IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, June 30, Bangpra – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Peter Buckley (20) 33pts
2nd Takeshi Hakozaki (9) 33pts
3rd Trevor Schirmer (15) 32pts
4th Kevin Blake (8) 31pts
With the wind blustering most of the week scoring was at a premium, with the best of them being a level par round on Friday, so starting out the week at possibly the toughest test in the area, when the greens are at their fastest, was no easy task for the hopefuls from Soi 13.
(From left) Markku Tynell, Peter Buckley and Shuichi Kodaka.
The day’s winner, Peter Buckley, having just come in from the wintery climes of Australia, was perhaps unaware of how difficult the course was playing in the wind but he eventually just scraped onto the top step of the podium after almost losing it with a couple of zeros on the last two holes.
Indeed, the closing holes both appeared to be playing into the wind at the time as one of Peter’s playing partners, Takeshi Hakozaki, collapsed through the back nine after a stunning start that promised to be his best round of the year. But scoring just half of the points over the inward that he had accumulated on the outward nine ruined his chances and so he settled for second place.
Trevor Schirmer followed closely behind in third and Kevin Blake, on his last outing on this visit, took fourth another shot back.
Unsurprisingly there were no 2’s on the day and precious few threes either.
Before the presentations were made there were welcome backs for Jens Gunnarsson, Peter Buckley, and Terry Hodgkiss who had to take a rest after suffering from a tricky ticker and returning to play very gently. There was also a farewell for Kevin Blake returning to Brighton to a rest.
Wednesday, July 2, Khao Kheow – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Shuichi Kodaka (20) 35pts
2nd Jens Gunnarsson (16) 34pts
3rd Keith Emerson (11) 32pts
4th Terry Hodgkiss (23) 31pts
5th Trevor Schirmer (15) 31pts
Even playing Khao Kheow every Wednesday for the past couple of months does not seem to have helped the hopefuls to get to grips with the A and B nines, as the scores continue to be below standard for most of the players.
This day’s best was a one over handicap card returned by Shuichi Kodaka, who was the hot favourite after his handicap went out to 20 for the first time since arriving many years ago in Pattaya and playing under the CONGU system, but still he could not match par on another difficult day of golf.
Jens Gunnarsson ran the winner close, losing out by a single stroke after a great effort to close the gap on the back nine where he scored twenty points, but a slow start proved to be the main factor as Shuichi finished well with eighteen on the back nine.
Keith Emerson, having seen off all other challenges on other golfing days away from The Haven, could not repeat his form and he had to be satisfied with a third place another two behind Jens.
Terry Hodgkiss proved the old adage of “beware the injured golfer” as he swung gently and walked a little slower to lay claim to fourth spot after winning a count back over Trevor Schirmer with a better 15 to 14 on the inward nine.
Once again there were no 2’s in the first division but Mike Hill cleared out the rollover pot in the second division.
Prior to the presentations there was a welcome back for Keith Emerson.
Friday, July 4, The Emerald – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Markku Tynell (23) 36pts
2nd Mike Hill (22) 35pts
3rd Keith Emerson (11) 35pts
4th Trevor Schirmer (15) 35pts
5th Peter Buckley (20) 33pts
For the third time in the week the local rule of ‘lift and place’ was in play and as is usual on this course it was to allow for the condition of most of the fairways, where the crab grass has taken a serious hold. The previous two occasions in the week were because golf carts were not allowed on the fairways.
Markku Tynell at last appeared amongst the winners in the week, having been an ever-present during previous weeks, with the best of the week at level par as he returned a 19/17 split which was just good enough by a single stroke to hold off a strong three-way challenge behind him.
Mike Hill came the closest in second place after he won a three-way count back over Keith Emerson in third with a better 14 on the last six after they had tied at 18 apiece for the nine. Trevor Schirmer took fourth after he returned 17 on the back nine.
Peter Buckley rounded out the winners another two back in fifth.
Very unusually for the third time in a row there were no 2’s in the first division but Jens Gunnarsson, just out of that group, took the second division pool with his solo effort.
Back at The Haven there were welcome backs for Graham Davis and Russell Gilroy the latter from a whirlwind trip to Sydney that included just a couple of meetings, a lunch, dinner and one night in the airport hotel, then back to reality in Pattaya.
Note. If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact mobile 094 567 5726 or call in to The Haven Hotel, at 185 Soi 13, between Beach Road and 2nd Road. All transportation to the course is arranged and you do not need to sign up prior to the day, but you should be there by 8.15 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
