HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Disabled athletes shine at 18th Redemptorist games

Mike Allidi conquers Noble Place

Pattaya Sports Club AGM

City promoting this year’s marathon complete with route changes

Vietnamese juniors win ASEAN chess championships

Kno Boddey Worth Mentioning

Great scores from The Caddy Shack

More jam than Hartley’s?

Tough times at Eastern Star

PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s Beach Bar

Roger returns a double win

DSL Pattaya 9 Ball Pool League

Mickey Mouse Darts League

Soi 6 Quiz League

The Jomtien 8-Ball Pool League

PSC golf from the Cafe Kronborg

PSC Golf from McAllister’s Bar & Grill

PSC golf from the Three Sisters Bar

Steve enlists putter at navy

Brother D off to another good start

The Beautiful Game?

The Square Ring

Ocean Marina, Royal Varuna lead surge in marine tourism

Disabled athletes shine at 18th Redemptorist games

Suchada Tupchai

The 18th annual Redemptorist Vocational College games kicked off with fun and fanfare last Thursday afternoon. The three-day event saw participants take part in a variety of sporting events, each competing in in-house teams for glory and medals.

Wheelchair parade and dance in action as they performed in the opening ceremonies.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh joined the list of VIPs for the opening ceremonies and parades in the college grounds. The games are held each year partly to supplement the academic programme and also to prepare the disabled athletes for regional, national and international sporting events.

“The Redemptorist Vocational College for the Disabled is an institution we all know well. Not only does it provide valuable education for the disabled community but excels in the sporting arena with students and teachers returning from major events with numerous medals,” said Ronakit in his opening speech.

“This not only promotes the city and province but increases the profile of Thailand’s disabled athletes on the world sporting stage... sport not only improves the quality of physical health and relieves stress but is the essence of competition in life.”

Some quick thinking and tough competition during the wheelchair basketball.

Athletes from the college brought home gold medals from last year’s Disabled Olympics in Greece in the wheelchair 100 and 200 metre sprints.

With the speeches over, the colourful parade began with cheerleaders strutting their stuff on the courts, followed by the well-known wheelchair dancers.

To jump-start the sporting events, teams battled it out on the courts in both wheelchair basketball and tennis and continuing onto weightlifting, swimming, badminton, volleyball, football, a tug-o-war, takraw and betong.

Students displayed the determination reminiscent of top class athletes as they competed for gold in the annual games, successfully overcoming obstacles of what most “normal” people call difficult.

The games wound up on June 25 with everyone enjoying the camaraderie and the opportunity to put their physical skills to the test.

Mike Allidi conquers Noble Place

49th PSC Member’s Tournament

Mike Allidi returned a gross 76 to win the A Flight in this month’s Pattaya Sports Club 49th Members Tournament. Close to a hundred players made the trek to Noble Place for the event last Friday.

Michael Allidi, Low Gross winner with 76 off the stick collects his prize from PSC golf chairman, Chris John.

The format, as with previous events, was broken down into stroke play for A and B Flights with the latter teeing off from the white tees. The C, D and Ladies’ flights took part in a Stableford competition.

Noble Place is a long way out, and this low season, so to have such good numbers was indeed a compliment to the smoothness of the organisation. The test for the day was the A & B nines. Enough said. For the money the course is in fabulous state, good fairways and slick tough greens, with rough that is not too punishing.

Arthur Bailey, C Flight winner.

In the A Flight there was the Low Gross, a Net winner and runners up. The Low Gross was won by Michael Allidi, off 2 handicap, with a Gross 76, not bad off the big boys tees. Winner of the Low Net was Bob Philps with a net 71 on countback over Monte Sykes in third.

In the B Flight things were pretty much the same, except that being really only OK golfers they were allowed to play off the white tees. Winner with a Gross 83 was Simon Dutton. Winner of the Low Net was Alan Pearce with a Net 66 ahead of Ken Bailey with a net 67.

