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Pattaya Cup
Splinters defeat PSC 13-5 in inaugural event
The winning Splinter Golf
Group team (L to R) standing: A. Bailey, B. Collis, B. Imrie, H. Riley, B.
Thompson, G. Lambert, R. Glaister, M. Riley. Kneeling: N. Cameroon, M.
Franklin, S. Ross, S. Fry.
In the first Pattaya Cup match play competition, the
Splinter Golf Group scored an inaugural triumph over the best the Pattaya
Sports Club golf section had to offer. By a score of 13-5, the 12 in-form
Splinters dominated a decidedly out-of-form group of PSC players. Green
Valley in good condition played long, with markers pushed to the back of
most tee boxes which gave a decided advantage to the lower handicapped SGG
players. The jubilant SGG players put their win down to a high level of
moral turpitude and the discount beer available to Splinters in the Green
Bottle. Captain Steve Ross of the Splinters, long noted for his rhetorical
abilities, inveighed in the post match celebrations, “We #@*# ‘em good
lads”. Also in more subdued voice he and all Splinters thanked the PSC
players and Captain Gez Tracy of the PSC for organising and participating in
what turned out to be a friendly and a fun day for all concerned.
Captains Gez Tracy from the
PSC (left) and Steve Ross from SGG (right) shake hands before the match.
The Green Valley golf course kindly provided four green
fees as closest to the pin prizes and though not conspicuous in the winners
circle the PSC golfers took 2/3’s of the closest to the pin prizes with
Chris Gains and Brian Ellis winning on 7 and 15 while Splinter handicapper
Bill Thompson won on 11. With 23 golfers on hand it is embarrassing to note
that no golfer found the green on number 4. An abashed Harry Riley was drawn
as the lucky winner of the remaining green fee.
The Pattaya Cup will be played on a quarterly basis between members of the
two golf groups with the next competition to be held sometime in August.
Splinter Group players will continue to be selected based on their position
in the on-going Splinter Players Cup with the players occupying the top 10
positions gaining automatic entry with two Captain’s selections making up
the final 12. All PSC golfers played on a voluntary basis. It should be
noted that all Splinter golfers are members of the PSC while over 30% of
those playing for the PSC play on occasion with the Splinter Golf Group.
In general, individual games were much closer than shown in the scores shown
below. Each match was worth three points, a single point for each match and
another point for the team better ball.
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Meigh and Mitchell on top of their games
George Meigh and Roy Mitchell once again finished one -
two in the weekly Pattaya Golf Society “fun” stroke play tournament at
Pattaya Country Club on Tuesday, May 13.
George broke 90 for the first time in a stroke play tournament, carding a
scratch 89, net 70 to take first place. His round included 5 natural pars.
Roy Mitchell carded a scratch 94, net 73 to finish second, after carding 5
natural pars and a birdie.
Andy Anderson finished third with a net 74. Peter Johansson finished fourth
with a net 75. Dicky Barbe rounded out the top five finishers with a net 78.
Nearest to the pin prize was won by Tom Hughes on #12.
Rising Sun chooses not to set
What is the capital city of Morocco? Which team’s only FA
Cup win was in 1988?
With only three matches left in the Sunday Quiz League, Rising Sun’s
squaddies are showing no sign of removing their war paint. They now have a
commanding 25 point lead over nearest rival Mick’s Place, who have inched
past Cheers in the cutthroat stakes. Certain to collect the wooden spoon is
Wild Chicken but they await execution with a serene calmness and detachment
which would have made even the noble Seneca blink.
Even though team members are a bit sparse in the hot May season, the average
success is hovering around the 70% mark. This is not to say that mistakes
are absent, some of them on the humorous side. One bar claimed that Henry
the Eighth’s third wife was Anne Boleyn which would have meant a rapid
return from the grave and another postulated that George Raft might be more
famous than Charlie Chaplin. Of course, being able to laugh at yourself as
well as at other people is a hallmark of the Pattaya quiz fanatics. They are
the only people in the resort who can quote Shakespeare or remember the date
of Rasputin’s death whilst laying on their back.
So don’t worry if you have been rejected by Mensa or believe that “O” levels
are something to do with Linda Lovelace, you will be welcome at the selected
bars any Sunday just before 8:30 p.m. An officer from the USS Independence
turned up last week and answered eleven of his own questions. Unfortunately,
none of them appeared on the question sheet. If only there had been a
special subject round on the history of the Arizona Desert!
