IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, May 19, The Emerald – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Vincent Gras (16) 41pts
2nd John Wood (25) 38pts
3rd Darryl Kellett (15) 37pts
4th Trevor Schirmer (15) 37pts
5th Don Everett (19) 33pts
6th John Carlin (17) 33pts
Fine weather and rolling fairways contributed to a very pleasant day’s golf at this short but tricky Sir Nick Faldo designed course, and with generally good scores being returned the CSS for the day went down to 71.
Vincent Gras, Darryl Kellett and Allen Raaen.
Vincent Grass, profiting from a regular diet of golf recently with hardly a missed day in the week, had the round of his life after having started out inauspiciously with just fifteen points on an outward nine that included just two pars. But following a double-bogey ninth hole he suddenly came alive and swept home with a birdie, seven pars and a bogey for a level par back nine and twenty six Stableford points. This gave him a lifetime best return net score and a well deserved win.
Vincent’s wonderful effort meant that John Wood was, for the second time in two weeks, once again the bridesmaid after looking like the winner. After nine holes he was five under handicap but finishing with a couple of zeros on the inward half resulted in a disappointing card, which although a tour best two under handicap return of 38 points, meant again he had to be satisfied with just second place.
Continuing the good returns, Darryl Kellett took third place with a one under handicap score after winning a count back over Trevor Schirmer by a better 20 to 18, leaving Trevor in fourth.
There was also a count back for fifth place which Don Everett won with a better 16 to 14 to leave John Carlin in sixth spot.
There were no 2’s in the first division but Don Everett had the sole one in the second division to sweep the pool.
Wednesday, May 21, Khao Kheow A & B – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Darryl Kellett (15) 38pts
2nd Don Everett (19) 34pts
3rd Markku Tynell (23) 34pts
4th Hal Hart (22) 33pts
5th Vincent Gras (16) 32pts
After just missing out in the previous competition, Darryl Kellett today went one better in scoring and two steps higher on the podium with a very tidy round over one of the toughest tests in the area. He started out a little slowly with a couple of single pointers but he managed to get back to level by the end of the front nine and a very solid two under handicap back nine saw him coast away from the following hopefuls to finish four ahead.
Don Everett won a marathon count back for second place over Markku Tynell, finally getting the nod on the last with a 3 to 1 result having snapped up a par after they had tied the nine on 17 apiece, the six on 11s, the three on 6s and the last two with 3 each.
Hal Hart took 4th just a shot behind them after showing some semblance of a return to his form of the now seemingly distant past.
Vincent Gras could not repeat his fantastic round of Monday but did enough to claim the last spot in the prize list.
Hal Hart had another 2 to sweep the pool in the second division whilst David Ross did the same in the first division but his effort collected a rollover to boot.
Friday, May 23, Bangpra – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0–15)
1st Allen Raaen (8) 40pts
2nd Chris Bonython (8) 37pts
3rd Jon Batty (10) 34pts
Division 2 (16+)
1st Hal Hart (22) 33pts
2nd Markku Tynell (23) 33pts
3rd John Carlin (17) 32pts
Rounding off an excellent week for courses, the group from Soi 13 was scheduled to take on the very difficult Bangpra course where usually scoring is at a premium but events scheduled are always well supported. The latter case proved to be as normal, with two divisions being required but for once two players left the eighteenth green with the satisfaction of having overcome at least most of the difficulties to return better than handicap scores.
In the first division Allen Raaen had by far the best of the day with a four under handicap return that left him three ahead of his nearest challenger, Chris Bonython, after they had ended the front nine tied at three under with twenty one points apiece. It was a win that Allen can write down in his scrap book, as Chris was once the Australian Amateur Champion and having also been a runner up on another occasion. It must be said that Chris’s triumphs were some years ago but remain nevertheless outstanding achievements to be remembered with some pride, but on this day Allen lasted the better so Chris had to settle for second place.
Jon Batty took third place with a creditable two over return to leave him three strokes behind Allen and Chris.
The second division saw some slightly lower scores as the higher handicappers struggled to come to terms with the difficulties posed by the course, even though the greens were easier having not been shaved down to their usual speed.
Hal Hart continued with his golfing rebirth as he took his first win for several months after winning a count back over Markku Tynell with a better 16 to 15, with John Carlin claiming third another shot back.
Hal’s win was a double triumph after renewing his challenge with Alwyne, which he celebrated with the traditional Haven Lobster Hawaiian accompanied by background mutterings regarding winners at three over from the disgruntled provider of the feast.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Darryl Kellett had the sole one in the first division.
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.
