IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Nov. 5, Khao Kheow A & B (Yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 73
1st Drew Miller (18) 35pts
2nd Erik Donnestad (4) 35pts
3rd Peter Skinner (10) 31pts
4th Johannes Murken (14) 31pts
5th Anna Donnestad (7) 30pts
5th Michael Izzo (5) 30pts
7th Phil Groves (7) 30pts
As ever, the courses at Khao Kheow played pretty tough and the scores on this day fairly reflected this and with only one counting player scoring within two of his handicap, the CSS for the day moved out to 73.
Mike Hill.
New member Drew Miller was the least unfazed of the field, going out at level and dropping just one point on the inward nine, which was good enough to take the top position following a count back with seemingly ever-present Erik Donnestad, which Drew won with a better 17 to 16.
Peter Skinner returned a much better back nine than his outward half to win a count back over Johannes Murken with a better 17 to 14 and collected third place.
Anna Donnestad, who has spent the whole of her holiday playing from tees which in many cases were two steps further back than she would normally be playing from, was again in that position but did well to place fifth over a distance some 1,400 yards longer than normal by topping a three-way count back with Michael Izzo and Phil Groves, also single handicappers, with 15 after Michael and Phil scores 13 and 12 respectively.
There were no 2’ in the second division but David Lowe and Johannes Murken shared the first division pot.
Before the presentations were made there were welcomes for Drew Miller and Murray Frost together with welcome backs for Michael Izzo, Waroon Taranski, John Wood, Peter Newham and Rodney Hayes.
Friday, November 9, Crystal Bay A & B – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Mike Hill (24) 40pts
2nd Erik Donnestad (4) 40pts
3rd David Lowe (7) 38pts
4th Phil Groves (7) 36pts
5th Karl Flood (16) 35pts
6th Peter Skinner (10) 34pts
A trip to Crystal Bay always promises to be a bit of a scoring fest as the wide open fairways and user friendly rough combined with extremely good putting greens gives a player ample opportunity to score well.
Mike Hill continued with his run of form to take the top spot and deny Erik Donnestad a farewell win after winning a count back over the last six, with a better 15 to 14 after they had tied the nine at 21 apiece. Erik’s score was commendable by being a gross level par which included 1 birdie, sixteen pars and one bogey.
Drew Miller.
Third place went to David Lowe who also had a remarkable round which could have been the winner but for a few lapses at vital moments as he carded five birdies but also included five one pointers and a blob to leave him two short of a count back for first place.
Phil Groves came back to a bit of form with a level handicap round to take fourth place with Karl Flood in fifth a point back and Peter Skinner in sixth a further one behind.
David Lowe, with two, and Phil Groves shared the first division 2’s pool while Karl Flood cleaned out the rollover second division pot.
Prior to the presentations there were welcome backs for Paul Stanton, Kazuo Takimoto, Seppo Sadeharju, Hisahiko Makino and Masami Tagaki. There was also a farewell for Erik Donnestad who was following his wife Anna, who had left earlier in the morning, back to Oslo after a very good golfing busman’s holiday, which raised a hearty round of applause, possibly more in relief by some who were thinking that it now offered them a much better chance of winning in the future.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact mobile 082 219 0965 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 you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
