IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, March 16, Greenwood B & C – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0–13)
1st Danny Miller (8) 37pts
2nd Erik Donnestad (5) 36pts
3rd Mark Williams (7) 36pts
4th Trevor Schirmer (13) 35pts
Division 2 (14-20)
1st Ben Jackson (16) 35pts
2nd John Carlin (19) 35pts
3rd Hal Hart (20) 34pts
4th Shuichi Kodaka (18) 31pts
Division 3 (21+)
1st Terry Hodgkiss (23) 38pts
2nd Phil Stevenson (25) 32pts
3rd Mike Hill (22) 31pts
4th Brian Randall (36) 29pts
A short week due to the Links Charity Challenge held on Friday started out at Greenwood with enough players to be able to form three divisions.
Terry Hodgkiss had the best score of the day when he returned a two under handicap card, which even included two singles and a wipe but had enough three-pointers included to win the third division by a six-point margin ahead of Phil Stevenson. The latter had looked to be in a very good position after the opening nine, but a weaker inward half consigned him to second spot. Mike Hill placed third one behind and two ahead of Brian Randall in fourth.
Danny Miller, Hal Hart & Shane Elder.
The second division was led in by Ben Jackson who needed to win a count back with a better 19 to 18 over John Carlin as John finished a little worse the wear with just one point on the last two holes.
Hal Hart claimed third just one point adrift after he had looked every bit the winner following a 21 point outward half but an uncharacteristic back nine finished off his challenge, but he still ended up three ahead of Shuichi Kodaka in fourth.
Danny Miller took to the greens of Thailand immediately on his arrival from the frozen north of England, where he spends a lot of his time in a kitchen sweating over a hot pan, which obviously gave him an edge as the day was a real swelterer. He went two under his handicap to win by two from Erik Donnestad as the latter tried to top the podium in his last appearance on this visit.
Mark Williams was again to be found among the bridesmaids in third after he had lost a count back to Erik, losing 14 to 12 over the back six after they had tied the nine on 19 apiece. That left Trevor Schirmer in fourth another point adrift.
Hal Hart and John Carlin shared the 2’s in the second division while Erik Donnestad, Keith Emerson, Neville Duncan and Danny Miller all had one in the first division which had fortunately been added to with a rollover, so they shared just over half a pittance each.
Wednesday, March 18, Khao Kheow B & C – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0–14)
1st Danny Miller (8) 38pts
2nd Terry Martin (15) 35pts
3rd Jon Yarrow (11) 35pts
4th Mark Williams (7) 34pts
Division 2 (15-20)
1st Hal Hart (20) 35pts
2nd Peter Pereira (17) 30pts
3rd Ben Jackson (16) 27pts
4th Yukio Kikuchi (17) 27pts
Division 3 (21+)
1st Shane Elder (23) 34pts
2nd John J. Walsh (36) 34pts
3rd Terry Hodgkiss (23) 32pts
4th Mark Armstrong (24) 29pts
A good turnout, which many were using as a practice day for the upcoming Links event at the same course, meant the formation of three divisions once again for the always popular Khao Kheow. The management here have already reduced the green fee rates for the low season and this will surely be one of the busiest courses in the coming months.
Once again Danny Miller prepared a very good front half which he then garnished with an excellent two under handicap back nine to win by three from Terry Martin, who was hoping to make it a winning return to Pattaya golf from The Haven, but another day with oven like heat saw him slip over the inward half. However, Terry had done enough to squeeze Jon Yarrow into third as he won their count back with a better 16 to 15, leaving Mark Williams in fourth just one more behind them.
The second division was led in by Hal Hart as he improved on his last outing by a single point but with the tough weather conditions affecting many of the players it was good enough on this day to win by five ahead of Peter Pereira in second place, who in turn was three better than third place which Ben Jackson filled after winning a count back over Yukio Kikuchi, carding a better 16 to 11.
Shane Elder took command of the third division after he won a count back over John J. Walsh, who is not to be confused with the John Walsh who plays from another IPGC venue with a lower handicap, with a better 19 to 15, as John found himself in unchartered waters over the last couple of holes and just failed to meet the challenge. Terry Hodgkiss took his second podium finish in the week in third, finishing strongly ahead of Mark Armstrong in fourth.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Jon Yarrow and Mark Williams shared the first division pool.
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.
