IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, Dec. 12, Treasure Hill (yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 75
1st Andrew Purdie (8) 33pts
2nd Benny Hansen (26) 32pts
3rd Kevin Townsend (12) 31pts
4th Brian Lewis (25) 29pts
5th Dave Cadwallder (13) 28pts
What a difference a week makes in golf. Last week the group were extolled for their results at Treasure Hill when seven players played to within two of their handicaps and the CSS went down for the first time in living memory. But this week those who found the course far too easy decided to play elsewhere, leaving the rest of the entrants to give it another go.
Even with the course playing very well as the condition was once again tip top, things went as they usually do at Treasure Hill and the CSS went up to 75 but managed to stay counting due to player of the week, Benny Hansen, scoring just enough to make the standard.
Andrew Purdie returned to take another win by a slim margin of one after an in and out round that included three zeros, a four and four three-pointers.
Benny Hansen had a good start to a very productive week rounding out his card with nineteen on the back nine for second place.
Kevin Townsend slipped into third after starting very slowly with just eight points from the first seven holes but then settled into a more usual form to finish ahead of Brian Lewis, almost in earshot a couple behind and one in front of Dave Cadwallder in fifth.
There were no 2s in the second division but Andrew Purdie made it a double celebration with the sole one in the first division on the extremely difficult second hole that was playing its full 200 yards.
Wednesday, Dec. 14, Pattana B & C – Stableford
Division 1 (0–13)
(White tees) CSS 72
1st Alan Griffiths (12) 40pts
2nd Alan Thomas (6) 38pts
3rd Mark Cooper (11) 38pts
4th Ryan Thomas (1) 36pts
Division 2 (14+)
(Yellow tees) CSS 72
1st Benny Hansen (26) 37pts
2nd John Carlin (19) 36pts
3rd Brendan Dunne (28) 35pts
4th Shuichi Kodaka (18) 30pts
A good turnout and the addition of new members with very useful handicaps meant the formation of two divisions cut at the low number of thirteen and below. Once again they were all pleased to find the course in excellent condition and the greens worthy of special mention, being fast and true.
Alan Griffiths returned to the group to record the best of the week (four under handicap) to win by two after an very tidy round of two twenty pointers a side.
Alan Thomas had an extra incentive to do well as he wanted to show his son Ryan that he could still play a bit, and that he did, beating junior by two after handicap adjustment and taking second place in the process.
Mark Cooper continues to impress following his recent reduction of handicap as he finished the front nine on level par gross and but for a drop off over the last two holes could have won again but then had to settle for third after losing a count back for second with a worse 14 to Alan’s 19.
Ryan Thomas, having been beaten net by his dad, did enough to lay claim to fourth place with a one over gross return after opening with a triple bogey on the first hole.
The second division was led in by Benny Hansen to take his first win of the week at one under and just one ahead of John Carlin at level handicap in second place.
Brendan Dunne, who was doing an excellent job of stand in organiser of the day, had enough concentration still to finish in third after a solid one over round and finishing well in front of Shuichi Kodaka in fourth.
Once again there were no 2s in the second division but conversely there were six in the first division with Alan Griffiths, Alan Thomas, Andrew Purdie and Lyle Blaw getting one each and Mark Cooper getting two.
Friday, Dec. 16, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Benny Hansen (26) 39pts
2nd Shuichi Kodaka (18) 35pts
3rd Brendan Dunne (28) 32pts
4th John Carlin (19) 32pts
5th Paul Hubbard (10) 31pts
6th Mark Williams (8) 31pts
A week between visits to the nearest course on the group’s schedule saw a serious drop in the quality of the greens on the back-nine as they were found to be very slow and unpredictable compared to the earlier visits in the month.
Benny Hansen rounded out an excellent week’s golf with his best round for over four years to take the top step of the podium by four clear as he finished strongly, taking 21 points from the last nine after a solid front half.
Shuichi Kodaka played very well for a one over return and second place after missing out on the big prize of the multi rollover ‘2’s pool.
Brendan Dunne again figured well in third place after he won a count back over John Carlin with a better 17 to 14, to leave John in fourth place.
There was another count back for fifth and sixth between the big hitters, which Paul Hubbard won with a better 19 to 16 to leave Mark Williams in sixth but showing signs that it will not be long before he will be once again back in the thick of things.
Paul Hubbard had the sole ‘2’ in the first division after hitting an 8-iron to four feet, while Brian Lew cleaned out the huge rollover pot in the second division, needing the driver to get to 10 feet on the 7th hole and then holding fairly steady and waiting to hear it drop. Fortunately his playing partners were there to tell him it had!
