IPGC Golf From Lewiinski’s

Sunday May 1
Green Valley Stableford
1st A Flight: Jack Grindvold, 42 pts
2nd A Flight: Jim Wickstrom, 40 pts
3rd A Flight: Klaus Schackt, 40 pts
1st B Flight: Jim Munns, 40 pts
2nd B Flight: Vic Hester, 38 pts
3rd B Flight: Brian Orr, 38 pts
1st B Flight: Toy Theobald, 45 pts
2nd B Flight: Peter Henderson, 39 pts
3rd B Flight: Andreas Grunenberg, 39 pts
Near Pins: # 13 Jan Eriksen; #16 An Kaesavane
2’s: Jack Grindvold, Simon Spaulding, Jim Munns, An Kaesavane

Its been a trend that has been building over the past couple of months, but Uncle Fred Theobald, who has long enjoyed the lowest handicap in the family for as long as most can remember, is in danger of losing that distinction as Auntie Toy put on another dazzling display of golf by shooting 45 points on the Sunday set-up of the Green Valley course. That outburst naturally outdistanced the two otherwise fine efforts of C flight bretheren Peter Henderson and old friend Andreas Grunenberg, both of whom had a robust 39 points.

In A Flight, the unbelievable play of Jackie Grindvold continued, despite recent health challenges, with 42 points, good enough for a two point margin over fellow single digit handicappers, Jim Wickstorm and Klaus Schackt. The premier gross scores of the day belonged to Medalist Jim Wickstrom, Jack Grindvold, Steve Mascari, Phil Mitchell, Klaus Schackt, Jim Brackett, John Emmerson and Simon Spaulding at they shot 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 and 79, respectively. (That should keep you busy sorting that out.)

There are no superlatives to add to the recent golf resume of the good Capt. Fogg as he masters yet another handicap level by garnering a B Flight winning 40 points off his fairly new 14 handicap. That left the spoils of second and third to the triumvirate of Vic Hestor, Brian Orr and Jeff Johnson. Jeff was left holding his last name as a count back provided The Inflictor a silver and Brian the bronze.

The two Near Pins on the day (Jan Eriksen and An Kaesavane) were augmented by a 2s payout which was split four ways by Wacko Jacko, Capt. Fogg, Simon of Spaulding and the Divine Ms. K.

Tuesday May 3
Laem Chabang - A & B
Blue or White Tees Stableford
1st Blue Flight: Claus Birk Thomsen, 41 pts
2nd Blue Flight: Stan Dismuke, 38 pts
1st White A Flight: Jeremy Masse, 42 pts
2nd White A Flight: Eddie Blackwell, 37 pts
3rd White A Flight: Nick Payne, 37 pts
1st White B Flight: Dene Airey, 45 pts
2nd White B Flight: Peter Barathy, 39 pts
3rd White B Flight: Andreas Grunenberg, 38 pts

With the IPGC Championship little more than a month away (June 15 & 17) players are beginning to round into form and none more so than Claus Birk “CBT” Thomsen. Claus who has knocked four strokes off his handicap in the last year ensured that the trend will continue as he put together 41 points off a gross 79 on the challenging Blue Tee of Laem Chabang. The Blue Flight was only for the stout of heart as the size of the field only yielded two paying places, with Stan Dismuke taking the other with 38 points. Although numbers were lacking, quality was not, as CBT was joined in the Blue Tee 70s by Medalist Steve Mascari’s 75, the 78 of Simon Spaulding and the 79s of Simon of Philbrook and Johnny McQ.

With more than two thirds of the field choosing the more conservative White Tees, it was left to last week’s title boy, Jeremy Masse and his 42 points and the fantastic 45 points of Dene Airey to stand atop the White Division’s A and B Flights, respectively. Eddie “the Beau” Brummell and Nick “Feelin’ No” Payne were knotted at 37 points behind Jeremy in A Flight. Peter Barathy and Andreas G-berg trailed Dene in with 39 and 38, respectively.

Wednesday May 4
Khao Kheow Yellow or White Tees
Stroke/Medal
1st Yellow Flight: Claus Birk Thomsen, net 72
2nd Yellow Flight: Jack Moseley, net 72
3rd Yellow Flight: Ray Dell, net 74
1st White Flight: Ken Kutzing, net 72

It was a relatively light turnout by Society standards for the fine Dye layout of Khao Kheow. All but a handful took on the Yellow Tees, with CBT taking the top step for the second time on the week, thanks to a count back over Jack Moseley. Ray Dell’s game showed signs of returning, after a several week hiatus from form, as he edged Johnny “North to Alaska” Horton on count back. Kenny Kutzing, resplendent in a pastel ensemble, took the sole position in White Flight.

