IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Jan 10, Phoenix – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Al Rolnik (23) 36pts
2nd Ohn Winton (30) 34pts
3rd Rodney Hayes (9) 34pts
4th Brian Lewis (18) 34pts
5th Roar Berger (26) 33pts
6th Alan Hanlon (12) 33pts
After a long wait Al Rolnik finally made it back to the top of the list once more with a solid even handicap round that in some part paid back all the hours and hard work put in at the driving range following a nearly three year hiatus when golf was not on the programme whilst he beavered away in India. In the post game interview he said this was just the beginning of a whole new career on the local courses, he hoped.
Mike Dabanovich.
Ohn Winton, another golfer trying to return after a long layoff, took second place after a much better result with the flat stick which enabled her to win a three-way count-back with a better 21 to Rodney Hayes’s 17 as he finished third with a better count back of 12 to 10 on the back six against Brian Lewis in fourth after they had tied the inward nine at 17.
Roar Berger slipped into fifth also with a better count-back, this time 21 to 18, with Alan Hanlon.
There were no 2’s in either division.
Before presenting the prizes The Doc welcomed new member Jacques Le Pottier and also welcomed back Peter Sumner and Rick Schramm.
Wednesday, Jan 12, Green Valley – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1
1st Mike Dabanovich (11) 42pts
2nd Barry Wellings (5) 41pts
3rd Joe Peters (18) 38pts
4th Chris Knapp (17) 37pts
Division 2
1st Sean Banbury (22) 36pts
2nd Roar Berger (25) 36pts
3rd Eric Hornsby (24) 34pts
4th Rod Howett (25) 34pts
Al Rolnik.
As usual there was a very large turnout at Green Valley so that two divisions had to be formed split at 18 and below. Unfortunately the groups were following a large number of other golf parties which left the supply of proper caddies extremely thin on the ground, with many of the field having a bag dragger who neither knew the course nor spoke Thai, having been elevated from trainee leaf sweepers at another course close to the border. This all meant that many of the players were unable to putt, having never read a putting line for themselves for several years. This was not the case for the front runners in division one however who were both experienced and capable and managed to score extremely well, even without an assistant green reader.
Barry Wellings would have thought himself to be very unlucky to have knocked it round in gross level par, which after using his 5 handicap equated to 41 points, only to find Mike Dabanovich also in great form as he put in his best round for over two years to finish six under handicap, just sufficient to take the day’s top honours.
They were followed in by Joe Peters, who found himself strangely in the first division in third, and Chris Knapp in fourth a further shot back.
The second division was a much more sedate affair with Sean Banbury taking the lead with a better count-back of 12 to 11 on the back six after he had tied with Roar Berger at 18 apiece for the front half.
Eric Hornsby took his first podium placing in Thailand another two shots behind them, also with the benefit of a better count-back of 16 to 13 over Rod Howett in fourth place.
Once again there were no 2’s in the second division but Russell Exley and Mike Dabanovich shared the first division pool.
Friday, Jan 14, St. Andrews – Stableford
CSS 74
1st Tim Wilkinson (4) 39pts
2nd Chris Knapp (17) 38pts
3rd Marc Jensen (8) 36pts
4th Ger Lodge (20) 36pts
5th Alan Hanlon (12) 35pts
6th Brian Wilkinson (12) 34pts
With many of the usual suspects opting for a day of rest with the course requiring compulsory carts, even though the price was a very acceptable one compared to all other courses implementing a similar rule, there were still almost enough players to require two divisions, falling short by just two.
Tim Wilkinson.
In the event the competition was a very closely fought one, with Tim Wilkinson just getting the edge over Chris Knapp by a single shot over the par 74 layout set in the hills behind Green Valley.
Marc Jensen had a quite but efficient return to Soi 13 with a solid level handicap round that earned him third place after a count-back which he won by 17 to 16 over Ger Lodge in fourth.
Alan Hanlon got his second well done mention of the week with a one over handicap round in fifth with Brian Wilkinson taking the last honourable mention in sixth.
Marc Jensen had the lone 2 in the first division and Steven Howard took the massive roll over pot in the second division.
Back at The Haven There was a welcome for Leo McCauley and welcome backs for Marc Jensen, David Bowles and Tim Wilkinson.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group you can contact mobile 084782 4582 or call in to the 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 Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays 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.
