IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, August 25, Greenwood A & B – Stableford
CSS 73
1st Shuichi Kodaka (19) 38pts
2nd Don Everett (19) 33pts
3rd Allan Raaen (7) 33pts
4th Kevin Blake (8) 32pts
5th Mathew Badman (12) 31pts
Another week of extremely competitive golf, that saw the handicaps of many of the players reduced and in some cases by three strokes for the week, started fairly quietly at Greenwood where the B course was once again in play for the first time for a little while, and combined with the A course it made a fairly stern test for the day’s hopefuls.
Mike Dabanovich, Phil Cass & Shuichi Kodaka.
Best of the day by a considerable margin was Shuichi Kodaka, who had previously been left waiting in the wings on many occasions since his handicap had increased to its current very competitive level. But this was his day as he left the rest of the field trailing in his wake by five shots and more to finish at two under handicap, and with the CSS moving out to 73 it was a very good return even allowing for the excellent condition of the course.
Don Everett took second place after winning a count back over Allan Raaen, scoring a better 18 to 14 after the latter had faded following a solid start to the round, but Don’s application right through to the end made the difference.
Kevin Blake took fourth place after struggling through the inward half but showed signs that a return to the top of the podium and a lowering of handicap cannot be too far in the future.
Mathew Badman started much too slowly to be able to make any impressions on the leaders but did enough over the closing holes to lay claim to the last and fifth spot on the podium.
There were no 2’s in either division.
Before the prize presentations were made there were welcome backs for Phillip Cass, Rick Morgan, and Kevin Blake.
Wednesday, August 27, Khao Kheow B & C – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Phillip Cass (20) 45pts
2nd Shuichi Kodaka (19) 42pts
3rd Don Everett (19) 39pts
4th Jon Yarrow (15) 36pts
5th Trevor Schirmer (14) 33pts
6th Mike Hill (21) 33pts
It has been a very long time since anyone from the group in Soi 13 has played any of the combinations at Khao Kheow at nine under handicap, and with the B and C courses set up at almost 6,500 yards it was even more surprising to find that a usual winning score of three under handicap was only to be found in third place.
But with the wind at its most benign and overcast skies that kept the temperature down, to a tolerable level, and the condition of both nines in tip top shape and even with completely different speeds of greens over the two courses with one nine having missed out on a cut, it was an ideal set up for scoring and ensured that the CSS for the day remained at a level 72.
Phillip Cass was the one to outdo his handicap by nine strokes on his way to returning his best score ever in Pattaya, finishing with two 4-pointers and seven 3-pointers in the process and a truly memorable day.
Shuichi Kodaka, having won on the previous outing must surely having been looking forward to another day in the spotlight, as he returned his card at six under for 42 points only blighted by a couple of 1-pointers on the inward half and having gone out in five under handicap. It was not to be, but his second good score under handicap ensured that he would be reduced two shots for the coming week at least and left him having to settle for just second spot.
Don Everett would also have thought he would be in the running with 39 points but he also was very surprised to find himself back in third with two such excellent scores ahead of him at the scorer’s desk.
Jon Yarrow was playing for the first time in a while and left his two playing partners, who both sported lower handicaps, in the shade, beating them both by gross score on his way to a level round in fourth place.
Trevor Schirmer won a count back over Mike Hill, returning a better 16 to 14 to leave them in fifth and sixth respectively.
Rick Morgan cleared out the rollover ‘2’s pot in the first division while Don Everett did likewise in the second division.
Prior to the presentations there was a welcome for Jon Yarrow who had been away for so long, some six years, he was considered as a new member.
Friday, August 29, Greenwood A & B – Monthly Medals
CSS 72
Division 1 (0–15)
1st Mike Dabanovich (14) net 64
2nd Mathew Badman (12) net 70
3rd Kevin Blake (8) net 70
Division 2 (16+)
1st Phillip Cass (20) net 72
2nd Terry Hodgkiss (23) net 74
3rd Shuichi Kodaka (19) net 74
No it is not a printer’s error, the competition was played at Greenwood for the second time in the week as the group had earlier arrived at Treasure Hill to find that there was a shotgun start scheduled for 12 noon, but remembering the great condition of Greenwood and it being just around the corner, following some quick telephone work the group set off from the first tee just 20 minutes after their scheduled start.
After the fireworks of the previous outing there were high hopes that the Monthly Medals would be keenly fought over, which they duly were in the second division, the Medal going the way of the inform Phillip Cass who finished with a level par round for his second win on the trot. Phillip was two ahead of a count back between Terry Hodgkiss in second and Shuichi Kodaka in third, with the latter not quite able to reproduce the form of his last round over the back nine and losing that count back by 35.5 to 39.5 after again opening up with a two under front nine.
The rest of the first division was completely obliterated by Mike Dabanovich who’s eight under score was the best seen in the division in a Monthly Medal since Karl Holm had the same score in February 2005, and was an even a better result as the final card did not show any score above a five and even surprisingly just two threes for a very tidy card indeed. It was also ten strokes better than his previous Medal win in July.
Mathew Badman just got the better of Kevin Blake after winning a count back for second with a better 35.5 to 36.0.
There were no 2’s in either division for the second time in the week.
Back at The Haven there was a welcome back for Master Chef Mark Armstrong.
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.
