Phillips beats the heat at Phoenix

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Jomtien Golf with the IPGC

Wednesday, April 17, Eastern Star – Stableford

There were a few bored and lonely people during Songkran week so as a last minute fixture we headed out to Plutaluang on Wednesday morning, but as we neared the course we ran into some heavy rain and as we drove into the course it looked saturated.  At the clubhouse there were hardly any caddies waiting to go out so we did a quick turnaround and headed to Eastern Star.

It was not too bad here and the first four holes were played in just a slight drizzle and the rest of the round was rain free.

Iain Walsh returned the best score of the day, winning division 2 with 36 points.  Kari Aarnio was second two points behind and Joe Kubon took third with 33.

Kari Aarnio, Lindsay Phillips and Rod Howett.Kari Aarnio, Lindsay Phillips and Rod Howett.

Jerry Sweetnam topped division 1 with 35 points, Karl Flood was second with 34 and Chris Voller was still in the frame with 31 points.

Near pins went to Kari Kuparinen (2), Jerry Sweetnam (2), Darryl Blair, Eiichi Matsumoto and Iain Walsh.

It was bon voyage today to the telephone box boy, Dennis Scougal; he is going back to Scotland to recuperate after all those lengthy phone calls on a Saturday morning.

Monday, April 22, Pattana – Stableford

The A course was closed today so we were playing B and C and there was nobody here.  After 15 minutes on the putting green and everyone preparing for the round, we didn’t see anyone teeing off in front of us.

Tony Kay, now playing off 10, won division 1 today with 36 points while Billy Fitzgerald beat Chris Voller on a 17/16 back nine count back to take second place after they both shot 35 points.

Matty Sneath led the division 2 field in with 36 points ahead of Don Head two points behind and Rodney Howett in third with 32.

Tony Kay and Wilf Latham birdied B3 and Billy Fitzgerald C7 to share the ‘2’s pot in division 1 while a rollover ensued in division 2 to Phoenix on Wednesday.

It was great to see Paul Renall back from New Zealand, ready for the Hua Hin trip on the 11th

Wednesday, April 24, Phoenix – Stableford

Almost back to normality for this time of the year and there were six groups out.  The Ocean course is still closed so we teed off on the Lakes with the Mountain to follow.  The temperature here lately in this area has been rising gradually and it was very hot here again today.

Smiling all the way to the bank, Lindsay Phillips, playing off 14, won division 1 with 37 points.  Chris Voller came in second one point behind Lindsay and one of the freemasons, Neville Scurrell, in his last game with us before his return to Oz for two months, took third place with 35.

Gordon Everingham’s 36 points was enough to win division 2 playing off 25, while Mathew Sneath was second after beating Rodney on a 16/14 back nine count back, both on 34 points.

There were some poor results today in the nearest the pins contest with only two players in each division getting on the green.  Billy Fitzgerald was nearest on Lakes 2 and Chris Voller on Mountain 8 in division 1, while Kari Aarnio (Mountain 8) and Gordon Everingham (Lakes 7) took the only second division awards.

Chris Voller birdied Lakes 2 for the only birdie ‘2’ in division 1 while there was a rollover in the second flight.

It was great to see Evan Millar back today with his lovely lady Orawan Meeraka.

Friday, April 26, Eastern Star – Stableford

Another six groups out today with the equal cut in the two divisions of 5-13 and 14+, and with 35 points Chris Voller won division 1 ahead of Marty Rock (34pts) in second while Jeff Cordeiro beat the Chiang Rai professional circuit player Michael Dige on a 17/16 back nine count back for third after they both came in with 33 points.

As always in the reckoning in division 2, Iain Walsh took the top podium position with 33 points to edge Joe Kubon on 32 and Frank Kelly was third with 29.

It was an extremely hot day today with a few players suffering from heat exhaustion and there were quite a few tired players coming into the clubhouse after 18 holes.  There were still many remarks saying how the course is still improving each week.

Near pins went to Frank Kelly, Tony Oakes and Chris Voller.

There were no ‘2’s today so all to play for next week and there might be a few a players out on the driving range in the meantime.