Friday May 6
Phoenix Mountain & Ocean
Blue or White Tees
Stableford
1st Blue Flight: Phil Mitchell, 37 pts
2nd Blue Flight: Bob Dibben, 35 pts
3rd Blue Flight: Phil Groves, 33 points
1st White A Flight: Jim Munns, 41 pts
2nd White A Flight: Jack Moseley, 41 pts
3rd White A Flight: Gary Blackburne, 35 pts
1st White B Flight: Maralyn Hayes Dibben, 43 pts
2nd White B Flight: Stan Dismuke, 35 pts
3rd White B Flight: Jeremy Masse, 35 pts
Near Pins: #M7 Jeremy Masse; #L8 Jack Moseley

It doesn’t always happen, but it did on this day, as the Medalist and the Winner of the Blue Flight were one and the same, Phil “Flipper” Mitchell. Phil shot a gross 79, good for 37 points off the demanding Blues of the ever improving Phoenix layout. Bob Dibben was but a stroke back at 78 but two points adrift, as his 35 points held up for second. Phil “WSI” Groves rounded out the blue Bombers.

The other half of the golfing Dibbens, the comely Maralyn Hayes-Dibben, showed that she could out do her hubby as she put a 43 point whoopin’ on the B Flight of the White Division. That left mates Stan Dismuke and Jeremey Masse (boy, I’m typing that name a lot lately) with the spoils of second and third. In the A Flight of the pale Division, Capt. Fogg took his second count back victory of the week and hard luck Jack Moseley, his second count back loss of the week. Gary Blackburne saw the fun in that and tried a count back on The Hermit. At least The Hermit wasn’t left holding Jeff’s last name.

Bolaget were the guests at Moonshine Place this week and unfortunately for Moonshine chose this week to “wake up”! Bolaget played well, but without doubt Som Jumta was their star of the evening. This young lady played accurate pool with cool aplomb both potting and laying snookers for her opponents in the singles and doubles matches to run out an easy winner in both games. Moonshine started well by winning the first game, but unbelievably that was also their last win of the evening, going 1 - 8 down to the visitors.

Bolaget were the guests at Moonshine Place during a round of the Jomtien 8 Ball Pool League on Thursday May 5. The visitors beat the home team 8 -1.

Simple Simon gave up their winning run to visitors Hide-a-Way. SS struggled from the off and lost 3 - 6. However, it is only game difference that has dropped SS down the table to second. The situation is similar with H-a-W who are in fifth place because there are now five teams on the same points, occupying third to seventh places.

San Snack Bar had a narrow 5 - 4 win over their guests S&N Palace, but that was sufficient to hoist them to top of the table while S&N remain in the penultimate position.

Also going down heavily at home were Lucky Bar, suffering a 1 - 8 defeat at the cues of Woaw’s Pub who seem to be on a mini-roll currently having won their last two matches.

Rose & Thistle continue with their resurgence taking a sound 6 - 3 home win over visitors Paweena’s.

The Twilight Zone visited the Country Club and left still in the dark, losing 5 - 4 and securing, even more firmly, their grasp on the bottom of the table position.

Overall there are still only 6 points between the top and the bottom of the league table after five weeks of Round One of the 2005 season; there are another six weeks to go, so expect some changes to table positions soon.

Next week’s fixtures has bottom of the table Twilight Zone hosting lowly S & N Palace, this is a six-pointer, and will allow one of them to move clear of the bottom of the table.

Hide-a-Way host top of the table San Snack Bar, the outcome of which is anybody’s guess. Simple Simon are away to Paweena’s and should collect the match points to maintain pressure at the top.

Of the other fixtures, Woaw’s hosts Rose & Thistle for what is expected to be a closely fought competition. Bolaget on recent form should take the win from visitors Lucky Bar and Country Club vs. Moonshine is too difficult to predict.

The Jomtien 8-Ball Pool League

The Beautiful Game?: Liverpool eye European glory

Riz Taylor

“This is Anfield”, says that famous sign on the walk from the dressing room to the pitch at the home of Liverpool Football Club. In years gone by the very sight of this imposing message was a cue for opposition players to shudder as they made their way onto the pitch, where they’d be facing an all-conquering home side for whom winning the League and European Cup became almost expected.

It doesn’t hold the same fear these days, but Liverpool showed last week that maybe, just maybe, the good times are on their way back to the club, even if the Anfield stadium itself is consigned to the history books.