Answers to the questions in paragraph one are Rabat and Wimbledon.
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Pattaya Sports Club Darts
The Pattaya Sports Club Darts League concluded another successful season,
and once again, Jack’s Bar reigned as champions.
Jack’s didn’t prove to be infallible, as they lost twice during the season,
yet they did win the league by a full two games. They also took home the
lion’s share of trophies awarded at the end of season awards presen-tation
party at Texxan Inn on Tuesday, May 13.
PSC Darts trophy winners: Jack’ Bar: Champions. Tippy’s: Runners-up. Elvis
earned the season’s highest check out, 114. Pattaya from Jack’s earned a
trophy for achieving a perfect 180 three times during the season. Beer from
Beer Put shot a perfect 180 twice during the season. Alan, Sompop and Jack
from Jack’s, Pook from Tippy’s, Dang from Sports Corner, and Billy from
Mick’s Place each won awards for shooting a perfect 180 during the season.
Jack’s also took home the honor of having won the most beer legs.
Attention all fishermen
Some that didn’t get away in a past PSC fishing
tournament.
The fishing section of the Pattaya Sports Club has announced they will
sponsor their next Deep Sea Fishing competition on Tuesday, May 27, 1997.
Rules for the tournament are as follows: Each team captain will pay an
entrance fee of 600 baht to the Pattaya Sports Club. The entrance fee must
be paid by 12 noon, May 26. Included with the entrance fee must be a listing
of the name of the boat or the boat’s captain and fishermen on board. Each
team will be responsible for hiring their own boat. There will be no limit
on persons or tackle on board. Boats and crew may not leave shore before
2:00 a.m., May 27. Weigh-in for trophies will be at the Fishing Lodge, Bang
Saray, or the Marine Bar Pier, Pattaya, at 6:00 p.m., May 27.
The Pattaya Sports Club will award individual trophies for 1) First Place:
the biggest fish (by weight); 2) Second Place: the second biggest fish (by
weight), and 3) Plaque for boat captain with the most fish by weight. Only
one trophy will be awarded per individual. Please note that sharks, rays,
skates, etc., only qualify 50% of total weight.
To register for the tournament, please contact Carl Engel, Pattaya Sports
Club Fishing Chairman, tel: 410 228, fax: 426 121. Registration and entrance
fee can be left at the Shamrock Bar, Soi Pattayaland 2, or The 60’s Bar, Soi
Pattayaland 2.
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Improve your Bridge
by Barrie Kenyon
Pattaya Bridge Club is now pleasantly based in the coffee
shop of the Tower Condotel, Soi 4, still meeting every Monday at 2 p.m.
Although it is a duplicate game, one of the club’s purposes is to introduce
new arrivals in town so that they can make up rubber bridge sessions in
hotels and condos during the week. With Singha beer at 30 baht and soft
drinks at 10 baht, you don’t hear anyone complaining about the drinks
tariff. The cards, of course, are a different matter. Recently, North and
South found themselves in a contract of three no trumps to which West led
the Queen of Spades. North put down a very modest dummy:
Spades 8, 5, 2
Hearts Ace, 10, 6
Diamonds Jack, 10, 8
Clubs 8, 7, 5, 3
It is not surprising that South held a much better hand having opened a
powerful and semi-forcing two no trumps which partner had reasonably raised
to three. South’s declarer cards were:
Spades Ace, King, 7, 3
Hearts King, Jack, 3
Diamonds Ace, 9, 7, 6
Clubs Ace, King
There are only seven top tricks on top: Ace and King in three suits and an
Ace in the fourth so some developmental work will be necessary. The danger
is that if South pussyfoots around for too long, the enemy will break
through in the spade suit as the lead of the Queen looks ominously as if it
is top of a sequence of four or even five cards. South took the opening
spade lead with his King and led a low heart to dummy’s 10. Had the finesse
won, declarer’s plan was then to finesse twice in diamonds. Assuming the
diamond honours were split, South could count his nine tricks or maybe ten.
As is often the case, the finesse lost as defender East pounced with the
Queen of hearts. Actually, it does not much matter which lead East now
makes. Declarer’s problem is that he has only one entry left in the dummy,
Ace of hearts, so he will not be able to cross twice to take the double
diamond finesse. The contract was one down when the defence took two spades,
one heart and two diamonds. A better plan by declarer South would be to lead
his own Jack of hearts at trick two. Now, when East pounces with the Queen,
declarer still has two entries in the dummy, Ace and 10 of hearts, to take
the all important double diamond finesse.
