Team Canada returns triumphant

1999 TAGGS AM-AM

The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society held their third annual AM-AM tournament on Friday, April 9, at Phoenix Golf and Country Club. The format was team Stableford, with the best two scores on each hole counting toward the final tally.

The 1999 TAGGS AM-AM Champions were Team Canada with Mark Gorda, Mike Dabonovich, Glen Dragland, and Vic Cross. Whoa there! Vic Cross might come from North Hollywood, but he hardly qualifies as a Canadian. Team Captain Mark Gorda assured the Pattaya Mail that Vic was required to learn the words to "Oh Canada" before he could play on the team. That’s not such an easy feat for a guy who is going to be seventy three years old in May.

Champions from Team Canada (L to R) Glen Dragland, Mike Dabanovich, (PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin), Mark Gorda and Vic Cross.

Team Canada scored a total of 103 points. That was eleven points higher than last year’s winning score of 92 points by "The Cloggies". That this team was red hot was evident before they teed it up on the first hole. Two days before, on the same golf course, Glen "Lassie" Dragland shot a net 59 to win the TAGGS Stroke Play competition. His net score for the AM-AM was 60. That’s a total of twenty-five under par in two days. The previous Friday down at Sattahip, Vic Cross won the Hare House weekly Stableford tournament with 38 points. Tying for second place in that same contest were none other than Mark Gorda and Mike Dabanovich. This entire team was hotter than a Georgia sidewalk in August. And they were well rewarded for their efforts. In addition to picking up some nice pocket change in the sweep, they each won a 1000 baht gift certificate to Fobe’ Sportswear on Soi Post Office just two doors down from the Hare House.

A Hare House regular remarked on the morning of the tournament that he already knew who would win. "Just add up the handicaps of the teams and the highest total will take home the winning trophy". In theory, that is probably not a bad way to forecast. But the reality is that last year "The Cloggies", led by Steve Mascari, had very low handicaps and still won. This year Steve teamed up with his brother Dave Mascari, Richard Holt, and Per Aschen. The team from Lewiinski’s bettered last year’s winning total by four strokes to take the second place trophies with 96 points. They also picked up 20% of the sweep and each received a gift voucher from Fobe’ Sportswear for 750 Baht. Had they not been run over by the Trans-Canadian Express, this team would have been taking home a lot more.

Back at the post tournament get together at Casa Canejo, the Mexican buffet was doing a brisk business. Amongst the tacos, fajitas, and refried beans, the third place team had amassed on their table seven trophies. George Jackson, Bob Patterson, Stefan Hoge and Steve Bullough had their third place trophies, plus Bob’s two Nearest to the Pin trophies, and Steve’s Long Drive trophy. There was hardly any room for the food, much less the beer. Their 93 points also earned them 10% of the sweep and a 500 Baht voucher from Fobe’ Sportswear. Not a bad day’s work.

In fourth place with a team total that would have won last year were Brendan Kelly, Geoff Couch, Bob Davis, and Ian Pike. Their 92 points earned them each a 250 Baht voucher to Fobe’ Sportswear presented jointly by Pattaya Sports Club Golf Chairman Mike Franklin and TAGGS Chairman Stephen Beard. Mike and Stephen did some nifty handoffs when it came time for Stephen to accept his two Nearest to the Pin trophies. The awards ceremony and the great Mexican food capped a very successful day. This is a fun golf tournament and if you haven’t played in it, make plans to enter the fourth annual TAGGS AM-AM next year. Hasta la vista!

Results

1st Place, each winning 1000 baht Fobe’ sportswear voucher, 70% of the sweep and trophy: Vic Cross, Mark Gorda, Glen Dragland and Mike Dabanovich, 103 points.

2nd Place, each winning 750 baht Fobe’ voucher, 20% of the sweep and trophy: Steve Mascari, Dave Mascari, Richard Holt, Per Aschen, 96 points.

3rd Place: each winning 500 baht Fobe’ voucher, 10% of the sweep and trophy: George Jackson, Bob Patterson, Stefan Hoge, Steve Bullough, 93 points.

4th Place, each winning 250 baht Fobe’ voucher: Brendan Kelly, Geoff Couch, Bob Davis, Ian Pike, 92 points.