Almost two months ago I mentioned the “unlikely scenario” of Liverpool finishing fifth in the Premiership yet winning the Champions League and the resulting fuss that might stem from it. Regulations state that a side finishing outside of the allocated slots will not be allowed to defend their title, though that nation’s football association can recommend them for the competition. As this would be at the expense of Liverpool’s city rivals Everton, in pole-position to claim fourth at the time, this would have been the ultimate headache for the bungling suits of the English FA. Seemingly far-fetched only weeks ago, this climax to the season edges ever closer and is now the focus of huge media attention.

Facing Juventus in the quarterfinals with poor domestic form is a near impossible task for any side, and it appeared that the odds were heavily stacked in favour of a Liverpool exit that would surprise nobody.

Somehow, and not for the first time in this European campaign, this band of uninspiring names cobbled together under Gerard Houllier showed a spirit and togetherness that has evaded them in the Premiership this season. With injuries to key players and few creative options available to him manager Rafael Benitez masterminded defeat of the ‘Old Lady’, a win ironically built on that Italian mentality of pushing for an early goal and spending the rest of the game defending doggedly all over the pitch, cautiously breaking forward when the opportunity presented itself.

Juventus, used to getting their own way in Series A, had no answer to Benitez’s men in Turin during the second leg and an ecstatic Liverpool moved onto an all-Premiership semi-final against Chelsea.

From the moment the home fans crooned “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before kick-off in last week’s second leg the added intensity made it clear that Chelsea would be up against both their opponents and an Anfield stadium packed with tens of thousands of raucous scousers. The shoulder shrugging and glum faces of Chelsea’s players as the nervous minutes ticked by said everything as they attempted to peg back a controversial Liverpool goal in the fourth minute, after which the home fans raised the noise level to a deafening 120 decibels. The Premiership champions and hot favourites could find no answer when trying to break down a Liverpool defence led by the outstanding Jamie Carragher and protected by the unlikely heroes of Igor Biscan and Dietman Hamann in midfield.

The “twelfth man” effect, that term given to the impact that a crowd can sometimes have when vocally supporting their side, has rarely been more apparent. In a classic encounter of red against blue and old money versus new, Liverpool’s superb victory now sees them through to the Champions League final in Istanbul on May 25, something even the most optimistic fan wouldn’t have predicted six months ago.

The debate on whether Liverpool should be allowed entry into next year’s competition to defend their crown rages on, but it seems likely that UEFA may make allowances for them after the president of the organisation, Lennart Johansson, expressed sympathy for their possible predicament and spoke of allowing both Merseyside clubs a place in the competition. Threatening to make the whole discussion irrelevant are Italian giants AC Milan, yet after the scalps of both Juve and Chelsea anything seems possible for this Liverpool side. They will also be heartened to have seen Milan barely scrape past a talented PSV Eindhoven that kept the Italians on the back foot for the entirety of the other semi-final.

The fuss takes yet more attention away from next week’s FA Cup Final in Cardiff and the showdown between Arsenal and Manchester United sides desperate to pick up some consolation silverware. It’s sad that the FA Cup has fallen down the pecking order of trophies in recent years, but the revenue generated from winning the Premiership and Champions League trophies mean that these competitions are given higher priority by the bigger clubs. At least this time both Arsenal and United have everything to play for, which hopefully will make for another full-blooded encounter that these two so often produce.

Arsenal have already been eclipsed by local rivals this year and even if United win the FA Cup there’ll be a few envious eyes cast towards Anfield, should Liverpool become the champions of Europe once again.

Thai beach soccer team in Pattaya before flying out to Brazil championships

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

With the first official World Beach Soccer Championships to be held in Brazil from May 8 to 15, the Thai team has been preparing for the contest.

The Thailand Football Association appointed one of its own committee members, Tanya Potivichit, to be team manager. However, a problem surfaced when Prayutt Kamlang-Ek, co-founder and chief executive of Pro Beach Soccer (Thailand) Co Ltd, who had bought the copyright two or three years ago, said that he has the right to send the team for competition.

Pitipong Kuladilok (front centre) of the Thai national team makes a powerful kick, to the delight of onlookers.

Prayutt said he had already signed a contract with Beach Soccer World Wide, which has a co-alliance with the International Football Association (FIFA) and that they are taking care of this beach soccer team. Marcello Mendez is coach, and he led the Thai team in taking fourth place in the last three years of World Championship Beach Soccer.

