IPGC golf from The Haven
Sunday, October 2, Green Valley – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Peter Masters (9) 40pts
2nd Sean Connolly (10) 40pts
3rd Joe McArdle (11) 36pts
4th Erik Donnestad (4) 36pts
Once again Peter Masters proved to be the master of golf on Sundays and the man that everyone has to beat to have any chance of getting to the top of the podium at the regular weekend competition at Green Valley. Another round well below his handicap meant another win and a further one shot reduction in handicap to add to the previous results in competition, which has seen his handicap reduced eleven times in fourteen competitions since the middle of July with a total of five shots reduction, a truly remarkable run of form that shows no sign of abating any time soon.
Sean Connolly also had a great day but just missed out on the top spot with the worst of a count back of 21 to 20, leaving him in second spot.
Joe McArdle slipped into third place with another winning count back of 19 to 18 ahead of Erik Donnestad whose 76 gross was the best of the day.
Peter Masters.
As usual the prizes were presented at the Golf Bar and indoor driving range hosted by John and Jeff Ryves, who always make the golfers on Sundays and Donovan’s competitions on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays very welcome.
Monday, October 3, Pattaya Country Club – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Trevor Schirmer (15) 37pts
2nd Rod Crosswell (14) 36pts
3rd Ole Stamnes (27) 31pts
4th Erik Donnestad (4) 31pts
Trevor Schirmer is another player who is performing and appearing regularly among the list of winners but steadiness around his handicap is his strong point as he showed once more in winning the warm-up for the IPGC Monthly Medals. His solid one under handicap round was just sufficient to see him home ahead of Rod Crosswell at level handicap.
With all the courses continuing to be affected by the recent heavy thunderstorms the day’s competition was again played under ‘lift and place’ in the fairway local rules which helped to make the day a lot more enjoyable as the players contended with the usual wet weather drawbacks around the course generally.
There was then a larger gap back to third and fourth with the placings decided by a count back which Ole Stamnes won against his golf tutor Erik Donnestad by a margin of 16 to 15.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Trevor Schirmer slipped in the only one in the first division as Yasuo Suzuki missed two short ones to dampen his day out.
Before presenting the prizes The Doc welcomed back Yasuo Suzuki and Erik Donnestad from either end of the world.
Friday, October 7, Pattana B & C – Stableford
CSS72
1st Erik Donnestad (4) 37pts
2nd Trevor Schirmer (15) 34pts
3rd Rod Crosswell (14) 30pts
4th Alan Pilkington (9) 29pts
5th Grant Cadell (15) 28pts
Erik Donnestad, having shown well twice previously in the week, at last got to the top of the pecking order with a solid gross 75 that translated into 37 points on a wet and windy day that saw all but the strongest struggle. In fact Erik was the only player to equal or better their handicap as even the now normal ‘lift and place’ local rule hardly helped to mitigate the extra length required with so little assistance from the course. But everyone was agreed that apart from the extreme dampness the course was in otherwise excellent shape considering the amount of water that had obviously fallen over the previous few days.
Trevor Schirmer was again among the winners with a handicap holding two over round that was easily enough to take second spot.
Rod Crosswell stuck to the task well enough to claim third by a hairsbreadth from Alan Pilkington with Grant Cadell another shot back in fifth.
Once again there were no 2’s in the second division but Trevor had one again on his own in the first division.
Note. The Haven group now departs Soi 13 at the earlier time of 9 am until further notice. If you would like to play with the group you can contact mobile 082 219 0965 or call in to the hotel at 185 Soi 13 between Beach Road and 2nd Road. All transportation to the course is arranged and you do not need to sign up prior to the day, but you should be there by 8.30 on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and 9.00am on Sundays on the days you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