Nearest the pins:

Mountain #4 : 3rd Div No Winner, 2nd Div Mike Dabonovich, 1st Div Bob Patterson.

Mountain #8: 3rd Div Dan MacLean, 2nd Div Stephen Beard, 1st Div John Eyeres.

Lakes #2: 3rd Div Bob Westendorf, 2nd Div Mike Dabonovich, 1st Div Richard Holt.

Lakes #7: 3rd Div No Winner, 2nd Div Stephen Beard, 1st Div Bob Patterson.

Longest drive, Lakes #9: 3rd Div Bob Westendorf, 2nd Div Steve Bullough, 1st Div Dave Mascari.

Crap shoot

The Pattaya Sevens (7’s) and the Jomtien Elevens (11’s) anted up the action at the weekly Pattaya Sports Club softball game on Sunday, April 11. The play was a bit dicey as the field suffered from a morning rain, but each team hit their numbers and earned a win.

The opener held little suspense as the Elevens hit the jackpot consistently, scoring in every inning. Timely hitting by C. F. (Fowl Ball) Macallen, Dandy Dan and Dick (The Stick) Cagg had the Elevens up six to three after three.

The Sevens were held scoreless in the top of the fourth as the Elevens erupted for four in the bottom of the inning. Only a fantastic diving catch by Kiwi Rick in left prevented the Elevens from adding to their lead.

When put up four more in the bottom of the sixth, the game was effectively over and the Sevens had crapped out fifteen to five.

The nightcap had both teams playing their best hands. The Sevens put up one in the first when Aussie (King Pin) Peter singled home Gordon Lightfoot.

Over the next few innings each team rolled snake eyes until the top of the fourth when Craig (The Hitman) Lewis singled home an RBI to tie the score.

The Elevens took the lead in the fifth, scoring four in all behind Slammin’ Sammy’s three run blast to center.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Sevens answered back with five, thanks to a three run dinger by Mike (Mr. Ice) Berg.

Down six to five going into the seventh, the Elevens tied the score when (J.J.) Jay singled home San Diego Mike.

But the Sevens made their point and pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to snare a seven to six victory.

Let it ride and come out to Pattaya School #7 on Sukhumvit Highway just past Greenway driving range and Cal-Tex gas station. Games are every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Equipment is provided and refreshments are available. All are welcome.

Royal Varuna: games for young - and old

It has been a very "mixed bag" at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club the past month, with the annual Varuna Championship, club racing and lots of junior sailing competitions, in spite of - or maybe because of - the generally strong southerlies which have prevailed.

Murray Maunder and Leonie Duson streak away from the pack and never look back. Photo Peter Cummins.

All this is preparatory to the year’s biggest (numerically) event, the Laser National Championships of Thailand this weekend, the Pattaya Festival Regatta next week - the first of its kind at the resort - and the ever-popular Optimist sailing camp for the youngsters, to be held at Royal Varuna over the Songkran break.

Peter Cummins reports from Pattaya

Murray Maunder, seizing the initiative of an all-Hobie Cat 16 finale, while a few of the ‘big cats’ were out of town, last week bolted away with the Royal Varuna Yacht Club 1999 Championship. Maunder amassed four straight wins for four points.

Bob Gardham on nine points placed second. Tim Hake, third, was well back on 17 points.

A similar scenario took place in the monohull division, with Morten Jakobsen stepping into the breach while reigning champion Patrick Helms was busy with studies and other matters. Morten, with three firsts and a second placing, administered a sound thrashing to an all-Laser finish, accumulating five points, seven clear of second-placed Shin Suenaga and 10 points ahead of Charlie Zbinden, who was definitely not having his best weekend’s racing, finishing third.

Meanwhile, there was a lot of action among the fearless Varuna Optimist sailors who went out in all conditions to contest the Victor Ludorum Trophy, awarded to the best sailor based on a one-year series.

Reigning champ Sam Phanpho, a leader of his class at the International School of the Eastern Seaboard, easily retained his title as the king of the kids on the water too, carrying away the trophy from a very young and equally-determined little lady, Samantha Hamilton, with Damien Paulhiac third. But, watch it next year: you may be rather hard-pressed to "slay them again, Sam!"

