Pattaya Mail - Vol. XVIII No. 34

Friday August 27 - September 02, 2010

Casey opens his account  at  Eastern Star

Monday, August 16, Crystal Bay – Stableford

The B and A courses were selected today for the two divisions in the men’s competition as the ladies were taking a two week respite with some of their partners away, a good excuse for fun on their own. The course was in good condition with fast greens and it was thumbs up all round as they returned to the clubhouse.

The was an equal cut today in the divisions, 6-18 in division 1 and 19+ for division 2. Harry Vincenzi is back in form and he took out division 1 with 39 points ahead of Chris Voller in second on 34 and Jean Morel in third with 32.

In the winnings again was Willy van Heetvelde who took the top podium position in division 2 with 33 points. ‘Count-back’ Burnie pushed Gordon Everingham into third place with a back nine score of 16/13 after they both came in with 30 points each.

There were two ‘2’s on the 4th on the B course and two on the 8th on the A nine and with no rollovers this was shared out between Jean Morel, Harry Vincenzi and Chris Voller (2). In division 2, there were no winners at Green Valley nor today, so all to play for at Emerald on Wednesday.

There was a warm welcome back to Jack Hinchey after his recent illness and Chris Olsson as well.

Wednesday, August 18, The Emerald - Stableford

It seemed like an eternity since we had last visited here but with playing Eastern Star every Friday and our IPGC medal on the first Wednesday every month, it only leaves seven or eight courses to choose from for the remainder of the month. With the price structures changing every week at all of the courses here, and with the economy as it is, it is difficult to pre book three months in advance like we used to.

There was nobody here upon arrival and all six groups tee’d off well before their allocated time. There were no buggies allowed on the fairways today so our local ruling came into force, it was “pick, clean and place”.

In his last game but one before his return trip to Nigeria for four weeks, and with his first win for a long time, Arthur Hancock and his 39 points took the division 1 title ahead of Brian Blackford in second, two points behind, and Mikael Andersson was in third with 34 points.

A weekend in Phuket beckons for Tom Novak before his return to Kazakhstan and with 33 points on his last game but one he won division 2, beating Joe Kubon on a 17/15 back nine count-back, and, can you believe this, Willy van Heetvelde was still in the prizes with 30 points in third place.

Arthur Hancock birdied the 5th for the only ‘2’ in division 1 while there were three rollovers in division 2 to Century Chonburi.

Friday, August 20, Eastern Star – Stableford

It was a perfect morning as we left Siam Cats with hope that the end of the rainy season was nigh upon us. The first group tee’d off bang on time but as we reached the second fairway the heavens opened so we played the hole out and waited under cover on the third tee for 30 minutes until the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped. The second group out were waiting in the tea hut at the back of the first green and the others had gone back into the clubhouse for refreshment and after another 10 minutes four had left and gone home and the other group now started rain free one hour behind.

After a 5 week holiday in Canada, and in her first game back with us, a miserable face approached the clubhouse after her round, but this soon disappeared after finding out she had won the ladies division with 27 points. Well done Miss Nut!

There was only one division now in the men’s with the departure of four players due to the rain and Lee Casey won his first ever prize with us with 39 points. Ya Riley beat Mikael Andersson for second spot on a 16/14 back nine count-back after they both scored 31 points. Back in the UK this must be music to the ears of happy Harry.