Travellers Rest Golf Group
There was a marked increase in the numbers playing golf at the TRGG this past week and three of the four competitions required two divisions (flights) to accommodate them all. What was abundantly clear was that the arriving hordes of visiting Aussies were not about to allow the grass to grow before they were dominating the leaderboards and absconding with all the prize money. You have to hand it to them, they do like winning sporting events. Oh, and money.
Monday, Oct. 12, Khao Kheow – Stableford
Monday saw an impressively large group take on Khao Kheow (B and C courses) and as per usual with this course, some managed to avoid all the water hazards and returned with a good score and some didn’t.
Jjimmy Graham and Paul Hansberry.
In Division 1, Aussie Paul Hansberry took next to no time to acclimatize before he was getting his name up in lights, although he was run very close for the top spot by ‘Mr. Consistent’ himself, yes Mike Rushant is back. It did take a count back to separate them and Paul just did enough to get his nose in front. Rusty Barfield, another new returnee, finished a point behind to take third place.
Rungratree Cox.
In Division 2 it was another Aussie, Jjimmy Graham, yes his Christian name does start with two J’s, who ran out the winner by a country mile. He finished five shots clear of Kim Scadden and Renzo Cecchi in second and third places, respectively.
Div. 1 (0-13)
1st Paul Hansberry (10) 36pts
2nd Mike Rushant (12) 36pts
3rd Rusty Barfield (5) 35pts
Div.2 (14+)
1st Jjimmy Graham (17) 37pts
2nd Kim Scadden (19) 31pts
3rd Renzo Cecchi (16) 31pts
Tuesday, Oct. 13, Phoenix – Stableford
On Tuesday it was back to Phoenix (Mountain and Ocean courses). Now I have to say that Mr. Rusty Barfield has a very misleading Christian name, it is not spelt with two R’s but I have not known him to show an ounce of rustiness when it comes to playing golf. He is always up there with the leaders and it just may be that he is even more consistent than Mike Rushant – and that is saying something! In Division 1 on Tuesday, Rusty rattled up another 40 points to easily take first place. Three points behind was the aforementioned Mike Rushant and in third place Terry Power showed he could play to his handicap as well.
In Division 2, Joe Nagle again did the business by amassing 39 points, his bad back now a distant memory. Ged Higgins kept the Aussies in the frame by finishing second and the two Jjimmy’s took third spot.
Div.1 (0-12)
1st Rusty Barfield (5) 40pts
2nd Mike Rushant (12) 37pts
3rd Terry Power (11) 36pts
Div. 2 (13+)
1st Joe Nagle (16) 39pts
2nd Ged Higgins (21) 36pts
3rd Jjimmy Graham (17) 34pts
Thursday, Oct. 15, Burapha – Stableford
Everybody’s favourite was back on the menu on Thursday, Burapha (A and B courses). The scoring on this course has been phenomenal all year and this week was no exception.
Ged Higgins.
In Division 1 the Aussies had had it too easy all week and Rungratree Cox decided it was about time a Thai lady got in on the act. Her 40 points on the day proved too good for Mr. Rusty who had to, on this occasion, settle for second place. After a count back we discovered he had just finished ahead of Terry Power who probably needs to change his Christian name to Max Power.
In Division 2 another Aussie, Kim Scadden, rode into the lead with another 40-pointer. He was followed home by another two Aussies, John O’Donoghue in second and Ged Higgins in third.
I can almost hear Ned Kelly cheering from his grave; not that I am suggesting all Aussies are bandits, god forbid that an Englishman would ever do that.
Div.1 (0-14)
1st Rungratree Cox (9) 40pts
2nd Rusty Barfield (5) 37pts
3rd Terry Power (11) 37pts
Friday, Oct. 16, Greenwood – Stableford
On Friday the TRGG rounded off a fine week’s golf with a return to Greenwood (A and B courses).
Only one division was necessary on this occasion and the week finished as it had started with an Aussie, would you believe it, at the top of the leader board. This time it was Ged Higgins, the jolly swagman, who rode off with all the spoils back to where his billy was boiling under a coolibah tree.
Jim Sykes came in second and Gary Ralph finished in third place.
1st Ged Higgins (21) 38pts
2nd Jim Sykes (12) 36pts
3rd Gary Ralph (17) 34pts
Good luck to all you golfers for the coming week and if you would like to play a round of golf with the TRGG, please phone Derek Thorogood on 080 673 3118 or pop into the Ned Kelly Bar in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.