Eighty percent of the soccer players have trained with Prayutt, who asked the Administrative Football Association to solve the problem. Wichit Ketkaew, association president, discussed the matter with Worawee Makudee, association secretary general, the FIFA board and Tanya. They decided to ask Tanya to let Prayutt take his place as team manager, as Prayutt has a long familiarity with the team, and Tanya doesn’t want to have any conflict with the association.

Prayutt took all players to relax at the Pattaya Park Hotel, and then to train on the hotel beach soccer field. They trained with the VIP Pattaya City team before travelling to Brazil. The Thai soccer team was set to play Brazil on May 8. The Thai national team took fourth place in the unofficial World Championship in Brazil in 2002.

The Square Ring

by Howie Reed

Funny old life we live. In the same week that Thailand, which is known for it’s slim gorgeous drop dead lovely lady’s (category’s 1-3), elects a Jumbo Queen for the simple fact that she’s fat, the heavyweights are again making headlines. Who would have thunk it? To push credulity just a little farther, the heavyweight that’s making all the noise is a former middleweight that just beat a guy that most living human beings said couldn’t fight anyhow. What the heck is going on? As Francis Albert sang, “That’s Life.”

Add to that May 5 is a Holiday in Thailand, Netherlands, Mexico and parts of the USA. In Thailand May 5 commemorates the day when, in 1950, King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the 9th in the Chakri Dynasty (Rama IX), was crowned. In the Netherlands it’s Independence Day. Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo as the day they defeated the French. In retrospect the latter doesn’t seem like much, but a celebration is a celebration.

Here’s something else that in the great book may not mean much but some local guys did good recently. WBO #1 feather Terdsak Jandaeng with a clean 17-0 record got an easy UD over Jake Verano who is 2-5 in his last 7. Not at the level of “I’ll drink to that.” That workout was held at Grandsport Park in Bangkok.

WBA #1 lightweight Prawet Singwancha (26-2-1,16 KOs) got a decision over Suphachai Mahasupcondo who is 0-2. That was supporting event at a Muay Thai event at Rachadamnern Stadium in Bangkok. Is there any wonder that Thai fighters get their butts handed to them when they meet someone that can actually fight. NO! Now that I’ll drink too.

With his win two weeks ago over John Ruiz (now retired) James “Lights Out” Toney has pumped a shot of adrenalin into a division that was about ready for a toe tag and a vinyl sheet. Toney pumped life into the dying body using his 20 plus years of ring experience and a mouth that spews mostly rubbish probably enough to fill a years worth of political campaigns. The difference with Toney is he actually believes what he says and is right more often then not. “I knew I would win if I just put my mind to it. You know I worked hard but I only had five weeks, not even five weeks, four and-a-half to be exact. If I had the proper time, I probably would have knocked him out. I expected anything from him, which is John, an average fighter, but he did what he could... he wasn’t in that good of a shape and I wasn’t in tiptop shape, but I still had what it took.” Next up is probably Chris Byrd in the summer. When Toney says, “I’ll fight anyone, anywhere.” He means it. That in itself is refreshing in the heavyweight division. No one can ever claim that Toney is all hat and no cattle.

Talk about stepping in with the lions. WBC Flyweight King Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (55-2, 30 KOs) makes his first trip outside the friendly confines of Asia to defend against Jorge Arce (39-3) who moved up a weight class to issue a whipping to previously undefeated Hussein Hussein (27-1) in what some call the fight of the year. I can’t do that as my “press row seats” were a 500 baht cab ride from the ring. If you’ve ever seen Pongsaklek fight, as I did in December of 2001 in Pattaya, you know that he “brings it” in spades. To make his first trip to Las Vegas to fight Arce is a leap of faith. The fight takes place on July 30 as a co-feature with Christy Christy Martin - Lucia Rijker. The promoter, Top Rank, has shamelessly called the card “The Million Dollar Lady Card.” Maybe a little more accurate to call it the “Million Dollar Lady-Man Card.” Talk about shameless. Yes I am.

No one asked me, but Jose Luis Castillo against Diego Corrales Sunday morning has to be a candidate for fight of the year. There is no argument that round 10 was the round of the year and exemplified what boxing is about. Going into the 10th Corrales was ahead in an almost clinch less contest. Both fighters wanted to fight in close quarters with the advantage swinging second by second. T hat changed 25 seconds into the 10th when Castillo landed a punch scored a flash knockdown making it a 10-8 round. While down Corrales spit out his mouthpiece giving him a little extra time to recover. For the second time in the round Castillo landed a left hook and again Corrales went down. This time taking out the mouthpiece with his glove. Referee Tony Weeks correctly deducted a point for the foul making the round 10-6 if Corrales survived. With time running out in the round Corrales peaking through a closed right eye mounted a rally that pinned Castillo to the ropes. With arms flailing and landing a plethora of punches Corrales had Castillo’s head hanging dangerously over the top rope as Referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight at 2:06. After Castillo (52-7-1) felt the fight may have been stopped a little early. At the time of the stoppage neither he nor his corner objected. Diego Corrales (40-2) said he wanted to prove he was a warrior. His ticket was validated

