Mann beats ‘the Viper’ at Emerald

The Growling Swan Golf Society

Monday, Jan. 9, The Emerald – Stableford

A Flight

1^st Stuart Mann (20) 36pts
2^nd Mark Stapleton (18) 35pts
3^rd Tony Ryan (21) 34pts

B Flight

1^st John Coetzee (23) 36pts
2^nd Andy Zwart (26) 36pts
3^rd Andrew Allen (29) 36pts

Near Pins: 5th – Stuart Mann, 7th – Dave Maw, 13^th – Stuart Mann, 15th – Peter Zwart.

Long Putts: 9th – Dave Maw, 18th – Lorraine Percy.

It had been a while since we ventured to the jewel that is Emerald Golf Course.  With 24 starters it was a good field for a Monday, and although rain threatened not enough fell to even fill a proverbial egg cup.

From all reports the course was in very good condition and the group played from the white tees and as per usual the greens were playing true.  The decision was made to play ‘pick, clean and place’ (1 card length only) and on fairways only.

In A Flight we saw 3 points separating our 3 place getters.  Stuart Mann finally got the job done after threatening a win with podium finishes over the last few weeks.  Coming in second only one point behind was “The Viper” Mark Stapleton, with Tony Ryan filling third spot again only one point back.

B Flight was a completely different story with 3 players achieving the same scores, thus putting us in to count back mode.  It finished in this order, John Coetzee taking top spot from Andy Zwart in second with Andrew Allen finishing third.

Thursday, Jan. 12, Treasure Hill – Stableford

A Flight (0–16)

1^st Pieter Zwart (0) 40pts
2^nd Dave Maw (10) 37pts
3^rd Mashi Kaneta (16) 36pts
4^th Paul Sharples (14) 36pts

B Flight (17–36)

1^st John Anderson (28) 32pts
2^nd Bernie McCart (31) 31pts
3^rd Tony Ryan (21) 31pts
4^th Andy Zwart (27) 30pts

Near Pins: 2nd – Steve Younger, 6th – Dave Maw, 13th – Mashi, 17th – Alex Field

Long Putts: 9th– Mashi, 18th – Dave Maw.

Three mini buses of happy golfers loaded up for the trek to Treasure Hill.  At 1,150 baht during high season, including caddy and cart, congratulations and appreciation must go to the management of this golf course for keeping costs reasonable at this time of the year.  They had food and drink specials on offer also.

With today’s captain being 4-handicapper Sal Brizzi, everyone expected to be playing off the white or even blue tees.  However, Sal in his fairness tipped the yellow tees which left the course at about 6,500 yards in length, long enough for most.  He also ruled that the ball was to be played where it lay with no relief through the course.

Stu Rifkin, in his first game for six weeks, was noted downing several San Migs in the bus and before he teed off.  To those who were enquiring he said it calmed him down and his eight points on the front nine indicated that they were perhaps working too well?  To his credit he did rally with 19 points on the back nine.

Pieter Zwart our guest pro golfer, played his last game with the Swan boys and girls before heading back to Oz and did so with a solid display, shooting four under off his 0 handicap and winning the day by a good margin.  Second place went to Dave Maw who had 37 points off his 10 handicap and one point further back was Mashi Kaneta (16), edging our man from Oman, Paul Sharples (14), on a count back.

In B grade John Anderson (28) won this group with 32 points, followed in second by Bernie McCart (31), who secured that place on count back over Tony Ryan (21), both with 31 points.  Andy Zwart (27) took fourth spot with 30 points.