The IPGC Monthly Medal at Mountain Shadow, 4th August

There was another very fine turnout for the final round of IPGC Monthly Medals for this season despite the lowest of low seasons in Pattaya. The event was held at the challenging Mountain Shadow course on Wednesday, August 4 and the course was quite well prepared, except for some coring and a trace of dressing on the greens.

Gentlemen’s divisional winners: Steve Mascari, Trevor Schirmer and Rod Howett.

Each monthly medal competition provides three winners in the gentlemen’s divisions and one from the ladies, who will go forward to the finals to compete for the Gold and Silver Medals later in the season. In addition the medals will also be used to determine the IPGC Gentleman Player of the Year, with between 1 and 15 points to be won in each division every month, dependant on final positions, which will then be aggregated for the year to establish the overall winner. As usual the first two divisions contest a stroke play format whilst the third division and ladies play stableford.

In the first division the new IPGC Champion Doug Lynch continued his form with a gross 75 giving him third place with level par net 72. In second place was Phil Mitchell with 71 net, but favourite Steve Mascari once again produced a gross 72 of exquisite quality to take the honours yet again. Surely Steve must now be rated as Pattaya’s number one golfer, regardless of association. This victory also saw him installed as the IPGC Gentleman Player of the Year, after a string of memorable scores over the whole year.

The second division saw Bob Maloney finish third with net 74, two behind Warren Gallop’s net 72. The best net round of the day was recorded by Trevor Schirmer who took the flight with a very creditable net 69.

In a competitive third division the returning Al Rolnik took third place with 31 stableford points, just one behind Kenny Priddy and another Haven regular and last month’s winner, Rod Howett, who ended the season in fine form with a performance of 33 points on the tough track.

The ladies division saw Orawan Meeraka take the win with 24 points.

In the ‘2’s competitions there was the usual rash of birdies in the top flight with Doug Lynch, Al Keith, Jason Cole, Masanori Takano, Rodney Hayes and Robert Lamond all enjoying a bonus whilst Trevor Schirmer and Warren Gallop joined them from the second flight and Al Rolnik and Geoff Braimbridge did likewise in the third flight. There were no ‘2’s in the ladies’ division.

Following the presentation buffet at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao, generously sponsored as always by the IPGC, host organiser Len Jones warmly thanked all those who had worked hard all year to ensure the success of the competition, especially registrar Glyn Evans from Jomtien, starter Chris Knapp from the Haven, results coordinator Stephen Beard and the almost super-human efforts of event organiser Russell Exley for whom dedication, positive thinking and a thick skin are essential requirements!

Essentially the strong support regularly given to them by the membership of IPGC has ensured a successful start to what will be an intriguing element of IPGC golf for years to come.

Div. 1

1st Steve Mascari, net 70

2nd Phil Mitchell, net 71

3rd Doug Lynch, net 72

Div. 2

1st Trevor Schirmer, net 69

2nd Warren Gallop, net 72

3rd Bob Maloney, net 74

Div. 3

1st Rod Howlett 33pts

2nd Kenny Priddy 32pts

3rd Al Rolnik 31pts

Ladies

1st Orawan Meeraka 24pts