PSC Golf from The Bunker Boys
Monday, Jan. 15, Bangpra – Stableford
1st Gerry Cooney (19) 38pts
2nd Peter Kelly (13) 37pts
3rd Colin Greig (11) 37pts
4th Phil Mashiter (6) 36pts
5th Greg Berry (18) 35pts
6th Geoff Cox (18) 35pts
Near Pins: Ken Ellmore, Geoff Cox, Trevor Priestly, Geoff Bracegirdle.
The ever-popular Bangpra course and a beautiful sunny Pattaya day were sufficient to lure the biggest field of the year so far (30) to play the monkey course. As expected in high season the course was very busy but to our surprise, our start time was delayed by forty-five minutes. Worse was to come as some of the groups ahead of us were five balls so play was unacceptably slow.
We played with only one flight paying more places and first spot went to the Gerry Cooney of the sore shoulder fame with a score of thirty-eight points. Peter Kelly took second one stroke back, beating Colin Greig on count-back. The big hitting Phil Mashiter was fourth with thirty-six, while Greg Berry and Geoff Cox were fifth and sixth respectively with thirty-five points.
Wednesday, Jan. 17, Eastern Star – Stableford
Team
1st Peter Kelly & Peter Allen 45pts
2nd Geoff Parker & Gerry Cooney 44pts
Individual
1st Neil Carter 38pts
2nd Peter Allen 34pts
3rd Phil Mashiter 34pts
4th Richard Baldotto 34pts
Near Pins: Keith Norman, Neil Carter, Les Cobban (2).
Eastern Star was the venue for the first two-ball better-ball competition with Jimmy Carr, who suggested the idea at the recent AGM, charged with picking teams. Also, individual scores were kept and counted towards the golfer of the month competition.
There was a time during the round when it appeared that we would be struck with the scourge of high season slow play, however, it never eventuated and we completed the round in less than four hours. The course was in fine condition but the weather was hot and steamy.
In the team competition the two Peters, Allen and Kelly took out the top place with a score of 45 points followed in second place by Geoff Parker and Gerry Cooney.
In the individual comp, Neil Carter took first place with an excellent score of thirty-eight, followed by Peter Allen on thirty-five points. Phil Mashiter came third with thirty-four points and Richard Baldotto took fourth also with thirty-four.
Friday, Jan. 19. Pattavia – Stableford
1st Dave Ashman (19) 39pts
2nd Peter Allen (33) 35pts
3rd Keith Norman (15) 35pts
4th Richard Baldotto (25) 34pts
5th Colin Greig (11) 34pts
6th Skinny Newton (28) 33pts
Near Pins: Keith Norman, Grant Rice, Colin Lane (2).
For the last game of the week, we arrived at the Pattavia course to find no caddies or lockers available. To add to the problem there were several groups ahead of us on the tee which meant a delay of over thirty minutes before our first group could tee off. When our second group arrived at the tenth tee the marshal was trying to insert more groups into the middle of our round which went down like the proverbial lead balloon and was rejected out of hand.
Most players found today’s round tough going and scores were moderate, however, a few did excel and none more so than Dave Ashman who took first place with an excellent score of thirty-nine points. Peter Allen found himself in the among the winners for the second time this week in second place with thirty-five points. Third place, also on thirty-five, went to Keith Norman on count-back while fourth spot was filled by Richard Baldotto with thirty-four. Fifth place went to Colin Greig, and for the first time in a while, Skinny Newton appeared in the winner’s circle, beers all round.