The big daddy of the junior racing was, however, the Spring Series, with the children battling in winds up to 20 knots which, according to their sailing secretary, Linden Phanpho, "snapped masts like sticks and broke many fittings. But the Southerly ‘lady’ in all her ferocity could neither break nor even dampen the enthusiasm and spirit of these great little sailors."

You guessed it, Sam bolted home again, albeit with a few pieces of equipment requiring close attention, if not outright renewal. And who was hot on his trail (read, transom)? The relentless Samantha. Damien had to concede third place to another little lady, Virginie Lacrosse who, though equal on points, took third place in the tie breaker.

The wind was so strong at one stage that young Damien thought that it would probably be less hazardous to take up lacrosse instead of challenging a real Lacrosse!

Next week, some thirty youngsters from nine to 15 years-of-age will invade the Royal Varuna Club for a week of intensive training on land and sea. What a way to spend Songkran.

And then, as the Pattaya Festival literally "warms up’ next week, the Royal Varuna fleet will descend on Pattaya Beach in front of the Royal Garden to finish a race starting from the Varuna Club at Pattaya Point, as an integral part of this year’s Festival. It will, indeed, be a very colourful beachfront with some 40 multihulls, monohulls and Optimist dinghies drawn up on the beach-front.

By the look of Beach Road last week, however, cratered and pitted like a moonscape, it seems that the only way to access South Pattaya could well be by sea.

It will certainly be a worthwhile beaching for the Varuna sailors, though, young and old who will be regaled by the Royal Garden Resorts upon arrival and presented handsome trophies and awards by the Governor of Chonburi and the Mayor of Pattaya.

Lassie makes it home

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, April 7 - Phoenix Golf & Country Club (Stroke Play)

1st: Glen Dragland, Net 59
2nd: Stefan Hoge, Net 66
3rd: Derek Reaper, Net 70 C/B Russell Finch

Every dog has its day. Glen "Lassie" Dragland certainly had his on Wednesday, April 7, in the TAGGS Stoke Play competition at Phoenix Country Club. Lassie led a Calgary Stampede of Canadian golfers and shot a lifetime best score of 94 off his 35 handicap. It was only the second time that he has broken 100 and it was the second time that Lassie won an individual Knotted Putter trophy out of the Hare House. It was his most memorable day of golf since he put his ball in the water on the 18th hole at Siam Country Club. What? You think there isn’t water on that hole? A couple of years ago, Lassie put his second shot in the hotel swimming pool and picked up a water card.

In second place was fellow Canadian Stefan Hoge who also had a "best ever" day with a gross 89 off his 23 handicap that was good for a net 66. Stefan is a newcomer to Pattaya and has been extremely impressed with the golf courses here.

The course conditions at Phoenix were excellent and most of the field were quick to take advantage. Over half of the thirty golfers playing finished within two strokes of their handicap. In third place was yet another Canadian, Derek Reaper, who edged out Russell Finch in a count back. They both finished at net 70 and ended the day a stroke ahead of Mark Gorda and Marc Jernigan.

The fastest start of the day was made by Canadian Mike Dabanovich who was one over par gross for the first six holes on the Ocean course. This included a natural birdie on the par 5 fourth hole where he had to hit a left handed five iron from under a tree.

PSC Charity Classic tops B.253,000 for local charities

Thanks to the splendid support from the sponsors, contributors to the lucky draw and the players on the day, the 1999 PSC Charity Classic raised B.253,145 for its charity projects. First off the ground will be the completion of the new Kindergarten at Mabrachan School.

Mike Franklin, Chairman PSC Golf commented, "This school is in a very poor and hardworking area with amenities that are already over stretched. The completion of the Kindergarten project, originally started by the PILC and helped by the local community, will mean that more children from this area will be able to receive a good education at an earlier age. Work on the project, identified by our PSC Charity Chairman Harry Riley, will start immediately.

Other proceeds from the 1999 Charity Classic will be directed to the School for the Blind, the Banglamung Home for the Aged, and a new Clinic to be sited at the School for the Deaf." Details will be published in a future issue of Pattaya Mail.

Farrari leads F1 Championship - just!

