Features

Diana Gold organizers and sponsors present a cheque for 40,000 baht to Chanita Yndeesook (second left) of Banglamung School.

Nittaya Pratimasonkoh (second left)
receives a cheque for 20,000 baht on behalf of the YWCA.

Laila Sarawong from VC Sports production and representing the Tawanyim Sunshine Radio Project (left) is presented with a 40,000 baht donation.

Mike Franklin
The Diana Group recently celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Diana Gold Charity Golf tournament at Eastern Star Country Club & Resort
Whilst still maintaining the Diana Group’s unique concept of offering gold as a technical prize on every hole, it was necessary, due to the high price of gold, to update the sponsorship format. Sponsorship was set at 10,000 baht per hole to fund a 50 Satang gold item as the player’s prize with the balance going to the nominated children’s charities.
The weather on the day was perfect at Eastern Star and the course, presented by Superintendant Kaweeporn, was in fine condition, albeit the greens running a bit slow at around speed 7.

Ladies winner Sud (left) is all smiles as she receives her trophy together with 50 Satang of gold sponsored by the YWCA and presented by Nittaya.
No problems with handicaps in this 10th Diana Gold Charity Golf tournament as the scoring was by the ’36 System’ that calculates a player’s handicap based on performance on the day. A scoring method that is increasingly popular for major tournaments as it eliminates conflict between different handicap systems and sources.
However, that meant that the handicap divisions for performance scoring could not be established until the final gross scores were in, so the divisions on the course for the technical prizes were based on age. For the men, Super seniors 65 years and over, Seniors 50 – 64 years and the remainder under 50 years. The age qualification for the ladies was open.

Pratheep (Peter) Malhotra, Managing Director of Pattaya Mail Publishing presents the Division 2 winners trophy to Harry Riley (right).
The prize-giving and formal proceedings were preceded by a minutes silence in respect of the late Princess Galayani, and held poolside at the Diana Garden Resort.
The main sponsors were represented by Yanyong (Beer Chang); Kanthorn (E.C. Biotech), and GM Pinij (Eastern Star) with Passakorn and Prawit and were duly welcomed together with Diana Gold ‘Partners’ Pattaya Sports Club, Pattaya Mail Publishing, VC Sports and City Life Radio 93.75
The VIPs in attendance included: Nitti Kongkrut, Director TAT Pattaya, Middle Region 3, Nittaya Pratimasonkoh, a President of YWCA, Pattaya Center, Waraphan Sukontasit, President of Saiyayluk Project, Chanita Yndeesook, Assistant Director of Banglamung Schools, Veera Phuengphadung, Kasikorn Bank Manager, Yanyong Thontoh, Beer Chang, Kanthorn Chinarong, E.C. Biotech Healthcare, Pinij Dharakasem, Eastern Star, Sanya Mangkorn, City Life FM 93.75, Laila Sarawong, VC Sports production and Peter Malhotra, Managing Director Pattaya Mail Publishing.
A warm welcome was given to all.

