearing for the first time, was Jon
Woods with 33 points. Scott Haynes came in third with 32 points.
Mike Larrsen won the low handicap group with 36 points.
Second was Mr. Loy Mitchell again with 32 points, and third was Paul
Butler with 30 points.
Nearest the pins this week were Scott Haynes, Wilf
Latham and Seppo Makenen.
Don’t forget, if your handicap is above 28, then the
Bunker is the place for you.
Copyright 2000 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected] |
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