Despite Mika Hakkinen winning the Brazilian GP for McLaren last weekend, it is Ferrari that is still in front as the teams prepare for the next round to be held at Imola, Italy, on May 2nd.

Leading the Drivers’ Championship is Ferrari number 2, Eddie Irvine, with 12 points, narrowly in front of Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Jordan) and Mika Hakkinen on 10 points each. They are followed by Ralf Schumacher (Williams) on 7 points and elder brother Michael 6 points in his Ferrari.

The Constructors’ Championship has the Ferrari Team way in front on 18 points from Jordan and McLaren on 10 points.

After two rounds in the World F1 Championship it is still anyone’s game. The McLarens are the quickest, but have only a 25% finishing record. Ferrari are obviously catching up as far as sheer speed is concerned and have the reliability. Schumacher was only 0.15 seconds slower than Hakkinen in race trim in Brazil with Irvine another 0.2 seconds adrift.

The dark horses in the field are the Stewart-Ford Team, with Brazilian Rubens Barichello qualifying in 3rd slot and leading his hometown GP for 23 laps in front of the vocal partisan crowd. Unfortunately he recorded a DNF, but he has shown he has the ability when given the right equipment.

Another driver who impressed was the French driver Sarrazin out-qualifying Takagi in the Arrows and regular Minardi team driver Gene. Unfortunately his run came to a premature end after bouncing off the wall and spinning several times down the track. If he can get his bottom into another car he could have a good future.

At this stage, although it is very early in the calendar, the much vaunted BAR Team does not appear to have its act together and Williams is also in disarray. Zanardi, in particular, is not making the grade despite his dominance in American CART racing.

While there is no doubt that McLaren are the pace setters, the championship is still wide open.

More PSC Golf for April

April continues on Sunday the 18th with Lewiinski’s playing Stableford at Great Lake, then on Monday the 19th there is a choice of Stableford at Phoenix with PSC Golf from the Café Kronborg, or stroke play Laem Chabang with the PSC Splinter Group from the Green Bottle.

On Tuesday the 20th, PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker go to Siam Country Club for a medal competition, while the Smokers from Lewiinski’s go to Sriracha to play Stableford. Scandic Hotel goes to excellent Great Lake to play stroke.

On Wednesday the 21st there is a trip to Eastern Star from the Green Bottle playing a Stableford, or a Bogey Competition at Natural Park Hill from Hare House.

On Thursday the 22nd of April, PSC Golf Café Kronborg goes to Great Lake for a relaxed Stableford round, and the week ends with a choice of two more Stableford competitions at Phoenix from the Green Bottle and Great Lake from Hare House.

The last major tournament of the month is the Delaney’s ‘Funhill’ Cup at Rayong Green Valley, a new Two-Man Scramble event with competing teams of the same nationality. Sign-up at Delaney’s with Kim Fletcher, at the Café Kronborg, Diana Inn, Hare House, Lewiinski’s or Scandic Hotel. Sign-up early.

The full April Schedule can be seen at the PSC Golf Venues and at the Pattaya Sports Club Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Richardson and Straeten strike the better ball at Green Valley: Bill Jones wins at Eastern Star

Pattaya Sports Club Golf from the Café Kronborg

Rayong Green Valley - Monday 5th April (Better Ball)

In sultry weather at Green Valley after the early morning rain, partners Dave Richardson and Serge Straeten were clear winners with a winning score of 47 points, improving considerably on their score when they took second place on this course three weeks ago.

Winners: Serge Straeten & Dave Richardson, 47 points
2nd: Pete Galle & Marcus Simmonds, 45 points
3rd: Stan Fry & Gert Hansen, 44 points C/B Graham Faithful & The O’Donnells
Nearest pins: #7 Svend Berthelsen, #11 Graham Faithful.

Eastern Star - Thursday 8th April (Stableford)

A small field with only one player, Bill Jones, returning a below par score.

Winner: Bill Jones, 38 points
2nd: Kris Helgasson, 35 points
3rd: John Cahill, 34 pointsNear-pins: #3 Svend Berthelsen, #6 Norrie Whiter, #13 Arthur Bailey, #17 Bo Brook.
Long drive: Svend Berthelsen.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.