The Diana Gold Champion 2008, Saroj (left), receives the champion’s trophy and 50 Satang of gold from TAT Regional Director Nitti Kongkrut (right).
The nominated Charities to benefit from Diana Gold 2008 continue to be those concerned with children’s care and education: The Pattaya City Education Dept. (One School, One Hotel); Scholarships for Children at Banglamung Schools; Tawanyim (Sunshine Radio project); The Street Kids of Pattaya; and other chosen projects through the Diana Group Charitable Foundation.
Net 67, returned by Saroj Chalermyat, was the best net score of the day by two shots to win the 10th Diana Gold Charity Golf tournament, that in a set of results which reflected the likely concentration on winning gold at the 18 technical holes, or mastering the greens. Congratulations to Saroj on becoming the 2008 and 10th Diana Gold Champion to receive the Champions trophy with gold sponsored by The Tourist Authority of Thailand Middle Region 3 and presented by Director Nitti Kongkrut.
The Low Gross trophy went to Koravit with a gross 72 off the stick, even par for the round.
The Division winners were Sud for the Ladies with a net 69, while runner-up Nattaporn Thongpen took second on count-back from Sopin Thurarat, both with net 71. Sud, in addition to the winner’s trophy, received 50 Satang gold sponsored by the YWCA and presented by Nittaya.
For the men Tony Barker won Division III with net 72 in a three-way count back, beating runners-up Visut and Janne Johansson.
Harry Riley’s net 71 beat Manop on count-back in Division II, closely followed by 2nd runner-up Wattanhabol with net 72. Division I produced the best all round scores; Klahan declared the winner from a net 70 three-way count-back with the runners-up being Stewart Retour and Nuttaphol.
The trophies were presented by members of the VIP party hosted by Sopin Thappajug, CEO Diana Group
The 50 Satang gold technical prizes were well spread and the winners and hole sponsors are listed on this page. The Beer Chang Charity hole, the par-three 17th, raised the sum of 7,000 baht to add to the proceeds.
The prize-giving, on a fine evening, was back at the Diana Garden Resort poolside with a splendid outdoor buffet to welcome the players and their many guests. Yours truly (Mike Franklin) and Khun Boonrung were co-presenters for the evening. In their opening remarks, the benefiting charities were announced as those concerned with Children’s Care and Education. Namely The Pattaya City Education Dept. (One School, One Hotel); Scholarships for Children at Banglamung Schools; Tawanyim (Sunshine Radio project); The Street Kids of Pattaya; and other chosen projects through the Diana Group Charitable Foundation.
The sum of 320,000 baht was raised for the charities and checks were presented on stage to the representatives present. The sum of 229,000 was raised on the day with the balance given by the Diana Group Foundation.
A cheque for 40,000 baht was presented to the Banglamung Schools, received by Chanita to help with their various projects. Secondly, 40,000 baht went to Tawanyim Sunshine Radio project represented by Laila, and 20,000 baht to the YWCA represented by Nittiya Pratimasonkoh. The remaining proceeds of 220,000 go to the Diana Group Foundation to benefit the ‘One School One Hotel’ Project, Street Kids of Pattaya and other projects through the foundation.
Thanks were then duly expressed to the main sponsors of Diana Gold 2008: Beer Chang represented by Yanyong Thontoh, E.C. Biotech represented by Kanthorn Chinarong and Eastern Star Country Club & Resort, represented by GM Pinij Dharakasem. The ‘Gold’ sponsors were displayed stage-side and their generosity duly acknowledged as the gold prizes were presented, in most cases by the hole sponsor in person. Grateful thanks to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya for supplying the Ambulance Unit to be on station during the day.
Special thanks were extended to Eastern Star for the excellent presentation of the golf course, and the friendly efficient service from the staff. Due credit was given to the tournament team on the day – Beer Chang and Diana Group staff for manning the Beer Chang Charity Hole. Thanks also to Nigel Cannon and PGA Pro, David Race, for helping throughout at registration and for judging the final results. To Prajackchat for the starting, to Kob and staff from the Diana Group at registration, and finally, to Khomsan, Diana Group General Manager, with regard to the overall planning and preparation of the event
Finally, it was time for the Lucky Charity Draw. The items to be won included some more gold, golf equipment and golf bags from Pattaya City Golf and Eastern Star; beer sets from Beer Chang, vouchers for the Green Tree and Green Bottle pubs, a Jameson’s ‘Carvery Every Week for a Year’ from Jameson’s, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya health checks and more.
The draw concluded another fine event in this series; an excellent day’s golf at Eastern Star, a great buffet back at the Diana Garden Resort, plenty of trophies and gold for the players and a valuable contribution to Sopin’s chosen charities supporting Children’s Care and Education through the Diana group Foundation.
November 2009 will be the occasion of the 11th Diana Gold Charity Golf tournament.

Diana Gold 2008 Division Results

Diana Gold Champion - Low Net Overall
Saroj Chalermyat - Gross 73 (Net 67)
Low Gross Overall
Khun Koravit - Gross 72
A Flight (0-14)                                                           B Flight (15-20)
1st Khun Klahan – Net 70                                          1st Harry Riley – Net 71
2nd Stewart Retour – Net 70                                      2nd Manop Ketprajatt – Net 71
3rd Nuttapol Nuntidhanpakorn - Net 70                  3rd Wattanhabol Vangsakul – net 72
C Flight                                                                       Ladies Flight
1st Tony Barker – Net 72                                           1st Khun Sud – Net 69
2nd Khun Visut – Net 72                                            2nd Nattaporn Thongpen – Net 71
3rd Janne Johansson – Net 72                                  3rd Sophin Thurarat – Net 71