The C Flight returned to sanity with a Stableford competition with Arthur Bailey taking pole position, in second was Terry Curtis and in Third, Ramsay Smith.

Anita Lundberg, Ladies winner.

The D Flight, and those who could do better, and with some of the scores they probably will. Winner was Colin Cronin with 45 points, and a prime candidate for C Flight next month. In second was Willy Celis with 43 points and Ulrich Luenberger with 42 points was third

Ladies, and now it gets simple, does it not? Well no, the winners all had 37 points and a countback was on. The winner was Anita Lundberg, second was Nooket Gummer and third was Mam Trayling.

As scores were being tallied back at the Noble Place clubhouse, Chris John, PSC golf chairman thanked all his helpers and all the sponsors over the past year, as this was his last tournament before re-election. As fate would have it, Chris was re-elected as golf chairman the following day at the PSC annual general meeting and will ‘carry the club’ for another year.

Next month is the 50th PSC Monthly Tournament at Eastern Star Resort in Rayong.

Results:
Winners:
A Flight: Low Gross- Michael Allidi; Low Net - Bob Philps, Second - Monte Sykes
B Flight: Low Gross - Simon Dutton; Low Net - Alan Pearce; Second - Ken Bailey
C Flight: Winner - Arthur Bailey; Second - Terry Curtis; Third - Ramsay Smith
D Flight: Winner - Colin Cronin; Second - Willy Celis; Third - Ulrich Luenberger
L Flight: Winner Anita Lundberg; Second - Nooket Gummer; Third - Mam Trayling
Technical Prizes
Long Drives: A4 Bob Whitton, Vincent Smythe, Alex Backlund, Andy Spence and Ploy Thongpen
Near Pins: A2 Doug Lynch, Per Jesson; A6 Dave Richardson, Ken Ince, Nooket Gummer; B2 Ito Akitoshi, Peter Allen; B5 Dave Richardson, Andy Murphy, Anita Lundgren
Long Putts: A9 (0 To 18) Jeff Wylie, (19 to 36) Danny Dykes; B9 (0 to 18) Clive Robinson, (19 to 36) Arthur Bailey

Narisa Nitikarn

Young Vietnamese chess masters outclassed all comers to win 122 medals - 67 gold in the the 6th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships 2005. Singapore teams came in second with a 59 medal tally.

The event was held in Pattaya at the Jomtien Thani Hotel. Ingatius Leong, Intchess Asia PT Ltd managing director was joined by Tawit Chaisawangwong, Pattaya City council chairman for the closing ceremonies of the regional competition, which saw 250 competitors, take part in the eight-day event.

The chessboards were filled with young competitors, boys and girls from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam.

The championships, which ran from, June 12 until June 20 was for boys and girls competing in under-8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 categories. Vietnam won the most titles in all three events of standard, rapid and blitz chess. Malaysia were fourth with three golds and Indonesia, fifth with one gold. Brunei and Myanmar did not win any gold medals

The Federation Internatiaonale Des Echess and the ASEAN Chess Federation supported the event

The aim of the regional competition was to further promote the game and develop young players to an international standard.

“This has been a wonderful event to be held in Pattaya and is an opportunity to promote sports and tourism for the city and develop world class skills for local players,” said Tawit.

All players travelled to Pattaya with their families, and local officials hope that such events will boost tourist numbers in the future, especially during the tourist low season.

Kno Boddey Worth Mentioning

IPGC golf from Lewiinski’s

Sunday June 19
Eastern Star
White Tees
Stableford
1st A Flight: John Emmerson, 39 pts
2nd A Flight: Joe McArdle, 36 pts
3rd A Flight: Brian Holden, 34 pts
1st B Flight: Jan Eriksen, 41 pts
2nd B Flight: Sid Ottaway, 36 pts
3rd B Flight: Mo Lamki, 33 pts

As all know from the traffic and the fact that the gals at the go-go bars are now paying attention to locals, Low Season is upon us. It is further complicated by many regular society members being off to their respective homelands to see the folks, kiss the nieces and nephews, catch a ball game and further appreciate why they live here. The typical 3-4 Flight Sunday was reduced to a more modest, but still robust two flights.

