IPGC golf from The Haven
Friday, Dec. 13, Pattavia Century – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Allen Raaen (8) 38pts
2nd Don Everett (19) 38pts
3rd Rick Morgan (8) 35pts
4th Dick Heaney (13) 30pts
With the first two playing days of the week taken up by the IPGC Club Championship, the only local competition of the week was scheduled for the auspicious Friday the thirteenth at the newly renovated Pattavia course which, as a venue, continues to show promise as long term prospect for the future.
Allen Raaen.
Allen Raaen picked up his first win over the holiday period with a two-under return after winning an improbable count back over fellow Australian Don Everett, returning a better 17 to 13 after Don had set the course alight on the outward half, amassing twenty five points including seven 3-pointers and a couple of 2s to finish the nine in 39 gross, a personal record. Sadly for Don, three blobs on the back put paid to any thoughts of a lifetime best round.
Rick Morgan also showed some good form in third place but one or two many errors on the front nine cost him a better result on the day. Dick Heaney took fourth but some way in arrears of the front runners.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Rick Morgan had the solo one in the first division to sweep the pool.
Prior to the presentations there were welcome backs for John Carlin and Norbert Drzymala.
Monday, Dec. 16, Khao Kheow – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Wayne Challis (14) 33pts
2nd Al Rolnik (18) 31pts
3rd Russell Gilroy (17) 29pts
4th Stephen Lewis (20) 28pts
5th Mike Hill (20) 28pts
With the wind starting to blow and the greens a little out of shape, scoring was at a premium as Wayne Challis took his first win during this visit in preparation for the Gold and Silver Medals, which are his main attraction to Thailand during December. His workmanlike round improved as it progressed as he scored nineteen points over the inward half to take the win by two from Al Rolnik, who also finished strongly but just fell short for a long awaited win.
Wayne Challis.
Russell Gilroy covered the last six holes under handicap but it was too little too late to make any impression on the top two.
Stephen Lewis took fourth place after winning a count back over Mike Hill with a better 16 to 13.
In keeping with the difficulty that the course was playing, there were no 2’s in either division.
Wednesday, Dec. 18, Crystal Bay B & C – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Allen Raaen (8) 38pts
2nd John Carlin (16) 38pts
3rd Keith Evans (7) 37pts
4th Russell Exley (9) 35pts
5th Russell Goldsworthy (4) 34pts
6th John Squitiero (19) 34pts
Crystal Bay once again lived up to its reputation as one of the easier courses on the circuit with its wide open fairways and flat greens, but unusually the CSS stayed at 72 as many of the hopefuls failed to meet the two-over handicap standard.
Allen Raaen was once again to be found in the van and again winning a count back, this time with John Carlin with a better six to five over the last three holes after they had tied the nine at 17 apiece and the back six at 11 each.
Markku Tynell.
Keith Evans played very steadily to record another solid round that earned him third place just a shot behind the leading pair.
Russell Exley is making a steady return to form and showed that it will not be too long before he will be once again contending closely for the top spots and seeing his handicap return down towards the category 1 section as he finished in fourth place.
Russell Goldsworthy, the IPGC 2014 Club Champion, came back down to earth following his wonderful couple of rounds in the previous week as he was forced to win a count back, which he did with a better 20 to 18 over John Squitiero, to claim fifth and leave John in sixth spot.
Once again the were no 2’s in the second division but Allen Raaen and Russell Goldsworthy shared the first division roll over pot.
Friday, Dec. 20, Greenwood A & C – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Martin Harrington (10) 37pts
2nd Hal Hart (20) 36pts
3rd Adrian Cook (13) 35pts
4th Stephen Lewis (20) 32pts
5th Dick Heaney (13) 32pts
This Peter Thompson designed course is always a good test of golf and with the winds continuing to blow the scores were remarkably good considering that arguably the two hardest nine were the order of the day.
Martin Harrington showed his class as he returned an 18/19 split, finishing with 14 from the last six to win by the slimmest of margins over the resurgent Hal Hart, who still has hopes of ending the year as an eighteen handicapper.
Adrian Cook slipped into third place just one behind Hal after fading through the back nine following a bright start, no doubt affected by the previous evenings pre-competition preparations.
Stephen Lewis won a count back again, this time against Dick Heaney with a better 17 to 13 as Dick slumped badly through the last three holes, garnering just one point when a run of “to handicap” holes would have won the whole day.
Prior to the presentations there was a welcome back for Werner Pausch.
At last the multi roll over pool in the second division was won, by Stephen Lewis while there were none in the first division.
Monday, Dec. 24, Treasure Hill (yellow tees)- Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0–15)
1st Allen Raaen (8) 37pts
2nd Kevin Townsend (12) 36pts
3rd Adrian Cook (13) 30pts
Division 2 (16+)
1st Markku Tynell (23) 35pts
2nd Russell Gilroy (17) 32pts
3rd Bob Pratt (26) 30pts
With a good turnout again two divisions were required with the cut coming as usual at 15.
Allen Raaen made it three in the period as he took the first division by a single point ahead of Kevin Townsend, edging the front nine by a single point and hanging on to take yet another win after Kevin dropped a shot on both the last two holes, with Adrian Cook again showing in third place.
The second division was led in by Markku Tynell by three from Russell Gilroy, whose time spent in front of the TV recently watching blood sports has begun to affect his golfing form, although it has at least given him a good deal of satisfaction. Bob Pratt made a happy return by taking third place ahead of many other hopefuls in the division.
The first division rollover in the 2’s was shared by Adrian Cook and Allen Raaen whilst Terry Hodgkiss and Russell Gilroy shared the second division pot.
Back at The Haven there was a welcome for new member Peter McCrory together with welcome backs for Bob Pratt, Mick Lowe, Shane Heavey, Vincent Gras, Peter Newham and Murray Frost, all joining the flight from OZ in an attempt to avoid the ritual slaughter but finding that it will be broadcast live at The Haven during their stay, there were also welcome backs and expressions of sympathy for Kevin Townsend and Mark Lang from England.
Finally the Emcee welcomed himself back after he had been seen scuttling off to Mauritius to follow the European Senior Tour and cheer local favourite Philip Golding into sixth place in the final Order of Merit and where fortunately they did not have either TV or internet coverage of live (sic) cricket.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact mobile 094 567 5726 or call in to The Haven Hotel, at 185 Soi 13, between Beach Road and 2nd Road. All transportation to the course is arranged and you do not need to sign up prior to the day, but you should be there by 8.15 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
