IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, Jan. 26, Eastern Star – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Walter O’Keefe (15) 35pts
2nd Markku Tynell (22) 35pts
3rd Mike Korney (19) 35pts
4th Mark Williams (7) 33pts
5th John Carlin (19) 31pts
The Robert Trent Jones designed course was in very good condition; certainly as good as it has ever been in recent times, with the greens especially improved and eminently playable and the conditions for golf were almost perfect, with light winds and overcast skies.
Shuichi Kodaka & Philip Cass.
Walter O’Keefe carried on from where he left off the previous week as he took yet another win, this time without playing to his handicap. After a poor start that saw him with just twelve points after the opening half, it required a startling back nine of five under handicap to get the job done and win a count back over Markku Tynell (second) and Mike Korney in third.
Mark Williams took fourth as he struggled to get back into the form that made him a regular contender earlier in the season, with John Carlin again figuring on the podium in fifth place another two behind.
There were no 2’s in either division.
Wednesday, Jan. 28, Khao Kheow A & B – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0-18)
1st Philip Cass (17) 37pts
2nd Walter O’Keefe (15) 35pts
3rd Mike Dabanovich (12) 34pts
4th Graham Wood (18) 33pts
Division 2 (19+)
1st Kevin Stimpson (20) 30pts
2nd John Carlin (19) 30pts
3rd Peter Brown (24) 28pts
4th Terry Hodgkiss (24) 27pts
With two divisions required following an expected good turnout, the cut came at eighteen and below and Philip Cass, finding himself in the first division, swept aside the in-form Walter O’Keefe by two points after finishing very strongly over the last five. Mike Dabanovich took third a single point in front of Graham Wood.
Walter O’Keefe & Kevin Stimpson.
The second division was led in by new man Kevin Stimpson, who must have been very surprised to find himself at the top after a none too sparkling round of six over handicap, but a slightly better back nine was enough to win a count back over John Carlin by a score of 16 to 13. Peter Brown returned to a podium placing a couple of shots back in third, with Terry Hodgkiss slipping into fourth after he tired through the inward half.
Trevor Schirmer had the only 2 in the first division to clear out the rollover pool when he finally slotted one in on B8 after missing a couple earlier in the day, but once again there were none in the second division.
A low point of the day occurred when three players tried to muscle into the middle of the group as a three-ball after telling the starter they were all members and with The Haven group, which was not true, but fortunately a knowledgeable committee member was on hand to put matters to rights, leaving the three to find another starting point.
Friday, Jan. 30, Pattavia – 2-person scramble
1st Mike Remington & Shuichi Kodaka (10) 47pts
2nd Danny Horne & Kevin Stimpson (10) 47pts
3rd Kevin Blake & Hal Hart (10) 46pts
4th John Carlin & Mike Korney (13) 46pts
5th Russell Exley & Stephen Beard (12) 44pts
6th Mike Dabanovich & Patrick Scullion (12) 44pts
7th Trevor Schirmer & Vincent Gras (11) 44pts
Following a very successful day out with a 2 person scramble earlier in the month, in a rearranged fixture, it was decided to repeat the competition in this scheduled event. Once again the format was very successful over this much improved Nick Faldo design, which seems to have benefitted tremendously from the takeover of Chang, with the course playing better and better on each visit, although the greens are still possibly the most difficult to play in the area with the grain playing a huge part in any putt.
The end results were a triumph for the handicappers as the top seven teams all finished within three points after the handicaps had been set at 35% of the combined total for the team and seven tee shots required from each player.
Mike Remington and Shuichi Kodaka spread-eagled their closest opposition over the last four holes as they birdied them all, and with a shot on the last three, they amassed a staggering 15 points to win the count back over Danny Horne and Kevin Stimpson, whose experience at their home club with grainy greens helped tremendously, but they could not match the winners.
Kevin Blake & Hal Hart took third place as they combined well to win a count back over John Carlin & Mike Korney, a last minute surprise pairing, by a better 24 to 22.
Fifth place went to Russell Exley & Stephen Beard following a better 23 to 22 count back over Mike Dabanovich & H.E. Patrick Scullion after they had tied on 44 points. Trevor Schirmer & Vincent Gras rounded out the podium with the same 44 points but just 14 on the back six.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact 038 710 988 or call in to The Haven Hotel, 185 Soi 13, situated 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 a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. If you would like to leave your golf clubs at The Haven there are usually lockers available at a nominal charge. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