The Quiet One was man of the match and the one of only two people on the day to better their handicap. Jan’s B Flight winning score of 41 points was 5 points clear of Sid “The Net Champ” Ottaway, whose effort was quite creditable given his new handicap, which reflected a five stroke reduction.

In the senior circuit, the GM held sway with 39 points, three clear of Joe McArdle’s level-to-handicap 36 points. Brian Holden edged a knot of four players for A Flight’s third place as a count back elevated him over Brian Wilkinson, John Hillier and John Rushe.

Tuesday June 21
Khao Kheow, A & B
Yellow Tees
Stroke/Medal
1st Phil Groves, net 71
2nd Eddie Blackwell, net 76
3rd John Hillier, net 77

A relatively modest group, attributable to the Season and to the back-to-back playing days took on the favorite of many, Khao Kheow. Phil Groves had a sparkling gross low gross and low net on the day. Beau Brummel Blackwell was one stroke clear of the Nice Guy, Johnny Hillier.

Wednesday June 22
Mountain Shadow
Blue Tees
Stableford
1st A Flight: John Rushe, 34 pts
2nd A Flight: John Hillier, 33 pts
3rd A Flight: Joe Mooneyham, 33 pts
1st B Flight: Poo Supaporn, 33 pts
2nd B Flight: Mike Craighead, 31 pts
3rd B Flight: Tom Noonan, 30 pts

A good sized field for any season took on the toughest par 72 layout around, Mountain Shadow (f/k/a Natural Park Hill). The scores on the day reflected the difficulty of the course that sports the toughest set of par fives. “A” Flight was won with a modest 34 points by Irishman John Rushe, which also proved to be best on the day. John was followed up the podium by old friends John Hillier and Joe Mooneyham, the order of who’s ascent was determined by count back.

The Society’s First Lady led B Flight with 33 points, edging Mike the Papa Craighead and the Leprechaun himself, Tom Noonan. Tom needed the Luck o’ The Irish to edge Victor “The Inflictor” Hester, Robbie “Give me another LaBatt’s” Bennett and Sunny “Bobby Hebb” Khanna.

Friday June 24
Eastern Star
White Tees
Stroke/Medal

1st Place Mike Craighead, John Emerson, Sugar Ray Handford & Brian Wilkinson, net 61.4

The week concluded with a cataclysmic clash of well chosen four-man scramble teams. Mike the Mechanic chooses different teammates each time but is able to whip them in to fighting trim in no time. This time he took the unlikely chemistry of Brian the Unbalanced, John the GM and Sugar the Ray to bring the bacon home.

Great scores from The Caddy Shack

Golf from The Caddy Shack

Tuesday, June 21 had the Caddy Shack travel to the Navy course at Sattahip to play a medal round on the tough north and west courses. The weather was fine but windy and this added to the difficulty of the tricky two nines. You can either play this course or not and most of the golfers on this day could not.

Joint winners Rob Heath and Mike Allidi with some of the staff at The Caddy Shack.

In third place came Jan Eriksen with a net 77, Rob Health came joint first firing level par to share with Mike Allidi who shot a stunning 35 gross on the back nine. Great golf Mike. No two’s were won but the bananas were awarded to Tony Duthie for his unlucky 13 shots on the second of the north course. All the golfers attending the presentation back at The Caddy Shack are eligible for a lucky draw with the winner receiving a 3 course Sunday lunch at the Caddy Shack. Jan Eriksen was the lucky person today.

