The 13th IPGC annual championship was held this year over two different courses, The Emerald and Eastern Star. Upon the release of this news some groans were heard that the courses were not apparently up to some people’s standard of play. Nevertheless the Emerald, with the use of preferred lies on the fairways, played well with the greens running at a good pace. Eastern Star must be in the best condition that has been seen for many years and with its testing holes offered a fantastic day two course.
So with the tee markers set out on the IPGC markers, the Emerald was measuring just over 6,450 yards as 90 golfers set on their way in quest to be this year’s champion.
2013 IPGC champs – Billy Fitzgerald & Russell Goldsworthy.
At the end of the first day leading the ladies division was Nut Ponvipa on net 72. In the third division Phil Cass and Chris Reed led the way on net 72 with six further players within 4 of the leaders, leaving all to play for on the daunting Eastern Star.
In Division 2 it was a Japanese battle up front with Yasuo Suzuki and Shuichi Kodaka leading with net 70 each. With the current net leader also leading the low gross it left the Japanese pair in pole position for the overall low net.
In the top flight Russell Goldsworthy shot a level par 72 gross off his 4 handicap to lead the gross and the net. Russell had 7 threes on his card for day one and was 3 under gross through four holes but only being eligible for one trophy, which one would he hold on for?
The rest of premier division was being headed by Chris Voller on net 71 and all golfers making the cut were all within four shots of Chris, giving the possibility of plenty of movement on day two.
After the dust had settled and the cards recorded, the CSS for the day just stayed at 72 with 23% of the field meeting the target of within two strokes of their handicaps.
Day two was to be a real tester, set up at 6,617 yards by the organisers to sort out the very best for the Championship. The first tee time at Eastern Star was 0900 and two tees were in operation. The first tee was away smoothly and with just a small nuisance on the tenth eventually everyone was on their way.
Again with the course was in excellent shape and some good scoring was on offer, but as always with Eastern Star, get out of shape and your card will quickly be ruined. With the players not making the cut being placed into three Stableford division competitions it meant even more trophies to play for.
Ladies champion Nu Ponvipa (right) accepts the trophy from Stephen Beard.
The third division plate was won by Joe Kubon with an outstanding 40 points. Second prize went to Danny Greer with a very creditable 36 points and third place to Paul Magowan for his first ever golf prize with 34 points.
The second division plate was a very close affair with 4 players carding 30 points for 2nd through 5th. Losing out in fifth was Paul Hartley but Paul’s day was not so sad as he had a Hole in One on the par three 17th after having had a disastrous day one, which resulted in a no return.
Fourth place went to Volker Suhr and the third place prize was won by Horst Starchl. Second place in that count back went to Mark Cooper and Mike Lewis just won the division with 31 points.
The first division plate saw Tony Pike just winning a count back over Marty Rock with a better 22 to 21 to leave Marty in second and Wilf Latham taking third, some seven points further back.
In the ladies competition Nut Ponvipa held of a late rally from Paula Koppatz, who carded a net 72, as Nut returned a net 79 to become 2013 ladies champion.
The third division championship had David Plaiter coming through the field to finish third on a total of 151 net. Josef Frick was second on 150 net and Chris Reed played a second steady round for a net 73 and the winner’s trophy with a total of 145. Phil Cass was the unlucky one in this flight as the course showed its teeth and he dropped from tied 1st to fifth.
Division two had two early pace setters for the net but unfortunately Yasuo Suzuki found this too much to handle and carded a net 81, which was still good enough for third place. It was Joe McArdle who put in the early charge, finishing with the division’s best of day two net on 75 to take 2nd place and moving 8 places up the field! First place went to Shuichi Kodaka who could not match his first day total but still did enough to win the division by 4 shots on a total of 147.
Chris Voller (right) shot a 2-day total of 145 to top Division 1.
With the big guns of the second and third divisions seemingly ruling themselves out of the top net it looked as though 5 trophies would be decided in the first division. Third place went to the pre-competition gross favorite Steve Mascari, carding a 148 net total. Steve was involved in a tight race for the Low Gross and was leading after 16 holes, but he still won a prize and there is always next year for the big one. In second place Russell Exley surged through the pack with the day’s second best net of 72 to land himself the runner- up prize, which was almost unbelievably his sixth second placement in the Championships. Top spot went to Chris Voller who carded a very composed 74 to add to his first day 71 on a total of 145.
The Championship Low Net went to probably the most unbelievable round of golf in the championships history. After scoring a net 74 on day one Billy Fitzgerald blew that to pieces by going ten shots better on day two and carding the best gross of the day 75 and the best net by 8 shots for a 64 net. Billy ended as a truly deserving 2013 Net Champion.
Russell Goldsworthy finally found his game, holing every putt that he really needed and he birdied the last hole to just pip Steve Mascari by a shot with a gross 79, which added to his 72 in the first round left him on 151, with Steve on 152.
Russell had made the trip from Perth, Australia from his home club The Gosnells especially for the Club Championships and now must have all the ammunition needed to provide to his keeper for his return next year for the defense of the title. Well done Russell Goldsworthy, the 2013 Club Champion.
After all the presentations were completed back at The Haven all the usual suspects were thanked for their time and efforts as well the buffet providers. The final thanks went to all the participants in what is truly a great tournament and we hope to see all of them and more next year!
Paul Hartley (right) receives his hole in one golf bag prize from Stephen Beard.
