IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
A large field of Pattaya Golf Society golfers visited Crystal Bay to play a stableford event on Monday, 13th January and were given the A/B option, only to find the C nine was substituted after nine holes making changes necessary to the individuals’ score indexes on the cards.
The course was quite presentable but the C nine greens were scruffy and slower than those on the front, thus making scoring a touch more unpredictable. However, on a day when chaos was on the cards in Bangkok serenity ruled at Crystal Bay as the golfers set about their business.
With the cut at seventeen and under the second flight saw Dave Wilkinson take third place with very solid 33 points whilst the flight win was shared by John Chelo and the gentle golfing giant Michael McGuigan, both bon 35 points.
PGS Championship winners (left-right): Iain Wilson, Dave Plaiter, David Thomas (PGS Captain), John Chelo and Wichai Tananusorn.
In the top flight Dave Cadwallader overcame problems with his shoulder to post 37 points and share second place with Mike Earley whilst Wichai Tananusorn set a tremendous pace on the front nine only to see it dissipate on the back nine greens. He still took the day however with an excellent effort totalling 39 points.
The ‘2’s pot was shared by Jim Ferris, Larry Slattery, Andrew Purdie and Mike Earley. Pity Andrew Purdie with 35 points on his final round this trip as he failed to putt out on a hole on the front nine, thinking he did not have a shot, only to find the change of track by the starter would have given him one. One day they’ll get it right. Khun Wichai certainly did!
Smith & Chelo take Championship honours
The Pattaya Golf Society played its Annual Championships on Wednesday and Friday, 15th and 17th January at two very challenging courses, Green Valley and Bangpra. A strong breeze was in evidence all week and on both courses the greens were hard and running at a fast speed. Thus the thirty plus competitors had their work cut out on both days to make progress in the event.
As the first day unwound at Green Valley, pre-tournament favourites Chris Smith and Iain Wilson both left shots on the course and the first day leaders in the Gross Championship were Wichai Tananusorn (79), and Marc Jensen and Iain Wilson, both with 81. In the Net Championship second and third place were held by Wichai and Mike Earley on 71 and 73 respectively whilst Canadian golfer John Chelo posted net 70 for the halfway lead.
The second day dawned bright and very breezy at Bangpra and with play getting underway thirty minutes early, more than a few golfers were caught out with the typical Bangpra greens. Scores were much higher in the conditions and the best gross figures of the day involved the pairing of Chris Smith and Iain Wilson with Chris’ 75 just pipping the Scot’s fine effort of 76.
In the net competition the best score was recorded again by John Chelo with net 73. This left Chris Smith and Iain Wilson sharing the Gross Champion title with 157 but as Chris had the better second eighteen on count back, 75 to 76, he was deemed the new PGS Champion. The Net Champion was John Chelo with an excellent one under 143, with Wichai Tananusorn as runner-up with 145.
It had been one of the best PGS Championships for many a year and all the golfers are to be congratulated for their efforts on the two tough courses. Other presentations included the PGS Player of the Year award for 2013 and a smiling Dave Plaiter accepted the trophy after a fine year which had seen his handicap fall by seven shots and in which he had been closely challenged towards the end of the year by former Champion Wichai Tananusorn, who finished as runner-up.
The excellent presentation party was splendidly hosted by Rabbi and Khun Peung back in the Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao, presentations were made by PGS Captain David Thomas and the winners were duly toasted and bells were rung. Here’s to the next one!
