PATTAYA, Thailand – The week kicked off at Pleasant Valley Golf Course on Monday, January 6, under less-than-ideal circumstances. Scheduling conflicts forced a mid-day tee time, which was delayed by another 30 minutes due to a lack of available caddies. When play finally commenced, the pace was painfully slow, with the front nine taking a gruelling three hours to complete and the back nine only marginally quicker. The final group finished as darkness set in.
Despite the frustrating pace, the course itself was in excellent condition. The greens were fast, emphasizing the subtle breaks and punishing even minor misreads. Strong winds compounded the challenge, and the course’s water hazards claimed a significant number of balls from several players, with one golfer losing as many as ten. The field of 25 players put in an average performance for this course, a testament to its difficulty and the trying conditions of the day.
Results: 1st Place: Paul Smith (7) – 37 points. 2nd Place: Robby Watts (13) – 34 points. 3rd Place: Keith Norman (20) – 34 points. 4th Place: Les Cobban (10) – 33 points. 5th Place: Colin Greig (13) – 33 points. 6th Place: Steve Downes (5) – 33 points. Near Pins: Andy Winterburn, Geoff Williams, and Steve Downes (2).
Crystal Bay Golf Course on Wednesday, January 8, brought its own set of challenges but also showcased some exceptional golf. A misstep by the course marshal saw the group placed behind a slow-moving six-ball on the C nine, which delayed play significantly. After five holes of waiting on every shot, the marshal finally moved the six-ball to the A nine, allowing the round to pick up pace. Despite this hiccup, players encountered familiar issues at Crystal Bay, including poorly maintained bunkers and inconsistent green speeds between the C and A nines.
However, the players rose to the occasion, producing some of the best scoring of the week. Jay Babin led the field with a phenomenal 41 points, showcasing his ability to pull out a stellar performance when it matters most. This win followed news that left him in high spirits, adding a celebratory touch to his day. With ten players scoring 36 points or more, competition was fierce, and multiple countbacks were required to finalize the leaderboard.
Results:
1st Place: Jay Babin (32) – 41 points. 2nd Place: Mike Milland (18) – 39 points. 3rd Place: Les Humphreys (31) – 39 points. 4th Place: Mark Hayward (16) – 38 points. 5th Place: Colin Greig (13) – 38 points. 6th Place: Greg Berry (16) – 38 points. Near Pins: Colin Greig, Witt Mann, Ben Komssi, and Hubert Stiefenhofer.
The week concluded at Silky Oak Golf Course on Friday, January 10, where chaos reigned upon arrival. Golf bags were scattered everywhere, parking was scarce, and no caddies were available. After some negotiation, players were allowed to take carts without caddies, a rare exception to the course’s usual rules. Most caddies eventually caught up after a few holes, but the round remained slow.
Despite the logistical challenges, the weather was pleasant, with mild temperatures and a brisk breeze that added some difficulty. Paul Smith secured his second win of the week with 37 points, displaying consistency under pressure. A three-way tie for second place was decided by countback, as was the race for fifth and sixth. The five near pins up for grabs were hotly contested, with Keith Hemmings and Craig Dows taking two each.
The busy season was evident, with Green Valley and Silky Oak fully booked, while St. Andrews remained quieter due to its pricing. Player comings and goings also marked the day, with Sam Gershon and Les Humphreys departing and Eddie Kelly and Daryl Vernon expected next week.
Results: 1st Place: Paul Smith (7) – 37 points. 2nd Place: Mike Milland (17) – 36 points. 3rd Place: Colin Greig (13) – 36 points. 4th Place: Uwe Jurgensen (30) – 36 points. 5th Place: Michael Brett (18) – 34 points. 6th Place: Mark Hayward (16) – 34 points. Near Pins: Uwe Jurgensen, Craig Dows (2), and Keith Hemmings (2).
