McAllister goes four clear at Phoenix

PSC golf with Phoenix members and guests (Tuesday group)

Tuesday’s winners: Neil McAllister, Matt Anderson
and Mike Gerrard with some of the staff from Toy’s Music Bar.

Mike Gerrard
Tuesday, 29 July, Phoenix – Stableford
With heavy rain falling both the day and night before, we wondered if we may have to implement winter rules. None of it at Phoenix. The fairways and the greens here drain so well that normal rules still applied.
Except for one that is. The greens staff seem to have a cruel streak in them these days. Not only do they place the pins in some impossible positions, but they have also overfilled the bunkers once again. This after many requests in the past not to do so.
So, with excess sand in the bunkers and huge rivulets where the rain had washed them away, we imposed a local rule for the day, whereby marking and placing in the bunkers was acceptable. It did not help the scores much!
So to the game, and by this time the weather was perfect. Light cloud cover and a nice breeze. So much so that some of the usual carters (including me) decided to try and walk the course. And with success I might add. Except the scoring!
The winner today was the quickly improving Neil McAllister with 39 points. Neil has taken some time to settle his game here in Thailand, and after a shaky few months playing off a handicap of 9 he has had his handicap increased to 12. No wonder he scored well on the day.
Joint second were Matt Anderson and the scribe, both on 35 points. With our stableford days we don’t bother with count backs, better to share the spoils. This will not apply to the first place for the monthly medal next week though.
So it was back to Toy’s Music Bar for the usual happy hour drinks and beautiful girls.
Next week will be the monthly trophy (of some sort) sponsored by the owners of the bar.
With the new handicap scheme introduced last week by the PSC handicap committee, any player scoring 39 points or net 69 and better will be cut manually by the tournament organiser, who in turn will post notice to all other groups in town via a new website address. For further information regarding this contact the golf chairman at the PSC.
Note: Anyone interested in joining in with our group, every Tuesday at Phoenix, please call me, Mike Gerrard, on 087 091 7565

The society carries on

IPGC golf from Donovan’s

Thursday, 31 July, Green Valley (White Tees) - Stableford
Men’s Flight
1st Graham Dietrich (18) 39pts
2nd Ian Grout (11) 39pts
3rd Jay Nakagawa (15) 36pts
Ladies Flight
1st Mol Thongkiew (17) 33pts
2’s: Steve Mascari, Ray Dell
Graham Dietrich, one of the first people this Scribe played golf with in Pattaya, won the day by counting back The Tile. Nakagawa-san swept up the last of the fellas loot with an even to handicap 36 points. Mol Thongkiew topped the Ladies’ flight that she was the only one in.
Saturday, 2 August, Green Valley (White Tees) - Stableford
Men’s Flight
1st Brian Wilkinson (13) 40pts
2nd Ernie Hill (1) 37pts
3rd Ian Grout (11) 35pts
Ladies Flight
Mol Thongkiew (17) 35pts
2’s: Klaus Schackt, Brian Wilkinson, Graham Dietrich
It is only fitting that Wireless should win the last outing that this Scribe will cover. He was followed in by a fine 37-point effort by Ernie Hill who had to shoot 70 to attain that total given his +1 handicap. The Tile cashed for the second time on the week, as did Ms. Bennett.
Note: The Society will continue to play on Thursdays and Saturdays. Reservations to play can be made by contacting Steve Mascari at (087) 801-0705

