Hansen posts personal best

IPGC Golf from The Haven

 

Monday, Feb. 20, Mt. Shadow (blue tees) – Stableford

CSS 74

Division 1 (0–15)

1^st Banjo Bannister (13) 34pts

2^nd Chris Smith (+1) 34pts

3^rd Vic Woolton (12) 32pts

4^th Sam McLellan (13) 31pts

 

Division 2 (14–20)

1^st Benny Hansen (22) 42pts

2^nd Larry Gibb (21) 34pts

3^rd Bruce Hilde (16) 31pts

4^th Hal Hart (20) 31pts

 

Mountain Shadow was once more a serious challenge for most of the field, as the CSS for the day showed at a plus two 74.  But Benny Hansen made it look ridiculously easy when he returned the best score of the day, by eight clear, to win the second division and earn himself another cut in handicap to add to the five strokes reduction he has taken since the start of the year.  It was a remarkable round that included three 4s and five 3s in an even 21 points for each nine and proved to be a career best.

Larry Gibb placed second well back but three ahead of a count back for third and fourth between Bruce Hilde and Hal Hart, which the former won with a better 19 to 17.

There was another count back in the first division for the top step of the podium which saw Banjo Bannister win ahead of Chris Smith with a better 17 to 15 after Chis had looked very good going out in a gross 35, but a 38 on the back nine proved to be just a bit short after a good day.

Vic Woolton took third another two behind the leading pair and Sam McLellan fourth another shot back.

There were no 2s in the second division but Banjo Bannister added to his day’s haul with the sole one in the first division.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 22, Pattana B & C (white tees) – Stableford

CSS 73

1^st Dave Edwards (13) 36pts

2^nd Peter Skinner (9) 36pts

3^rd Shuichi Kodaka (17) 34pts

4^th Bruce Hilde (18) 33pts

5^th Brendan Dunne (27) 30pts

 

Surprisingly one of the best courses on the schedule attracted the smallest entry of the week where, as always, the course was found to be in tip-top shape from tee to green and it produced another fine day’s golf.

Dave Edwards, the new club Handicap Chairman, showed he also knows a bit about the actual playing of the game as well as all the handicap and rules technicalities, as he won a count back for first place over Peter Skinner with a better 18 to 15 to take his first win of the year with the group.  He did however have a little help from Peter who now rejoices in the pseudonym of “What Anchor” after he had taken 25 points from the first ten holes and then strangely closed out the round with one point from the last three.  It should be noted in fairness, that they are three of the toughest finishing holes in the area.

Shuichi Kodaka showed a return to form after being troubled with a shoulder injury of late to take third, with Bruce Hilde again showing well in fourth and Brendan Dunne fifth.

Jim Slattery had the only 2 in the first division as did Bruce Hilde in the second division.

Prior to the prizes being presented there was a welcome back for Peter Brown.

 

Friday, Feb. 17, The Emerald – Stableford

CSS 73

Division 1 (0-17)

1^st Gus Guidetti (12) 36pts

2^nd Banjo Bannister (13) 36pts

3^rd Jim Slattery (9) 34pts

4^th Bruce Hilde (16) 33pts

 

Division 2 (18+)

1^st Shuichi Kodaka (17) 37pts

2^nd Larry Gibb (21) 31pts

3^rd Danny Greer (26) 30pts

4^th Benny Hansen (22) 30pts

 

Back to another larger entry for the trip to Banchang where as usual the local rule of ‘lift and place’ on the fairways was in play to compensate for the abundance of crab grass.  Apart from that small detail the course was generally well-presented and played well, although the smaller than average greens and tricky undulations made high scoring improbable.

Gus Guidetti signed off with a win after winning the first division in a count back over Banjo Bannister with a better 19 to 15.  This was after Banjo had looked a likely winner after nine as he was standing on the tenth tee at three under handicap, but a quieter inward half left his hopes of a second win in the week in tatters.

Jim Slattery looked to be in good form a couple of shots behind the leading pair and one ahead of Bruce Hilde who once again took a placement in fourth.

Shuichi Kodaka improved on his previous outing, this time taking the win in the second division by six clear as the rest of the division found the course a bit too difficult.

Larry Gibb was pleasantly surprised to find himself in second place with a score that he had decided was nowhere near competitive, and Danny Greer took third place ahead of Benny Hansen in fourth after he won a count back with a better 15 to 14.

Gus Guidetti and Jim Slattery shared the first division 2s pool while John Hayes displayed all his old strength as a Blacksmith/Farrier when he hit a drive to the edge of the par 4 second hole and then calmly stroked in the putt for a very unusual two that deservedly swept the second division pot.