The training camp for the SEA Games completed its first month with the start of the 2017 Order of Merit competition at Coco Club in East Pattaya. This took the form of a classic pairs tournament featuring 32 players (26 Thais and a few farangs), including former and current Dutch champions and the former world crown bowls champion adding some spice to the proceedings. There was also the challenge of the new internationally paced carpet running at 16/17 seconds in line with the expected speed in Malaysia for the SEA Games.
The teams chosen by coach Frank and team manager Num were all put in the hat for the 4×4 team round-robin games. Despite all the talent on show the new carpet proved to be the winner as most games took 20 minutes longer than normal to complete – a long day was expected but the players soon adapted to the conditions.
The quarter-finalists consisted of only two unbeaten teams – Bus and Nit, who overcame Dennis and Trong, then the two “best” pairings, Team Ko and Team Sue drawn against each other and on this occasion it was Team Ko taking it 11- 6. The semis left Team Ko and Team Nong to fight it out in the final, with a 10 – 5 win going to Team Ko.
The Plate competition produced a great final with Boy and Thong winning 12-11 against Yai and Sonti on an extra play-off end.
It was a great weekend and the next 6 months of the camp are open to viewers between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.
