Don headlines in Chiang Mai

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Jomtien Golf with the IPGC

Monday, Oct. 24, Royal Chiang Mai – Stableford

This was the start of our annual Giant Panda Tour to Chiang Mai and there were over 40 golfers and at least 15 ladies making the trip.

(L to R) Don Mumford with Paul Smith, Don Head, Bob Poole and Richard Bannister.
(L to R) Don Mumford with Paul Smith, Don Head, Bob Poole and Richard Bannister.

It was about an hour’s drive from our hotel to Royal Chiang Mai where we started a three day competition to find an overall winner, plus the daily winners in three divisions, with the cut set at 0-13, 14-20 and 21 plus.  The course here was in reasonable condition but the greens were very worn.

Playing off the white tees at 6,389 yards, Bristol boy Bob Poole returned the best score on Monday to win division 2 with 44 points.  Don Head came in second on 41 and with two 35’s it was John Hughes beating Paul Fox to third place on a 20/17 back-nine count back.

Paul Smith, playing off 2, won division 1 with 38 points, one ahead of Martin Grimoldby in second who edged Don Mumford 18/17 on count back.  Nik Evans beat Al Griffiths and John Pegram on another count back to take fourth place after they all came in with 34 points each.

35 points was enough to win division 3 for Glyn Evans, with Miss Nut, playing off white tees, in second place on count back over Jeff Greer, both with 32 points.  Rod Howett was fourth with 29.

Near pins went to (Div 1) Al Griffiths (2), Paul Hubbard and Pete Sumner, (Div 2) John Fitzgerald, Don Head, Bob Poole and Dennis Scougall, and (Div 3) Jim Connelly, Tony Cowe and David Phillips.

Paul Hubbard and Chris Smith in division 1 and John Fitzgerald and Bob Poole in division 2 recorded the only ‘2’s of the day.

Wednesday, Oct. 26, Chiang Mai Highlands – Stableford

Our second round of the week and Paul Hubbard returned the best score of the day, winning division 1 with 41 points.  Dave Edwards came in second on 38 points and Don Mumford was third on 36, just one ahead of the Banjo boy is fourth.

Tom Novak led division 2 standings with an even par 36 points and there were four 33’s fighting for second; Andy Oz with 18 on the back nine took that position on count back ahead of Dennis Scougall in third and Paul Fox fourth, while Don Head just missed out.

In division 3 Jim Connelly topped the podium with 36 points, Marty Aronson was second one point behind and Tim Knight beat Rod Howett on count back for third, both coming in with 32 points each.

Near pins were claimed by (Div 1) Paul Hubbard, John Pegram, Paul Smith and Wichai, (Div 2) Alan Bissell, Don Head, John Hughes and Paul Renall, and (Div 3) Marty Aronson, Jim Connelly, Tim Knight and David Phillips.

There were an unbelievable three ‘2’s from Paul Smith today in division 1, and it should have been four.  Paul Hubbard, John Pegram, Chris Smith and Wichai also joined him for a share of the payout.

Alan Bissell on A7 and and Tom Novak on A2 split the pot in division 2 and Marty Aronson, Jim Connelly and Jeff Greer did the same in division 3.

Friday, Oct. 28, Mao Jo G.C. – Stableford

This was our final round of the week and only a thirty minute drive from the hotel to one of our favourite courses.  The greens here today were very difficult with some awesome pin placements but the scenery was just fantastic.

Richard Bannister returned the best score of the day to win division 1 with 38 points.  John Oxley was second four points behind Richard and Paul Smith claimed third further four points back.  Wichai took the fourth and final podium place, beating Chris Smith on a 16/13 count back after they both scored 29 points.

In division 2 Don Head beat Bob Poole by two shots, winning with 34 points while Dennis Scougall took third on 31 and John Hughes beat Gerry Cooke on a 16/14 count back for fourth after they were tied on 30 points overall.

Miss Nut topped division 3 with 33 points, six ahead of Tony Cowe in second who in turn beat Joe Kubon 17/14 on the back nine after they were tied on 27 apiece.  Jeff Greer was fourth with 24 points.

Near pins went to (Div 1) Mark Cooper, Dave Edwards, Paul Hubbard and Wichai, (Div 2) Leigh Abbey, Paul Fox, Don Head and Curtis Hessler, and (Div 3) Marty Aronson, Tim Knight and John Teague.

Martin Grimoldby and Pete Sumner split the ‘2’s pot in division 1, Paul Renall birdied the 14th in division 2 and there were no ‘2’s in division 3.

The overall winner after the three rounds was Don Head with 108 points.  He was followed in order by Bob Poole (106), Paul Smith (102), Don Mumford (101) and Richard Bannister (100).  Congratulations to Don, three great rounds, Miss Nut will be pleased.