IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at The Links Bar
A Flight
1st Brian Beaupre (5) 34pts
2nd Peter Ditz (9) 30pts
3rd Huw Phillips (14) 29pts
B Flight
1st Niall Caven (20) 35pts
2nd Larry Gibb (21) 32pts
3rd Chris Walsh (22) 31pts
4th Murray Edwards (21) 29pts
Eastern Star played host to the Pattaya Golf Society on Monday, Feb. 2 for a stableford competition from the white tees. Our eight groups, with the two-flight cut at 17 and under, teed off into a stiff breeze slightly before our allotted time at 10:15.
PGS winners at the IPGC Championship: (L-R) Murray Edwards, Rick Schramm, Dave Moriarty, Brian Beaupre, Niall Caven, Wichai Tananusorn, Mike Earley and Len Jones.
The wind, combined with the ever-present dangers both sides of the fairway and the courses length, made it a tough day out for most.
Fairways were in reasonable condition, as were the greens, which most found consistent. Some bunkers however, are simply not up to standard. This is due mainly to the fine sand not being compacted, particularly in those areas that are close to the perimeter. Many times a golf ball landing near the bunker’s edge would bury itself well into the side of the bunker leaving the golfer no option but to take relief under penalty – hardly fair.
Two scores stood out today – B Flight winner Niall Caven’s 35 points being three shots better than the score of B Flight runner-up, Larry Gibb. Also three shots in front of the next best score was the 34 points Brian Beaupre put together in A Flight. Both scores represented a fine effort on a course playing as hard as it was.
There were three ‘2’s, all in A Flight, from Jon Batty on the 6th, Masa Takano on the 13th and Huw Phillips on the 3rd.
Tony Campbell picked up his first lucky beer draw whilst Harry Lankoff went from hero to zero by returning a very modest result.
The fifteenth annual IPGC Championship was held at Khao Kheow later in the week with the performances of PGS golfers hailed as the best ever from the society. Brian Beaupre was runner-up in the Gross Championship and there was a clean sweep in Div 1, with Russell Exley and Rick Schramm joining winner Brian on the podium. Mike Earley won Div 2, with Dave Moriarty taking third place and Masa Takano slotting in at number 4. Niall Caven topped Div 3 and Murray Edwards placed second. In the Plate competition, Wichai Tananusorn won the Div 1 title and Len Jones took the Div 3 title for the third time in the last four years, leaving Phil McClure in second.
It’s been said before but facts prove it, the Pattaya Golf Society is not just about quantity but quality as well. A magnificent effort all round from the 27 golfers representing Pattaya’s oldest and friendliest golf society. Well done friends and here’s to the next one!
