After a week of rain in the Pattaya area, Friday August 5th started with clear skies as 115 golfers made their way to the Khao Kheow Country Club for the 13th annual Jackalope Open – dedicated to our good friend Shawn “Hoser” Field.
Registration opened at 10:30 and after checking in most of the players headed for their favorite spots – the Caesar table for the Canadian breakfast speciality and the 50-50 table for the much wanted raffle tickets.
By 11:30 everyone headed out to the golf course ready for the noon shotgun start. Much anticipation hung in the air as individuals prepared their minds towards a good round; of course some of the golfers were thinking when they would see the first beer cart.
2011 Canadian Jackalope Champion Paul Daud (right) is handed the perpetual trophy by Dale Drader.
At 12:00 the shotgun was fired and the golfers were off, a true test of golf on the still damp fairways. Many a golfer had their energy revived at the turn, being treated to delicious sandwiches created and distributed by the lovely staff of Rich Man Poor Man.
The field moved around A & B courses with not too many hold ups encountered and after just five hours the first groups arrived back at the club house.
The golfers were treated to a splendid buffet provided by the Khao Kheow staff while they waited for their scorecard to be checked and tabulated.
Hong Prathumtip won the Ladies Division with an outstanding 43 points.
Mark Gorda – wearing his now world famous Jackalope jacket (a black one for this year) kicked off with the 50/50 Draw prizes donated by AKA Traders Company, Allied Pickfords (Thailand), Black Star Jewellery, Brad Sproxton – The Golf Club, Cafe Kronberg, Dale Drader & Ray Lepard, Rich Wibrow and Rich Man Poor Man before moving on to the technical and division awards.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, many of the technical prize winners were lost but we did manage to save a few.
Low gross of 81 for the day was won by Doug Lynch.
Long drives were won by Keith Emmerson, Moe Deverdenne, Hong Prathumtip and Bobby Taylor.
Some of the near pins were won by Jimmy Little, Captain Bob, Bond Phillips, Ty Kerr, Rich Wibrow, John Gibson, Mamo Kerr, Hong Prathumtip, and Rodney Hayes.
The nearest the keg was won by Dave Stockman.
The Ladies division runner up was Rak Jongruk with 35 points. First place in the Ladies division was won by Hong Prathumtip with an outstanding 43 points.
Jack Levy watches as his lengthy putt tracks towards the hole.
In the Rabbits division, Neil Sandilands finished runner up with 31 points, whilst winning the Rabbits division was Christoph Rechsteiner with 36 points. Some unbelievable points scored in the Rabbits division this year.
Division 3 third place was won by Andy Makara with 31 points, second place was won by Rick Moran with 31 points and first place went to Bond Phillip with 36 points.
Mike “Dabber” Dabonovich crushes a drive straight down the middle.
Division 2 third place was won by Steve Poznanski with 33, second place went to Norman Cheetmam and first place went to John Styimest with 37 points.
Division 1 third place went to Tony Robbins with 34 points, second place went to Ty Kerr with 34 points and first place went to Colin Greig with 37 points.
Low gross of 81 for the day was won by Doug Lynch.
The 2011 Canadian Jackalope Champion is Paul Daud with 38 points.
Following the awards the much anticipated final 50-50 draw prize was picked with the winner receiving half of the total 196,000 baht collected on the day, and that lucking individual was none other than Simon Philbrook who generously returned 50% back into the charity.
Mark Gorda and Mr. X, in their never ending quest to generate funds for the tournament, have pledged to donate 2,000 baht for every birdie and 10,000 baht for every eagle scored on the day. This year’s tournament recorded 28 birdies and one eagle.
Thanks go to all the staff at Khao Kheow Country Club for their excellent service provided on the day. We would also like to thank the following businesses and individuals who either donated their time and staff or helped to raise an outstanding amount in excess of 400,000 for the 2011 charity fund – AKA Traders, Allied Pickfords (Thailand), Ann & Dale Drader, Baltex Industries, Barry Evans, Black Star Jewellery, Bobby Taylor, Brent & Tanya Westendorf, Brent Froh, Cafe Kronberg, Curt Walters, Dale McFadden, Dan Buchinski, Dave Sloan, Derek Reaper, Donnie Barker, Eddie Kristiansen, Gary Oxley, Gordon Duncan, Harald Benning, Hull Co. Ltd., Jay McKenzie, JD Loveladdy, Jesters M.C., Joe Ernst, Kelly Caron, Ken Cooke, Kennedy Consulting Thailand Ltd., Kevin Blanch, KPK Food Services, Las Vegas Bar, Little Britain Merchants, Mark Campbell, Mark Gorda, Mark Holcomb, Mark Mosely, Matt Millar, Michael O’Halloran, Mike Peeters, Mike Sumpter, Mike’s Mexican Restaurant, Moe Deverdenne, NCS Marine, Neil Sandilands, Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Sports Club, Randy Whalley, Ray Lepard, Rich Man Poor Man Guest House, Rich Wibrow, Rick Moran, Rob Elder, Roger Allen, Simon Emberley, Stephan Hoge, Tahitian Queen, The Beaver Bar, The Blue Parrot, The Golf Club – Brad Sproxton, The Haven – Steven Beard, The Kerr Family (Jason, Mamo, Muffy & Ty), The Links – Russell Exley, The Palm Tree Restaurant & Bar – Glen Fiala, Todd Sherbaniuk, Tom Christman, Malcolm Clair and Wayne Ogonoski.
Golfers take on the challenging island green signature hole.
We would also like to thank all the individuals who helped out at the registration and scoring, Eddie’s staff for the sandwich snacks, the Caesar table “All Star Mixers”, the 50-50 ticket sellers and all the cart drivers who kept the golfers well stocked with their favorite “refreshments”.
The Jackalope is not just about golf, it is also about giving back to the local community. On this 13th year of the Canadian Jackalope Open we will again be joining with the Jesters Care For Kids to help provide much needed assistance to the poor or disadvantaged children in the area.
