Slick greens offer tough test at Bangpra

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Jomtien golf with the IPGC

Monday, June 23, Bangpra – Stableford

Our first visit here for some considerable time for certain reasons and there were six groups out today with the cut set at 7-14 in division 1 and 17+ in division 2.  

It was an easy journey up the 7 and with the decent weather conditions it looked like a promising day out.  The course was found to be in very good condition and the greens were very, very slick and this was reflected in the scores.

(From left) Grenville Hill, Bryan Priestley and Chris Voller.(From left) Grenville Hill, Bryan Priestley and Chris Voller.

Playing off 8 James McCallan had the best return of the day, winning division 1 with 33 points.  Chris Voller took second place two points behind and Terry Madsen beat Mike Chatt on a 6/4 back-three count back after they both came in with 30 points each.

Bryan Priestley topped division 2 with 31 points, one ahead of Jimmy Johnson in second, and Roar Berger secured third place after beating Bryan Rought 15/11 on the back nine, both on 29 points.

Near pins went to Terry Madsen, Andy Mills (2), Chris Voller, Ray Gott, Sid Ottaway and Bryan Rought (2).

Ray Gott birdied the 8th for the only ‘2’ of the day so a rollover in division 1 to Pattaya C.C. on Wednesday.

Wednesday, June 25, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford

There were a few moans last time out here regarding the hardness of the greens, with no help for the lower handicappers, but they were all smiling today after the balls were leaving pitch marks and holding on most of the putting surfaces.  The course has definitely improved over the past few weeks.

There was a light drizzle as we teed off today but it proved only a minor inconvenience.  The field was divided into two flights with the cut at 10-19 in division 1 and 20 + in division 2.

Chris Voller, playing off 10, was the winner in division 1 with 35 points ahead of Grenville Hill in second one point behind and Terry Madsen was third on 31.

Rodney Howett topped division 2 with a meagre 31 points while his buddy Roar Berger was second just two points behind.  Jimmy Johnson took third place, beating Pepo Frick 5/4 on the back three holes after they came in with 27 points each.

Grenville Hill and Terry Madsen won near pins in division 1 while there was only one winner in division 2, that being Rod Howett.

In the ‘2’s Grenville was in the frame again as he birdied the 16th to take the division 1 pot.  There were no ‘2’s in the second flight.

Friday, June 27, Eastern Star – 1-2-3 Stableford

An individual stableford game today for two divisions as normal but also a 1-2-3, three person team competition where on the first six holes the best score is recorded, the next six the best two scores are added together and the last six holes all three scores are added together.

Paul Hartley was on the top podium position in division 1 today with 35 points, beating Mikael Andersson 21/16 on the back nine.  Chris Voller came in third one point behind.

Ray Gott was the winner in division 2 with 34 points while Iain Walsh took second on 33 and Jimmy Johnson claimed third after beating Joe Kubon 12/11 on the back six holes, both on 32 overall.

Near pins went to Mikael Andersson (2), Grenville Hill, Marty Rock, Jimmy Johnson, Frank Kelly and Eiichi Matsumoto.

Mikael Andersson birdied the 6th hole to scoop a rollover ‘2’s pot in division 1 and Frank Kelly and Iain Walsh both birdied the 17th to split the pot in division 2.

In the 1-2-3 team event, Paul Hartley, Frank Kelly and Joe Kubon score 80 points in total to win the event, with Mike Chatt, Glyn Evans and Rod Howett taking second place on 74.