The Haven Golf Society
Wednesday, Dec. 27, Mt. Shadow (blue tees) – Stableford
CSS 72 NC
1st David Dines (10) 30pts
2nd Phillip Cass (19) 29pts
3rd Mark Cooper (11) 28pts
David Dines played a very steady but unspectacular round to win for the first time on this trip following his return after serious knee replacement surgery in Canada, which has taken longer than expected in recovery. But the day’s return will be encouraging as he only recorded one zero throughout the round.
Phillip Cass looked to have won the day after he closed out the front nine, but three zeros on the inward half meant a second place ahead of Mark Cooper in third place.
Unsurprisingly there were no 2s in either of the divisions as most of the field appeared to have a problem finding the greens from the tees, let alone hitting them, and the chips were none too clever either.
Friday, Dec. 29, Pattaya C.C. (white tees) – Monthly Medals
CSS 73
Gold Medals
Division 1
1st Allan Hanlon
Division 2
1st Hal Hart
Silver Medals
Division 1
1st Peter Skinner
Division 2
1st Shuichi Kodaka
Division 1 (0-15)
1st David Dines (10) net 69
2nd Tony Guest (7) net 75
3rd Allan Hanlon (13) net 75
4th Graham Marchant (15) net 77
Division 2 (16+)
1st Hal Hart (23) net 66
2nd Shuichi Kodaka (19) net 71
3rd Bryan Brown (27) net 74
4th Dave LeHane (18) net 76
The last event of the year was held at Pattaya Country Club where the course was found to be in very good condition and reasonably dry. The best turnout of the month, following one of the worst in the previous tournament, was well rewarded with an excellent day all round.
The day was a double event being the December medal and the finals for the qualifiers in the gold and silver medals played for every month.
In the monthly medal the first division was won by David Dines, who much encouraged by his win in the previous outing played the best round since starting his convalescence at three under handicap, closing it out with a gross 38 on the back nine and winning by six clear ahead of a count back for second and third places.
That was won by Tony Guest with a best 24.7 to 25.7 over the back six after he had tied the back nine in 37.5 with third placed Allan Hanlon. Graham Marchant made another impressive start with the group, taking fourth place anther two strokes behind.
The second division was dominated by Hal Hart who appears to be returning to form following numerous lessons, some paid for from professional help and some gratuitously given by well-wishers, and a new found confidence that would have had, in times past, Alwyn Burley scrabbling to pay for yet another Hawaiian Lobster Special. But on this day a five stroke win and qualification for next year’s finals was the only reward.
Shuichi Kodaka took second place with a solid return of one under handicap, three in front of third placed Bryan Brown who continues to compete and amaze as the eldest member of the group, and Dave LeHane in fourth another two back.
In the gold and silver play-offs, Hal Hart took the gold in the second division with Shuichi Kodaka taking the silver.
Allan Hanlon won the gold in the first division with Peter Skinner surprising himself by claiming the silver.
There were no 2s in either of the divisions, as again most had great difficulty in getting near the pins to have any reasonable chance of a birdie.