Thursday June 23 saw the lads travel to Bangpra for a stableford competition. This is one of the oldest courses in the area and the Caddy Shack had its largest turnout to date. Which formed two divisions on the day. The cuts was 16 and under, with some excellent scores recorded in division 2, in 3rd place Clark Alexander had 35 points, coming in 2nd place was Rob Heath with 38 points and leader of the pack was Jan Eriksen on 40 points. Division one had Sam Fitzsimmons in 3rd place with 36 points in 2nd place was Bob Philip on 39 points. The winning score of the day saw 7 handicapper Murray Gough fire 41 points, he shot gross 33 on the back nine, he also managed to record two birdies on 2 of the par 3s to take the treasured triple rollover, Mike Allidi also had a two on a par 3 to take a cut of the prize. The bananas were awarded to Nile Sheehan for him retrieving his ball up in the trees by playing a snooker shot, which had the caddies in stitches. The lucky draw for the Sunday lunch brought a smile back on Nile’s face. Enjoy it Nile. The Australian Embassy donated 5 green fees for Sriracha that was won by Clark Alexander. All are welcome to play at the Caddy Shack, just turn up on Tuesday or Thursday before 11 a.m. and transport is arranged, The Caddy Shack is situated on Soi 17 South Pattaya on the same road as the Harley Bar.

More jam than Hartley’s?

IPGC Golf from The Haven  

Monday June 20
Khao Kheow A & B
Stableford
1st B J Smith, 35 pts
2nd Rick Holmes, 33 pts
3rd Micky Moore, 31 pts

An overcast day that continually threatened rain that never materialised, good scores that never materialised and an amazingly empty course. Possibly the most interesting aspects to be seen were the renovations on “C” course, which the caddies advised would take at least four months and the sight of “Acting Major” Roy who managed to steer his golf cart into and over a bag trolley, this following the eight motorcycles he knocked over on Beach Road a few days earlier! At the end of the day, 35 points was good enough for a surprised BJ to take the honours from Rick & Order of Merit specialist, Micky Moore. In the 2s competition, Rick rounded out a reasonable day’s golf off his 8 handicap with two 2s in Division 1. As none of the higher handicappers managed a 2 it will be rollover time at Burapha on Weds.

Wednesday June 22
Burapha B & D
Medal
1st Roy Thornton, net 73 - c/b 34
2nd Andy Pedlar, net 73 - c/b 36
3rd Rick Holmes, net 73 - c/b 38

With A & C courses closed for maintenance, the small contingent of Haven masochists enjoyed the unusual pleasure of playing the two back 9s. Masochists? Well taking on the course from the blue tees for a medal round resulted in the expected farce of nobody managing to shoot their handicap! Nevertheless, “Acting Major” Roy led his troops home winning on countback from retired Army Vets Andy & Rick. In the 2s competition, Barry Traynor managed the only “2” of the day to take the small Division 1 pot and left the high handicappers with the prospect of a double rollover at Green Valley on Friday. Back at the Haven, Richard Livingston, with his bottom dentures in place, bade farewell to Andy Pedlar & Rick Holmes.

Friday June 24
Green Valley
Stableford
1st Paul Hartley, 40 pts - c/b 28
2nd Peter Emslie, 40 pts - c/b 21
3rd Glyn Nicholas, 39 pts
4th Jan Erikssen, 38 pts

What a day! For those non Brits, Hartley’s is a famous old English jam maker, but there was not that much “jam” from Paul, he shot an amazing 38 gross on the back 9 that included 5 pars and a birdie to beat off strong challenges from Peter, Glyn & Jan. On a day where good scores were in abundance, Barry Traynor shot a level par front 9 for 24 points, only to suffer a mental collapse on the back 9 and finish with a measly 36 points. In the 2’s competition, Trevor Schirmer received a refund of his caddy tip for the only “2” in Division 1, whilst Roy Thornton hit the double rollover jackpot with the only “2” in Division 2. Prior to the presentation, Richard Livingston, minus the painful lower dentures welcomed back Paul Hartley & Peter Aitchesan.

Footnote: Readers may have noticed a change in reporting style...The “Doc” having returned for a rest at the “funny farm” to join the other lunatics, poor Stephen... Secret Squirrel’s, Brylcream Boy’s, American Pit Bulls, blacked out photo’s, need we say more?