East can make life more difficult for declarer by ducking South’s lead of
the heart Jack. In this scenario, South’s best play is immediately to open
up the diamonds at trick three and persist with them whatever the defence
does. Declarer can then manage just nine tricks: two spades, three hearts,
two diamonds and two clubs. Against the best defence he is home and dry, but
only by a whisper!
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PSC softball
Remember when? The field still
had grass on it, was full of pot holes, and Woody used to play... Dick Cagg
(right) stills anchors second base, only on a “new” field that would be the
envy of many professional teams. (File Photo, 1993)
Alan’s All Stars and Kevin’s Quick Cleats split an
exciting doubleheader at the weekly Pattaya Sports Club Softball game on
Sunday, May 11.
The first game saw the All Stars snatch victory from defeat by scoring six
runs in the last inning punctuated by a dramatic home run by C.F. Macallen
to push the All Stars over the top. The Cleats had taken the early lead
thanks to the hard hitting Caltex boys, Jerry, Kevin, and Kenny.
The All Stars were able to keep the game close due to the sparkling
defensive plays of Montreal Robert at first base, Kenny T.D. in center, and
Norm Benoit in left.
Macallen’s last minute heroics were preceded by key hits from Mike Berg and
John Dow.
The second game was more of a defensive struggle with the Quick Cleats
turning two nearly identical double plays, started by Sterling Bechtel at
third, tossing to Dick Cagg at second, who pirouetted around the bag and
threw the batter out at first base, Big George covering.
Jerry Caltex added a two run homer to seal the victory.
A good way to spend a Sunday afternoon: play some ball, run around a bit,
drink a beer, eat a dog, make some friends. What else you gotta do? 1:30
p.m. every Sunday at Pattaya School #7 just south of Greenway driving range
and Caltex gas station on Sukhumvit Highway.
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Second Classroom Golf Classic
Its time once again for the annual Classroom Classic, one
of the most fun golf events of the year. Affectionately labeled one of
Pattaya’s “Majors”, the much anticipated event will take place on Friday,
May 30th at Green Valley. The tournament will once again be played under the
same format, Stableford, with the same handicap requirements as last year,
but with a more “drinker friendly” approach to the starting time. Simply
turn up between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. with your four ball and tee off.
On Thursday, May 29th starting at 7:30 p.m. there will be a pre-tournament
get together at Classroom One for competitors to collect their embroidered
golf shirt and to fix up any golfer who hasn’t got a group, while tucking
into a free buffet.
After the tournament on Friday, golfers will hand in their cards and meet
again as early as they like at Classroom One for extended Happy Hour. The
free buffet and pig-on-a-spit will commence at 7:30 p.m. followed by the
presentation to the top three places of trophies and prizes, plus nearest
the pin prizes and a longest drive. Then the fun begins!
Special shows (?), golf quiz for instant prizes, lucky draw prizes, free
shooters, plus a free photo of each four ball will be handed out as they get
developed.
Entry fee of 1200 baht includes Thursday night buffet, green fee and caddie,
exclusive embroidered golf shirt, pig-on-a-spit and all you can eat buffet,
out-of-bounds shooter and your four ball photo.
Early sign-ups are necessary. List closes Monday, May 26.
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Splinter Golf
Monday 8th May, 4 Ball Better Ball -
Stroke, Siam Country Club
Siam was in excellent condition, deserving of low scores. The winners, Bill
Collis and Harry Riley, did not disappoint with a net 61.
They were closely pursued by Stan Fry and Steve Ross with a net 62, wit the
rest of the field not far behind.
Wednesday, 14th May, Natural Park Resort - Stableford
The inimitable Arthur Bailey, looking once again like the certain
winner of the quarterly Player’s Cup, won comfortably with 37 points.
Runner-up was Arthur Busch with 34 points, beating Bill Collis on a count
back.
Friday, 16th May, Rayong Green Valley - Stableford
Only one player was able to shoot lower than handicap in the
persistent rain that continues for most of the round. Stan Fry, with 37
points, won and apparently improved as the rain got heavier! Runner-up with
33 points was Adrian Ort making one of his brief, but regular, visits to
Pattaya from Hong Kong. Arthur Bailey was third with 33 points also, losing
on count back.
In spite of the weather, near pin prizes were claimed by Mike Franklin, Bill
Thompson, Steve Ross and Stan Fry. The course, as ever, was in great
condition.
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