IPGC golf from The Haven
Wednesday, March 7, Rayong C.C. – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0-16)
1st Bob Heath (13) 39pts
2nd Jim Slattery (11) 36pts
3rd Mike Flynn (13) 35pts
4th Gerald Decio (15) 35pts
Division 2 (17+)
1st Alwyne Burley (17) 35pts
2nd Leif Lossius (30) 35pts
3rd Don Everett (20) 35pts
4th Shuichi Kodaka (18) 35pts
Following a very successful IPGC Monthly Medal competition on Monday it was back to the usual stableford game being held at Rayong Country Club on the occasion of the Bank Holiday being held for Macchabucha Day, the Buddhist Lent, with prices of green fees at most of the other courses in the area almost doubled, this day’s total cost was just 1,100 baht.
Once again two divisions cut at sixteen and below found the general condition of the course to be good with scoring to match, although only one player bettered their handicap while just one other equaled it, both of them in the first division.
Alwyne Burley.
In the first division the top scorer turned out to be the very much in-form Captain Bob Heath, who found himself once again on the top step with fellow clubman Jim Slattery trailing by three in second place, a position that Bob has now become familiar with over the last few weeks, and with Jim having been struggling with the techniques of the game during the same period, it was a welcome relief to him to get back amongst the proper golfers at last, albeit on the second step. Meanwhile Bob’s handicap will at last be adjusted to something like a real one after his home club handicapper’s 70th birthday exemption finally expired.
Rounding out a nap hand of South Herts members, the third place went to Mike Flynn after he won a count back over Gerald Decio, with a better 20 to 17 over the inward half.
Bob Heath.
The second division was an extremely tight affair with all the top four returning one over cards for thirty five points, the top spot being taken by Alwyne Burley whose 8 points over the last three holes, determined that Leif Lossius took second as his six points was unusually not enough, after they had both tied the back nine at 17 each and the six at 13 apiece.
Don Everett slipped into third after dropping out after the back six were counted with just 9 but ahead of Shuichi Kodaka who also had 17 on the nine but just 8 through the last six holes.
There were no 2’s in either division which underlined the level of difficulty to which the course was playing on the day.
Before presenting the prizes for the day Stephen Beard welcomed back Maurizio Guidi, Pat Prenderville, Erik Donnestad, Alan Venner, Michael Steele, Michael Flynn, and Michael Cutmore the last four being the second wave from South Herts Golf Club, and which leaves no “Michaels” back at Links Drive.
Friday, March 9, Treasure Hill (Yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0-10)
1st Peter Skinner (10) 39pts
2nd Erik Donnestad (4) 36pts
3rd Michael Cutmore (0) 34pts
4th Alan Pilkington (9) 33pts
Division 2 (11-17)
1st Tony Barritt (15) 34pts
2nd Alan Hanlon (12) 33pts
3rd Bob Akapita (17) 32pts
4th Alwyne Burley (17) 31pts
Division 3 (18+)
1st David Bowles (20) 37pts
2nd Frank Dunstan (22) 36pts
3rd Torild Lossius (33) 35pts
4th Shuichi Kodaka (18) 34pts
An even larger turnout meant the formation of three divisions, with the cut coming in the first division at 10 and below.
David Bowles.
Yet another previous winner and South Herts member took the top honour with a three under handicap round that owed much to the pinpoint accuracy of his approach shots and it was a great surprise to his playing partners that he could not convert more of them into the birdies that they so richly deserved, although it did save them some considerable expense at the end of the day. Peter did put the hammer down over the back nine after a slowish start, which had encouraged his playing partners immensely, as he then went level par gross over the next eight holes before tripping up over an anchor with a bogey on the last.
Second place went to Norwegian teaching professional, Erik Donnestad who has traded two weeks of snow and ice and a few lessons for several rounds of golf, no lessons and a bar tan. Erik’s gross 76 was bettered by one of the teaching professionals from South Herts, Michael Cutmore, who had also decided that two weeks in Pattaya was just preferable to two weeks in North London and watching Arsenal play Spurs. Michael finally managed to get a few of those little ones to drop as he returned a gross 74 for third place. This was indeed a fine effort that included a one under gross for the last thirteen holes after he had started a little blearily. Alan Pilkington just did enough to claim fourth another point further back.
Peter Skinner.
The second division was taken by Tony Barritt at two over handicap, a mirror image of one of last week’s results, as he just kept Alan Hanlon at bay by a single shot, with Bob Akapita anther shot behind in third and a strangely out of sorts Alwyne Burley back in fourth also a shot behind third.
The third division was also keenly contested with David Bowles just getting the edge over the closing holes after he had started out over a front nine that included three blobs, he started the back with 18 points from the first six holes, added yet another blob and closed the nine at four under handicap to win his first competition on this visit.
Frank Dunstan was going well through nine but lost his chance to win on the 15th with an errant tee shot from which he failed to score and from then second place was the best that could be achieved.
Torild Lossius kept the family name in the frame with a one over round that took third and left the still recovering Shuichi Kodaka to round out the day’s podium in fourth place.
With so many players it was inevitable that the roll over pools for the 2’s would be won, which they were, with Michael Cutmore, Jason Cole, Alan Pilkington and Erik Donnestad with two sharing the first division and David Bowles and Maurizio Guidi sharing the second division.
Prior to the presentations there was a welcome for new member Bob Akapita and welcome backs for Shane Heavey and John Teague.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact mobile 082 219 0965 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 8.30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
