Honors shared at Travellers Rest

The Travellers Rest Golf Group

Monday, Feb. 27, Khao Kheow – Stableford

Div. 1 (0-14)

1^st Norman Cheetham (12) 35pts

2^nd Craig Worley (13) 34pts

3^rd Ian Hunt (14) 34pts

 

Div. 2 (15+)

1^st Peter Jorgansen (15) 36pts

2^nd John Ryan (15) 36pts

3^rd Darren Stanton (15) 31pts

 

As Pattaya continued to heat up by the day, TRGG’s golfers set off on Monday to Khao Kheow in search of ending the month of February on a high.  If that was to be the intention then this venue was certainly the wrong destination.  Only 2 players were to shoot their handicaps, with the other 29 golfers falling sadly short.

Khao Kheow is a magnificent setting with Course A in particular able to test the skills of any player regardless of handicap.  In division 2 Darren Stanton’s 31 points was good enough to take 3^rd place, however there was a real battle for top spot that would go down to count back.  John Ryan’s 36 points were good enough for 2^nd place but he was pipped by Peter Jorgansen whose first visit resulted in victory.  I am sure everyone enjoyed that.

In division 1 wolverine Ian Hunt claimed 3^rd spot with 34 points and was beaten for 2^nd on count back by Craig Worley with the same score.  However, it was another day for Norman Cheetham as his 35 points were good enough for the top prize.  Three wins in in four outings are proving that cutting his handicap cannot stop this “legend in his own lunchtime”.

 

Tuesday, Feb. 28, Burapha – Stableford

1^st Andy Halsey (8) 38pts

2^nd Terry Worth (14) 36pts

3^rd Joe Stranks (13) 35pts

 

Burupha was the destination for the group on Tuesday in ideal conditions, which made for a very close competition.  Only 7 points separated the top 12 places with 12 of the 15 golfers scoring over 31 points.

Joe Stranks unhappily hit the ball terribly to score 35 points and take 3^rd place while in second Terry Worth notched 36 points and also scored a 2.  However, the winner of the day was the Sutton black cab driver Andy Halsey whose splendid round of 38 points was more than enough to take the top prize.  This was Andy’s 18^th and final round of his trip and this win had been a long time coming.  Despite this barren period his spirits had been kept healthy as a result of the free mental counselling he had been receiving from his good friend Martin Cooper.

 

Wednesday, March 1, Phoenix – Stableford

1^st Roger Wilkinson (14) 39pts

2^nd Mike Rushant (12) 37pts

3^rd Craig Worley (13) 36pts

 

On Wednesday the group visited Phoenix with 29 golfers.  Although not particularly long, very few golfers are able to really tear up this golf course.  Well few golfers would have played this track more times than Roger Wilkinson and armed with his own special caddie, who scares the living daylights out of his fellow players, no one is better qualified to play this course.

So it is no real surprise that the player who had the great day was Roger with a superb 39 points and to record his first victory since August.  Mike Rushant came 2^nd with 37 points and Craig Worley’s 36 points were good enough to take 3^rd spot.

 

Thursday, March 2, Green Valley – Stableford

1^st Alan Gibb (10) 42pts

2^nd Norman Cheetham (12) 36pts

3^rd Mike Rushant (12) 34pts

 

This week appeared to be the week for players at last achieving a win.  On Tuesday Andy Halsey won after 18 rounds and on Wednesday Roger Wilkinson recorded his first victory for 36 rounds.  On Thursday it was Alan Gibb’s turn to join the party at Green Valley.  In 27 previous rounds Alan had failed to reach the top spot, being runner-up on 4 occasions, and maybe he was starting to think that the elusive victory on his 2017 visit was going to elude him.

Well a magnificent round of 42 points buried that monkey as his 4-over par score was good enough to win the day.  Norman Cheetham finished 2^nd with 36 points and Mike Rushant once again scaled the podium to finish 3^rd with 34.

 

Friday, March 3, Pattana – Stableford

Div. 1 (0-12)

1^st Walter Panichi (2) 36pts

2^nd Bill Shepley (4) 35pts

3^rd Greg Bates (12) 34pts

 

Div. 2 (13+)

1^st Richard Talbot (16) 38pts

2^nd Noel Larkin (18) 36pts

3^rd Bill Reid (13) 34pts

 

Friday saw the TRGG heading for “water on the left, water on the right, and water in front of a raised green”… we were Pattana bound.  The course was in splendid condition and playing as challenging as ever.

In division 1 Greg Bates scored a splendid 34 points to win 3^rd place.  This was quite remarkable as he seemed to spend most of the round having a good old ruck with his good friend Larry Pumpa.  Bill Shepley, playing his final round before going home to Canada, took 2^nd with 35 points, but the top prize went to Walter Panichi whose round of 2-over the card gave him 36 points and a well deserved win.

In division 2 Bill Reid took 3^rd spot with 34 points and Noel Larkin’s fine round of 36 points was good enough for the silver medal.  However, there was no stopping the man with the pencil as he scratched out 38 points. Throughout the round he had the honor of being told on several occasions how lucky he was by” Da boss” Derek Thorogood (not his exact words!).

Quite clearly the management fail to recognize real talent when it is staring them right in the face but so far during the week there had been 7 separate winners.  This says so much about the authenticity and transparency of the handicap system at the TRGG, and both Derek and Billy must be congratulated for creating such a healthy golfing environment.

 

Saturday, March 4, Greenwood – Stableford

1^st Derek Thorogood (15) 36pts

2^nd Robert Bjorkqvist (13) 36pts

3^rd Jack Watkins (11) 35pts

 

It was fitting that the 8^th and final winner of the week should be Derek Thorogood himself for his first win of 2017. The Saturday visit to Greenwood saw a course that suited him perfectly as it is very wide.  His 36 points were good enough to win on count back from Robert Bjorkqvist, with Jack Watkins taking 3^rd prize before flying home to Blighty.