Shuichi lands the treble

IPGC Golf from The Haven

Monday, Jan. 9, Pattavia – Stableford

CSS 71

Division 1 (0–13)

1^st Vic Woolton (13) 39pts
2^nd Alan Pilkington (7) 39pts
3^rd Dave Edwards (13) 39pts
4^th Brian Libbey (11) 38pts

Division 2 (14+)

1^st Shuichi Kodaka (17) 38pts
2^nd Tony O’Neil (22) 35pts
3^rd Bruce Hilde (16) 35pts
4^th John Carlin (19) 33pts

A good week of golf when the weather, against all forecasts, remained dry and the group took on “the trip Pats” comprising Pattavia, Pattana and Pattaya courses, all of which were found to be in top condition.  The first of these also proved to be a little bit easier than usual due to the recent wet weather that had allowed the greens to grow well over their normal stimp meter reading of 10/11 and allowed the players a chance to take on the hole even from above the pin positions.

The first division was led in by Vic Woolton who was returning to the group after some months away.  He returned one of three 39 pointers, winning the count back with a best 22 to leave Alan Pilkington in second with 18 and Dave Edwards in third with 17.  Brian Libbey, another returnee, took the last step of the podium in the first division.

Shuichi Kodaka took the first of what was to be a memorable three win week with a solid two-under handicap three ahead of a count back for second and third, which Tony O’Neil won with a better 18 to 15 to leave Bruce Hilde in third spot and John Carlin claiming the fourth place two more behind them.

Vic Woolton and Dave Edwards shared the first division 2s pool whilst Pat Murphy took the second division with his solo effort on the 4th hole.

Wednesday, Jan. 11, Pattana A & C – Stableford

CSS 75

Division 1 (0-13)

1^st Mark Lang (4) 34pts
2^nd Adrian Cook (11) 33pts
3^rd Jon Batty (7) 32pts
4^th Mike Dabanovich (11) 31pts

Division 2 (14+)

1^st Shuichi Kodaka (17) 34pts
2^nd Tony O’Neil (22) 28pts
3^rd John Carlin (19) 28pts
4^th Larry Gibb (21) 28pts

Once again two divisions were needed to accommodate the growing numbers finding their way to Soi Lengkee, with the split coming again at 13 and below.

Whilst the rain stayed away, the course was still affected by the recent heavy downpours and played extremely long off both the white tees for the first division and the yellow tees for the second division.

Mark Lang headed the first division at two over handicap as Adrian Cook took second place, Jon Batty third and Mike Dabanovich fourth, all having found the going very tough.

The second division was led in again by Shuichi Kodaka for his second win of the week, with Tony O’Neil second after he had the best of a three-way count back, scoring 16 and John Carlin third with 14 and Larry Gibb fourth with 13.

There were no 2s in the second division but Graham Davis made up for an otherwise disappointing day with the sole one in the first division.

Prior to the presentations there was a last farewell for departed Capt. Dick Lyne, Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, who was being buried in the UK that day following his long, but extremely cheerful, battle with MND.  Sadly missed by all those who were fortunate to have known him.

Friday, Jan. 6, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford

CSS 72

Division 1 (0–17)

1^st Shuichi Kodaka (17) 36pts
2^nd Peter Skinner (9) 34pts
3^rd Ray Banks (12) 33pts
4^th Mark Williams (8) 33pts
5^th Kevin Blake (8) 31pts

Division 2 (18+)

1^st John Carlin (19) 41pts
2^nd Joe Torrick (27) 37pts
3^rd Mike Hill (20) 34pts
4^th John Tallett (20) 34pts
5^th Barry Slayford (22) 34pts

Again two divisions were required to take on Pattaya Country Club, where ‘lift and place’ helped the players deal with the damp conditions.

Shuichi Kodaka found himself strangely in the first division again and luckily so as it meant that he took his third win of the week instead of a second place in the second division.  In the process of winning, Shuichi denied Peter Skinner a long sought after win as the latter had to settle for a well-earned second place ahead of a count back for third and fourth that Ray Banks won with a better 19 to 16 to leave Mark Williams in fourth, followed by a unusually subdued Kevin Blake in fifth a couple more behind him.

John Carlin at last returned the sort of card he is normally complaining about that others do to take the second division by storm, four ahead of his nearest competitor and half a street in front of the rest of the division after an excellent day’s golf.

Joe Torrick was that second placed player after he also returned a card with his best round for some time.  Mike Hill then won a count back over John Tallett with a better 21 to 20 to leave Barry Slayford on the last step in fifth after he could manage just 14 after a very good opening nine.

There were no 2s in the first division but Ray Phillips made hay on the 178-yard 5th hole with a five-iron to one and a half feet, with a smooth stroke to follow.