Tough times at Eastern Star

IPGC at the OK Corral

On Tuesday, June 21 the Pattaya Golf Society left the OK Corral and headed for the Eastern Star Golf Resort at Ban Chang for their weekly medal event. The day remained fair and the strong wind kept the clouds moving and chased the rain away. The course was quite well presented but the green keeper had obviously enjoyed himself with his pin placements, which were tough to come to terms with, especially those he had sited on slopes! However, this is all part of the challenge of golf in the Kingdom, and an empty course more than made up for this distraction. Hero of the previous week, Paul Quodomine, took his six-shot handicap cut with the wince of a man biting the bullet and led the field off the first tee, and immediately the impact of the strong wind was felt as his playing partners both left balls high above, securely lodged in the palm trees. It was not an auspicious start!

As the round progressed it became clear that there would be no sub-par scores and Keith Hector and Basil Foley made a fist of the leader board with their hard earned net 80s. Len Jones went a little better with a creditable net 78 but John Cunningham used the control that has given him a handicap of eight to steady the round with a fine net 76. This win ensured that he maintained his place at the top of a tight ‘Player of the Month’ table.

New member Michael Sim received his baptism with the bananas as he was one of the players for whom the coconut trees on the first were so magnetic and his score reflected those of so many aspirant golfers, armed with a European handicap, playing in the Kingdom for the first time. One thing the wind could not do, however, was blow away the memories of yet another pleasant day on the golf course.

A sunny day at Burapha

On Thursday, June 23, the Pattaya Golf Society left the OK Corral to travel to the magnificent course at Burapha to play a stableford competition over the exquisite “B” and “D” nines. The day remained overcast throughout and an early shower did not detract from the enjoyment of the day on a course which is always a treat to play. The quality of the golf was excellent with more than half the field shooting par or better, indeed the average score was 35 points. Such was the condition of the golf course. A trio of good golfers, Brian Wilkinson, Keith Hector and Ben Findon all managed 37 points to take a share of third place whilst the ever consistent John Cunningham found the course to his liking, never having played there before, and posted a fine 39 points. These scores were eclipsed by that of Sunny Khanna, recently returned from UK, and his 41 points was more than good enough for the victory. Paul Quodomine, John Cunningham and Peter Blok all birdied the third hole on the “B” course for a share of the rolled over two’s pot whilst Len Jones struggled to a paltry thirty points leaving him holding the bananas. At the presentation afterwards everyone was unanimous in their appreciation of the day and expressed a wish to return to this fine course in the coming months. Consider it done!

Tuesday June 21
Green Valley
Stableford

This was the first course I ever played here in Pattaya, and like your first of anything, it always remains in the memory as a favourite. This, in those days, was a truly great course, or so I remember, with the clubhouse, and first tee, on top of the hill. A change and then a clatter in your spikes, remember them? Down the hill to the first tee. How scary was it, down hill, with O.B. right and deep lemon grass, with the local wild inhabitants, on the left, a truly scary first shot. Every hole a test.

Winners All

So on this day, after one of Bert’s fine free breakfasts, a quick trip up the road, and we stood on the new first tee. Pretty scary, but it has meant the demise of what used to be two fine holes, and made an easy par 5 from the most difficult par 4 around. Still a scary start to what is still a fine golf course, and at least a start near the new clubhouse.

On the course, what was immediately noticeable was the wind, this was going to be a tough day, but the fairways were fine and the greens their normal slippery selves.

This is a course that if you are playing well is a quiet passage around, but if you are not it is a real nightmare. Still it is a course to enjoy.

Technical Winners

Of course we had some good scores, but one was excellent, for the first time this year, as they say every dog has it’s day. A few coldies in the restaurant and then back to Bert’s.

Find a table at Bert’s when you get back, sit down, order a beer, and before you can blink the Berts golfer’s free special was placed before you. On this day it was fish and chips, and very tasty they were.

