PSC Golf from The Bunker Boys
Monday, Nov. 26, Kabinburi S.C. – Stableford
1st Bill Almeida & Bryce Buckley 43pts
2nd Tony Oakes & Geoff North 41pts
3rd Daryl Vernon & John Chesney 40pts
Fifty-six golfers made the trip to Kabinburi to participate in the second Bunker Boys Annual Golf Challenge. A number of players decided to make the trip early traveling on Sunday and enjoying a relaxing evening, while the remainder had an early Monday morning start from Pattaya. Groups came from most of Pattaya’s golfing venues.
The course was in excellent condition with lush well-grassed fairways, and greens that ran quick and true, even the greens that had recently been cored were still good. The weather was hot but a strong wind cooled things down nicely. The format for the first day was a pairs competition with the first three pairs recognised, there was also a near pin and a longest putt competition. Given that it was a team competition scoring was modest for this format. To speed up play, groups were put off the first and tenth tees simultaneously.
The winning pair were Bill Almeida and Bryce Buckley with a combined score of forty-three points, i.e. the best individual Stableford score for each hole totaled up to find the team score. Second place went to Tony Oakes and Geoff North with forty-one points while Daryl Vernon and John Chesney took third place with forty-points.
Near pins went to Steve Mann and Barry Wellings while the second Bunker Boy in the winner’s circle Ken Davidson snared the longest putt.
Back at our base the Serenity Hotel and Spa golfers enjoyed a sumptuous buffet laid on by our host Olivier Daniel and his staff.
Tuesday, Nov. 27, Kabinburi S.C. – Stableford
A Flight (0-14)
1st Keith Allen 38pts
2nd Barry Wellings 38pts
3rd Chris Kerr 36pts
B Flight (15+)
1st Stan Stuart 42pts
2nd Bill Almeida 38pts
3rd Tony Robbins 36pts
Overnight rain and cooler conditions greeted players for the second day of competition. The ‘pick, clean, and place’ rule was applied (fairways only) although it proved to be not necessary. The format for the game was individual Stableford score.
The winner of the A flight was Keith Allen with thirty-eight points. Second went to Barry Wellings also with thirty-eight but losing on countback, while third place went to Chris Kerr on thirty-six points.
In the B flight, Stan Stuart took first place with an excellent forty-two points. Bill Almeida, appearing in the winner’s circle for the second time, took second place with thirty-eight points, and Tony Robbins carrying an injury battled manfully to third place with thirty-six.
Near pins went to Alan Sullivan. Kim Danboise, Nigel Harrison, and Steve Baker while Paul Hack took out the longest putt.
Prior to dinner and the presentation of prizes in true golfing tradition a charity chipping competition was held at the pool to raise funds for the family of the recently deceased Steve Allison from the Golf Club, a longstanding stalwart of the Pattaya golfing scene, a significant amount of cash was raised in this worthy cause.
Friday, Nov. 30, Pattavia – Stableford
1st Geoff Parker (16) 38pts
2nd Ken Davidson (22) 34pts
3rd Michael Brett (15) 34pts
4th Gordon Melia (21) 34pts
The last game of the month was played at the popular but difficult Pattavia course where a field of nineteen took part. The course was as usual in fine condition but the greens are now starting to get faster as they dry out in the summer heat and provide a real challenge. Lag putting is out of the question on most greens and if a putt is above the hole and doesn’t go in then it’s almost a guarantee that one is faced with another long putt uphill for the return. Speed of play was very comfortable today with no holdups or delays.
Geoff Parker announced his intentions clearly for the upcoming club championship with a well compiled thirty-eight points winning by a solid margin. Reigning club champion Ken Davidson made sure he was not out of the reckoning taking second place with thirty-four points, finishing the back nine with twenty-one. Third place went to Michael Brett also on the same score as was Gordon Melia in fourth. There was a fourth player also on thirty-four but he had the worst back nine of all four.
Near pins went to Les Hall, Ken Davidson, Neil Carter, and Nial Glover.
The win catapulted Geoff Parker to top position in the race for golfer of the month edging out Neil Carter who led for most of the month and also Keith Norman who failed to fire at the crucial time.
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