Meanwhile in Braunschweig, Germany Joe Calzaghe (39-0) put his title on the line against hometown guy Mario Veit (45-2). This one had high drama at the weight in when the boxers engaged in the ever popular “stare down.” That was followed by Veit saying “On Saturday I will replace Calzaghe as best fighter at super middleweight in the world.” Them’s fighting words Pudner. Veit got destroyed in 6. So much for talk.

News from Aussie is that Super Middle Danny Green (19-2) and long time trainer Jeff Fenech have split the sheets to go their separate ways. Green will now be trained by Thailand based Cuban Ismael Salas. The main reason for the change is that Fenech wants to spend his time in the USA training Mike Tyson while Green has no desire to be based in America. Green and Fenech first teamed up after the Olympic in 200 held in Sydney. “It’s something that I thought about long and hard. Jeff and I had been through so much together and then together for a long time and I grew up idolizing Jeff Fenech. It was the toughest decision of my life to date, but Jeff is staying with Mike Tyson in America and I can’t be in America training over there with them. From the bottom of my heart, I genuinely hope that Jeff is successful, that he does well because we’ve had so many great times and experiences. Unfortunately, it just got to this point where our paths have gone different ways. Jeff is staying with Mike Tyson and he’s made his decision, so I have to make a decision, which I’m very excited and positive about.” Green’s only 2 losses come at the hands of WBC Champ Marcus Beyer. Next up for Green is a July 3 date in Perth with TBA.

Our old Pal the “Lop Eared Camel Jockey”, that would be Prince Naseem, found himself in the local Monkey House after a three car collision that left three injured one seriously. The three that were riding in Naseem’s Merc all made the Gray Bar Inn. They were charged with “allegedly” leaving the scene of an accident. I guess they were also “allegedly” riding in Naseem’s vehicle. Some media outlets are reporting that it’s all a misunderstanding. With his career in the waste bin Naseem was looking to new horizons. The Prince decided that he either wanted to be a news agent in England or a Baht Bus Drive in Pattaya. Looks like the latter option is still out there. I’ll drink to that.

Dubliner lead cut as Londoner comes a creeping

MBMG International Casuals League

The chase for the ultimate trophy ground to its foregone conclusion, leaving only the battle of the basement and the race for best placed loser to generate any excitement. Not so the MBMG International league where nails look like being bitten until all games are played and the lights turned off.

League long shots the Bullshead Brazilians still in with a mathematical chance of upsetting the top two’s dominance, showed they’re far from thinking of going gently into that goodnight, evinced by their fight back to a 3 - 2 victory over a Blitz team showing a newfound sense of self belief.

With The Dubliner having a week off, The Londoner had opportunity to convert one of their games in hand into three valuable points. On a blisteringly hot afternoon AFC Shrewsbury couldn’t muster the necessary manpower or firepower to stem the Londoner’s fervent aspirations. Khun Wut and Khun Tic bagging a pair each in a clinical 5 - 0 triumph.

Hit and miss side The Winking Frog once again showed the lack of consistency that has seen manager and fans tear their hair out, possibly for charity. Putting down giants one week only to go down to the out of sorts All Stars of generally German origin. The GAS going one goal to the good and staying that one jump ahead of the misfiring Frogs.

Bangkok United quietly displaced Les Gauloise de Bangkok in the program’s highest scoring game. The fast paced movements and mobility of the Japanese proving too hard to deal with for the depleted French. Winning 4 - 2 enhancing their goal difference enough to move them into fifth spot.

The unsmiling scientist, the outspoken Portuguese and the alcoholic (allegedly) firebrand may just be playing out the fixtures in the Premiership but their MBMG counterparts know that guts will bring home glory and here where it matters its all still up for grabs. Please visit www .somtam.com for more details and match reports

Results - Week 27: Racing Club Pattaya 3 vs. 0 Patana; Londoner FC 5 vs. 0 AFC Shrewsbury; Les Gaulois de Bangkok 2 vs. 4 Bangkok United; Bulls Head Brazilians 3 vs. 2 Blitz FC; The Winking Frog FC 0 vs. 1 German All Stars