PSC Golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, March 19, Treasure Hill – Stableford
A Flight
1st Banjo Bannister (14) 37pts
2nd Pierre Cere (14) 33pts
3rd Simon Niven (11) 33pts
4th Colin Smith (14) 32pts
B Flight
1st Vic Barton (29) 37pts
2nd Bart Bingham (26) 36pts
3rd Billy Brown (18) 35pts
4th John Mason (25) 35pts
In hot and humid conditions the first of our thirty eight golfers set off earlier than our scheduled time, and had a clear course ahead, enabling a round of under four hours, without rushing. Today we saw the course in magnificent condition.
The B flight (17+) saw veteran campaigner Victor Barton lead the way with 37 points, ahead of Bart Bingham on 36. Billy Brown and John Mason had a tussle for third, with Billy winning out.
Banjo Bannister doesn’t visit us often, but usually makes an impression and his 37 points did enough to take A flight honours. Four points behind came Pierre Cere, but he needed to win a count-back over Simon Niven. Colin Smith filled fourth with 32 points.
The four near pins went to Pierre Cere (No.2), John Anderson (6), Phil Mitchell (13), Mark Efendie (17).
Best nines by non-winners came from Larry Gibb (20pts) and Paul Chesney (19pts).
Wednesday, March 21, Khao Kheow – Stableford
A Flight
1st Simon Niven (11) 40pts
2nd John Edwards (16) 39pts
3rd Huw Phillips (14) 38pts
4th Pierre Cere (14) 37pts
B Flight
1st Bart Bingham (26) 41pts
2nd Larry Slattery (18) 36pts
3rd Billy Hill (31) 35pts
4th Willie Brown (18) 35pts
The Links Golf Society accepted the Khao Kheow challenge on Wednesday and three dozen keen souls joined in the fray.
The field was divided into two flights at sixteen and under and scores were better than many could have predicted. In the top flight, fourth place went to Canadian Pierre Cere with a solid 37 points. He was only one behind the third placed golfer, Huw Phillips, who in turn followed runner-up, Aussie John Edwards who recorded 39 points on his returning opener. The flight winner was Simon Niven with a splendid 40 points.
In the second flight scores were a little less competitive with fourth place going to Willie Brown whose 35 points was usurped by the better back nine of third placed Billy Hill. In second place was the consistent Irishman Larry Slattery, again in the frame with 36 points. The winner, Bart Bingham, struck a blow for many high handicappers by taking the green jacket for the first time after an eye-opening 41 points.
Near pins went to Willie Browne, Simon Niven, Kevin LaBar and Ian Pickles.
Non-winners’ best nines came from Dave Moriarity (20pts) and Michael McGuigan (19pts).
Friday, March 23, Greenwood – Stableford
A Flight
1st Chris Barker (13) 42pts
2nd Colin Smith (14) 37pts
3rd Kevin LaBar (15) 36pts
4th Tommy Marshall (8) 33pts
B Flight
1st Bart Bingham (25) 42pts
2nd John Mason (25) 36pts
3rd Rod Stevens (22) 35pts
4th Len Jones (28) 35pts
The society travelled to Greenwood on Friday to play a stableford competition on the A and C nines.
In the top flight fourth place was occupied by Tommy Marshall, his 33 points finishing three behind third placed golfer Kevin LaBar. Welshman Colin Smith took second place with 37 points which included a near pin on C6. The flight winner was American golfer Chris Barker whose 23 points on the front nine set the standard for the rest of his round, finishing as he did with 42 points.
In the second flight Len Jones finished in fourth place with 35 points, having been edged out of third by Rod Steven’s better back nine. In second place was John Mason with another creditable round of 36 points. Bart Bingham produced the round of his life just 48 hours before, and one can imagine the elation he felt sinking his final putt for 42 points, recording eighty three points on his latest 36 holes. It really was an amazing round and one which will see his handicap suffer a large cut to test his resolve in rounds next week.
Near pins went to Dave Heyes, Chris Barker and Colin Smith.
Consolation prizes went to Derek Phillips for his best front nine (19) and Mike McGuigan with the best back nine of 19 points on his final round this trip.
