IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, Feb. 22, Greenwood A & B – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0-13)
1st Walter O’Keefe (13) 41pts
2nd Gus Guidetti (13) 34pts
3rd Mark Williams (6) 32pts
4th Danny Miller (7) 31pts
Division 2 (14-19)
1st Shuichi Kodaka (19) 39pts
2nd Scott Chisholm (15) 38pts
3rd Phil Cass (16) 38pts
4th Dick Heaney (14) 33pts
Division 3 (20+)
1st John Carlin (20) 38pts
2nd Phil Stevenson (27) 37pts
3rd Terry Hodgkiss (25) 36pts
4th Shane Heavey (20) 30pts
A busy week started out at the well-presented Greenwood course, which is becoming more popular with each visit.
Walter O’Keefe.
The large numbers of entrants required the formation of three divisions with the first cut at 13 and below. This was won by Walter O’Keefe with the best return of the week, ensuring that his handicap at last slips down into the second category level after his excellent round at five under handicap.
Gust Guidetti placed second at level par, with Mark Williams third two behind and Danny Miller warming up in fourth.
The second division (14-19) was led in by Shuichi Kodaka, at last coming back to his usual form, by a slim margin ahead of a count back for second which Scott Chisholm won with a better 18 to 17, leaving Phil Cass in third and Dick Heaney in fourth after he too won a count back over Hal Hart by scoring a better 11 to 9 over the last six holes.
John Carlin, having failed to defend the Club Championships net title the week before, returned to some form with a good win in the third division , one in front of Phil Stevenson and two ahead of Terry Hodgkiss in third as Shane Heavey staggered into fourth some way back but well ahead of many others in the division.
Andy Pedlar.
With the scores as good as they were generally, it was no surprise to find there were many 2’s in both divisions with three in each, as Mark Williams, Walter O’Keefe and Scott Chisholm shared the first and Terry Hodgkiss, Phil Cass and Phil Stevenson split the second division.
Wednesday, Feb. 24, Pattana A & B – Stableford
Division 1 (0–15)
White tees
CSS 75
1st Danny Miller (7) 35pts
2nd Steven Downs (6) 33pts
3rd Walter O’Keefe (13) 33pts
4th Peter Skinner (11) 30pts
5th Maurice Copan (12) 30pts
Division 2 (16+)
Yellow Tees
CSS 76 NC
1st Andy Pedlar (19) 32pts
2nd Markku Tynell (22) 32pts
3rd Frank Hughes (19) 31pts
4th John Carlin (20) 30pts
5th Hal Hart (19) 30pts
Danny Miller.
Although there were enough entries to form three divisions once again, with the competition split from two tees it was decided to run with just two divisions with the first playing from the whites at almost 6,900 yards and the second from the yellows at nearly 6,500 yards. In the event, it would also have been preferable to play ‘lift and place’ in the fairways as both nines were fairly sodden following heavy rain in the area, but carts were being allowed on the fairways.
The heavy conditions determined that the CSS in both competitions would rise and in the second division would become non-counting for upward review.
The first division was claimed by Danny Miller with the best return of the day at one over handicap, with a nice exhibition of the short game. He was two ahead of a count back for second, which Steven Downs took by 15 to 13 after a solid opening half, to leave Walter O’Keefe in third place. Peter Skinner also won a count back for fourth place over Maurice Copan, carding a better 17 to 14 after he had started slowly.
Andy Pedlar took his first win with the group for some time in the second division as he won a count back over Markku Tynell after returning a stunning 20 points for the inward half, to Markku’s 15.
John Carlin.
Frank Hughes took third another shot back and one in front of a count back for fourth which John Carlin won over Hal Hart with a better 10 to 9 on the last six.
Peter Skinner and Danny Miller shared the 2’s pot in the first division whilst Brian Lewis and George Oakley did the same in the second division.
Friday, Feb. 26, The Emerald – Stableford
CSS 75
Division 1 (0-12)
1st Danny Miller (7) 33pts
2nd Erik Donnestad (5) 31pts
3rd Peter Skinner (11) 30pts
Division 2 (13-19)
1st Paul Taylor (19) 36pts
2nd Paul McDonald (15) 33pts
3rd Vincent Gras (18) 31pts
Division 3 (20+)
1st Stephen Beard (24) 38pts
2nd Phil Stevenson (27) 32pts
3rd John Wood (24) 31pts
Once again the conditions were very difficult with the course being prepared for a prestigious Singha Open, to be held over the following two days, with the greens extremely fast and the rough having been allowed to grow to a “very difficult” height, as required by the competition committee. And so once again the CSS for the day moved up, on this occasion by three to 75 but remained counting as only less than 5% of the field made the standard of within two of handicap.
Paul Taylor.
Danny Miller continued his good form, taking the first division top step of the podium by two clear ahead of teaching professional Erik Donnestad in second spot.
Peter Skinner led a three way count back with 11 on the back six to Barry Welling’s 9 after they had tied the nine on 16 apiece, with Steven Downs in fifth after he had scored 14 on the back nine.
The second division was led by Paul Taylor with an excellent level handicap round which was good enough by three to consign Paul McDonald into second place and left globetrotting Vincent Gras in third another two behind him.
The third division was topped by Stephen Beard, who is at last seemingly making a return to some semblance of serious golf, with the best score of the day. Stephen played very steadily all day until suddenly failing to score on the last hole and limping badly to the clubhouse after the anchor had struck him on the foot as it dropped.
Phil Stevenson, having taking a mental lesson from the winner just the day previously, learnt it well to put his marker on the second step and leave his kin, John Wood, in third just one behind.
James Hawley slipped in the only 2 in the first division to sweep the pool and Phil Stevenson added to his treasure trove for the day with the sole one in the second division, which will no doubt go towards redecorating his home on his return to Blighty.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact 038 710 989 or call in to The Haven Hotel, 185 Soi 13, situated 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 a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. If you would like to leave your golf clubs at The Haven, there are usually lockers available at a nominal charge. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