Then settle back and relax as Bob and Bert did the presentation. The winner this week was Derek Brook, returning to form after a traumatic golfing year so far. T.T.F.N.

Winner: Derek Brook

Near Pins: Frank Pilkington, Steve Hansford, Derek Brook, Bill Knight, Keith Avery, Ray Spurling, Colin Cronin and Mike Wine.

Long Putts: Bob Noble, Jeff Wylie, Mac McCaskill and Nick Nicholas.

PSC golf out of The Bunker  

Noble Place Golf Course

On Monday June 20 the Boys from the Bunker headed north to play Noble Place. A surprise to start the day when Roger Privett returned from England earlier than expected. He returned well rested as he took first prize on Monday and Friday and returning in second place on Wednesday.

Roger Privett returned from England in fantastic golf form. He took first place on Monday and Friday.

The field played a stableford competition with two divisions. In division “A” Roger was first with 42 points. Second place was Gary Close with 39 and Joint third was Paul Smith and Geoff Parker with 38 points each. In division “B” Bob Turner and Granville Swanton returned scores of 41 to share top honors. In third was Sonny Ruthsip with 38 points. Near the pins were won by Paul Smith, Gary Close (2) and Geoff Parker.

Century Chonburi

On Wednesday the field headed north again to play a medal competition.

The golf course was in excellent condition but the scoring was a difficult. Bryan Rought was the only player under par with a score of net 70. Roger Privett came in second with 73 and third place was Tony Shepherd with a score of 80. Near the pins were won by Roger Privett (2), Gary Close and Tony Shepherd.

Eastern Star Golf Club

Good weather and a good field of golfers were off for a stableford competition. The field was divided in two with the cut at 16 and under. Roger Privett won division “A” with 36 points. Second place found Geoff Parker returning a score of 35. Arthur Hancock came third with a score of 34. In division “B” Bryan Rought wins for the second time this week with a score of 36 points. John Preddy was second with 30 points and Dickie Barbe came third with 29 points. Near the pins were won by Granville Swanton, Geoff Parker and David Lightfoot.

The Bunker Boys are located on Soi Chaiyapoon (near X-zyte disco and across the street from Tony’s Disco II). Monthly golf schedules are available or consult the Pattaya Mail every week.

Monday June 20
Century Chonburi
Stroke

Under threatening skies, the test for the day was the fine, and very affordable, Century Chonburi. It was deemed that the competition for the day was stroke play in two Flights, A Flight 0 to 18 and B Flight 19 and above.

Jeff Wylie

Big Aussie Jeff Wylie played his normal fine golf, to take the A Flight with an excellent net 70. In second was another of our fine golfers, Monte Sykes, with a net 72 and in third was Steve Hamsted with a net 78.

In the B Flight the best net of the day came from Wayne Koch with a net 69. Nice to see Wayne playing well again after a down slump in his form of late. Anita Lundberg was second with a net 74 and in third we had Kevin Dinan with a net 75.

Thursday June 23
Phoenix
Stroke

This is a course that continues to improve, but we will monitor any changes that occur through the change of hands of the club. Signs posted, said it has been taken over by The Siam Bank, and some PSC members who are also members of Phoenix are watching closely to see how it affects them.

Wayne Koch

However, as the Cafe Kronborg players stood on the first tee, all this was far away, and the Lakes nine and the Ocean nine beckoned. The course at present is in fine condition, with grassed fairways and hard fast greens, and the views here on the course are second to none. Stand on O9 and look down the fairway, and there is not a better view.

As the day progressed it became apparent that one or two good scores were about to come in as one or two of the regular stalwarts have started to come back to form.

In the restaurant as the scores started to come in, it was noticed that some of the prices have been reduced, so you can have a beer there now after the game.

