Stevenson excels at Pattana

IPGC Golf from The Haven

 

Monday, Feb. 6, Pattavia – Stableford

CSS 72

Division 1 (0–11)

1^st Steve Evans (8) 35pts

2^nd Mark Cooper (11) 35pts

3^rd Brian Libbey (11) 32pts

 

Division 2 (12-20)

1^st Glen Eldershaw (20) 38pts

2^nd Shuichi Kodaka (17) 35pts

3^rd P.J. Mitchell (18) 35pts

 

Division 3 (21+)

1^st Dave Paul (24) 36pts

2^nd Victor Reimer (21) 35pts

3^rd Phil Stevenson (35) 35pts

 

Another good turnout required three divisions again for this now very popular venue where the condition was very good and the greens were a little slower than usual, but still wickedly fast requiring sometimes the dreaded second chip.

Steve Evans was slightly surprised to find that he headed the first division after winning a count back with a better 20 to 19 to leave Mark Cooper in second place and Brian Libbey in third another three back.

The second division was led in by the returning Glen Eldershaw with the best return of the day and three in front of a count back for second and third between Shuichi Kodaka and P.J. Mitchell, which the former won with a better 12 to 11 over the last six after they had tied the nine on 18 apiece.

The third division was won by Dave Paul for his first win with the group, one ahead of another count back which Victor Reimer won with 19 to leave Phil Stevenson third after he could muster just 16.

There were no 2s in the first division but Wilf Wellman followed his maiden win in the last event with his first 2 in living memory, which was again roundly applauded following the announcement of his winning of the second division pot, although there were a few disgruntled murmurs suggesting possible tests.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 8, Pattana A & B – Stableford

Division 1 (0–13)

(White tees)

CSS 73

1^st Russell Goldsworthy (6) 36pts

2^nd Mark Cooper (11) 35pts

3^rd Marl Williams (8) 32pts

4^th Mark Lang (5) 31pts

 

Division 2 (12–20)

(Yellow tees)

CSS 73

1^st Phil Stevenson (27) 41pts

2^nd Larry Gibb (21) 35pts

3^rd Shuichi Kodaka (17) 34pts

4^th Hal Hart (20) 33pts

 

Another large group enjoyed another good day at the once a fortnightly visit to Pattana where as usual the course was in pristine condition.

Russell Goldsworthy, hot from his recent winning of the Club Championship, reaffirmed his good form while taking the first division which was full of single figure handicappers.  Russell won by the slimmest of margins over Mark Cooper, with Mark Williams in third and Mark Lang fourth.

The second division saw Phil Stevenson take another win with the best score of the week and some six shots ahead of his nearest challenger.  Following the announcement there were some suggestions that it was not only the red flag that he held in common with Russian sportspersons but after agreeing to submit a specimen the rumbles died away for the time being.

Larry Gibb took second place, with Shuichi Kodaka third and Hal Hart, the popular new Chairman of the club, fourth.

There were no 2s in the second division but Steve Evans cleaned out the rollover pot in the first division with his solo effort in the first division.

 

Friday, Feb. 10, The Emerald – Stableford

CSS 74

1^st Mark Williams (8) 35pts

2^nd Richard Bannister (13) 33pts

3^rd Kevin Blake (7) 33pts

4^th Brendan Dunne (28) 32pts

5^th Allan Hanlon (14) 29pts

 

The smallest group of the week took on the Nick Faldo designed Baan Chang layout for the first time in several months and found that the local ‘lift and place rule’ needed to be utilised due to the preponderance of the crab grass in the fairways and the semi buried lies that sometimes had to be faced by the players.  The CSS for the day increased by two to 74 to underline the difficulties that the golfers encountered.

Mark Williams was the clear winner by two after returning a very solid one over handicap card just ahead of a count back for second and third place, which Richard Bannister won on the last six with a better 12 to 9 after he and Kevin Blake had shared the nine in 17 apiece.

Brendan Dunne placed forth another shot back with Allan Hanlon taking fifth another three behind.

In line with the difficulty that the course was playing there were no 2s in either of the divisions.