Derek Brook

With the scores in, the results showed a return to form indeed, one in each Flight, for the regulars. In the A Flight, 0 to 15, the winner was tournament director, and scribe, Derek Brook, who after a tough time has stared to play well again. A net 67, with two lost balls, was a fine return to the winners circle, for the second time in three days, and about time. Second was Monte Sykes with a net 71 and in third, on countback, was Mike Gerrard, with a net 72 ahead of Park Duc Eun.

In the B Flight, 16 up, Ebrahim played the golf we know he can, and he won with a net 66. In second was Dave Millar with a net 73 and in third was Steady Arthur Bailey with a net 74. T.T.F.N.

Ebrahim

Friday June 24
Century Ban Chang
Stableford

Knowing the weather had been pretty rainy in Ban Chang and surrounds over the last few days it was a pleasure to see how well the course dried out. Even with conditions as good as they were the scores were not up the standard we usually expect at this venue which can bring in some high points counts.

The winners enjoy their day in front of McAllister’s.

A smaller than usual group was out due some of the regular stalwarts being seconded to try their luck in the PSC monthly members tournament played at Noble Place. Nonetheless there was an adequate number to create a healthy competition. This also proved to be a good test and tune up for those players who had entered the Camel Summer Classic scheduled for the next day.

Back at the pub while all enjoyed McAllister’s fine buffet and a few jars we were surprised when the accustomed music interlude was curtailed, apparently by a boom box failure. This actually was a boon to the scorers, allowing more than the normal amount of limited concentration.

Scores for the day were 37 points for Dennis Willett to hold down first, 36 for bill Thompson followed by Carl Baumann beating Ciano Glavina on count-back. That Ciano was in the running at all was a huge surprise after the 18th hole performance that saw him hacking around in the trees left then a repeat performance in trees right to finally emerge at somewhere around 12 on the green. Stableford scoring is a real blessing when these happenings occur.

PSC golf from the Three Sisters Bar

On Monday, June 20, we had a good turn out at Siam for the Three Sisters Competition. The scoring for the day varied, and with almost ideal conditions some good scores were posted. Three golfers tied for the lead with 42 points. In the end, Ciano Glavina beat out Jerry Lien and Mike Gerrard on countback. Ciano scored 19 on the front and roared in on the back nine with 23 points to win the day.

Winner Ciano Glavina (right) and holding the bag, Spears (Mac) McCaskill

At first we thought that Mike Gerrard had won with 43 points but an error was found on his card dropping him back to 42 points and thereby losing on countback.

Following the winners were Herb Ishinaga with 40 points and Andy Bettany with 38. Herb had one of his best days but fell short of the leaders. The rest of the field fell away and a couple fell into the abyss.

Falling into never-never land was Big Mac. Not a Big Mac hamburger but I’m sure he felt like he went through a meat grinder by the time he finished. “Big Mac McCaskill” had the worst game of his life as he came in with 16 points. Rollie Weese and Paul Donahue had no chance for the cellar position as Mac stumbled and slipped with a thud into the cellar grabbing the bag for the week. It did not matter as all had a good time and some good bacon sandwiches at the end of the day.

Steve enlists putter at navy

PSC golf off The Grapevine

Steve Hamstad showed some great form with the putter to have 9 one-putt greens and shoot a very respectable 39 points on the North & West course at Royal Thai Navy. Vincent Smyth played well to come in second with 38 points. Technical prizes were won by Ray & Rich with the long putts, while the near pins were shared by Vincent, Jeff & Keith Avery.

Steve Hamstad, Vincent Smyth and the lovely Grapevine girls: Da, Kae, Nong, & Kai.

The course was in very good condition, under overcast skies with a light breeze blowing, great conditions for golf. All players endorsed the course and the day out.

Other good scores on the day came from Colin & Rich with 37 points, while the day’s lucky draw was won by Nooket.

If you enjoy golf, good company, good food, and a few laughs afterwards, come on down to The Grapevine, Soi Regent Marina (off Beach Road) and sign up. Hope to see you there. Cheers & good golfing.