Sheppard in charge at Green Valley

IPGC golf from Lewiinski’s

Sunday, 17 July, Green Valley – Stableford
A Flight
1st Jim Munns (11) 41 pts
2nd Ian Halfpenny (13) 41 pts
3rd Bruce Milner (13) 39 pts
B Flight
1st Charles Sheppard (16) 44 pts
2nd Bob Lindburg (16) 40 pts
3rd Bill Broschart (17) 38pts
Near Pins: #2 Pat Regan; #9 Colin Davis; #12 Chaten Patel; #16 Kris K.
2’s: Kris K, Jim Munns, Mark Wood, Brian Wilkinson, Jeremy Masse, Chas Sheppard and Bob Lindburg.
Hidden Six: 1st Bruce Milner; 2nd Eddie Beilby on a count back over Jim Munns.
This week forty-eight golfers made the Sunday trip to the ever-popular Green Valley where the tees were as far forward as possible, as the score’s indicate.
The senior flight was a battle between Jim “Capt Fogg” Munns and Ian Halfpenny, both on 41 super points: Jim edged Ian curtsey of a slightly better back nine. Third place meanwhile was filled by Bruce Milner on 39 points. The next five participants in this flight carded 37 points each and nineteen of the twenty three golfers in the flight had 31 points or more.
The junior flight winner was the ‘Man of Leisure’ himself, Chas Sheppard, with a mammoth 44 points. In second spot, was the guru of Green Valley with 40 points, and rounding out the flight was Bill Broschart on a three-way count back over the unlucky pair of Kevin Hamilton and Geoff Kubas, all with 38 well-earned points.
Tuesday, 29 July,
Khao Kheow – IPGC Matchplay & Stableford
Lewiinski’s hosted the OK Corral to a matchplay game on Tuesday and Captain Bob led by example as the home team managed a very hard fought victory by 4½ to 3½.
The Lieutenant lost by the narrowest of margins and Mark ‘Fancy Shoes’ managed to half his game. Lindsey Semple won his match, Eddie the Eagle and the Right Honorable, walloped their competitors and Nick Payne was shot to bits by a Derringer. Rigsby lost narrowly, still suffering from jet lag no doubt.
The game was played in a good spirit and finished off in the same manner back at Lewiinski’s.
Simultaneously, those who didn’t play in the match took part in a stableford comp, and it was Len Jones, the GM of the OK Corral golfers, who took the honours and restored some pride with 34 points. In second on 33 points was Calon “Blackie” Blackburn and the third place went to Joe Mcardle after a count back over Chas Sheppard, both with 30 points.
Note: Blackie Blackburn was accompanied on the course by his wife, and was charged 1000 Thai baht. It was cheaper to play the round of golf! Amazing Thailand or Thai logic?
Matchplay results (Lewiinski’s first): Bob Newell won 2 & 1 Dave Thomas; Jack Spencer lost 1 down Dave Stockman; Mark Wood halved Chris Voller; Seamus Cotter won 7& 6 Peter Duncan; Lindsey Semple won 3& 2 Tony Thorne; Nick Payne lost 4& 2 Ken Derringer; Eddie Beilby won 7& 6 Ronnie Ramsey; Jez Lees lost 2&1 John Rehm.
Stableford
1st Len Jones (27) 34pts
2nd Calon Blackburn (16) 33pts
3rd Joe Mcardle (12) 30pts
2’s: Joe Mcardle, Calon Blackburn
Friday, 1 August, Treasure Hills - Stableford
Yellow Flight
1st Clinton Hazlett (6) 41pts
2nd Gez Lees (17) 34pts
White Flight
1st Ger Lodge (17) 32pts
A small group made the trip to play the very tough Treasure Hills, but with the option of different tees. Clinton Hazlett won the Yellow Flight with a super 41 points while The Principle used his math skills to pip the Captain with both on 34 points apiece.
The White Flight winner was Ger Lodge with 32 points.
Note: Lewiinski’s is situated on Pattaya Land Soi 1, Beach Road Soi 13/3 near to Walking Street. Anyone wishing to play with us just pop in and add your name on the list or call Colin on 089 826 0764. Transport is provided.

Robbins shines at Crystal Bay

PSC golf from The Bunker

Monday, 28 July, Green Valley - Medal
1st Gerry Cooney (11) net 69
2nd Roger Privett (15) net 70
3rd John McDonald (6) net 71
4th Eddie Martin (18) net 73
Playing golf at Green Valley is always a joy and today was no exception. Medal was the format and it was Gerry Cooney who took advantage of the marvelous conditions to win with a superb three under par net 69.
With this score Gerry becomes the first player at The Bunker to have his handicap adjusted according to the new instructions from Pattaya Sports Club which states that any player who shoots three shots or more better than his/her handicap will be cut immediately.
Second place went to Roger Privett and third place was taken by John McDonald, both of them shooting sub-par rounds. Eddie Martin took fourth place beating Colin Stokes and Alan Sullivan on a count back.
Unusually only one of the winning players won a near pin prize and that was Gerry with William Macey getting two and the fourth going to John Graham.
Friday, 1 August, Crystal Bay - Medal
1st Tony Robbins (12) net 66
2nd Geoff Cox (13) net 69
3rd Ken Chung (12) net 72
4th Gerry Cooney (11) net 72
Friday was another Medal round, this time at the delightful Crystal Bay.
Tony Robbins come out on top with a fantastic six-under par net 66 ahead of a very disappointed Geoff Cox who, playing with his newly adjusted handicap thought he was in with a great chance only to come second with a three under par net 69. What rubbed salt into the wound was the fact that he along with Tony gets cut under the new handicap system too! Third place went to Ken Chung beating Gerry Cooney on a count back.

Vintage Drumm wins Monthly Mug at Navy

PSC golf from P J Pool Bar

Tuesday, 29 July, Greenwood A & B – (White Tees) – Stableford
Fourteen of us turned out to find Greenwood its usual hospitable self with the course in tip top condition. Neil Duncan (was handicap 14 is now handicap 12) had a cracking day at the office, notching up 43 stableford points to take first spot and be the first of the group to encounter the PSC’s new and welcome instant handicap adjustment system for good play.

Monthly Mug winner Bob Drumm (right) with Malcolm and Min.

The runner up was Willie Nachbur (23) with 38 points followed by Bob Drumm (11) and Tiger Jumparnit (7) in 3rd and 4th places respectively, each with 37 points. The average score for the day was 32.4 points.
Near pins went to Peter Mills, Jim Fortune, Neil Duncan and Jeff Wylie, who also sunk the longest first putt on the 18th green.
Thursday, 31 October, Plutaluang E & W (White Tees) – Monthly Mug/Stroke
Perhaps the ideal number for group golf, sixteen of us, turned up to play for the money and also for the magnificent engraved, crystal wine glass generously sponsored by Malcolm Smith of P J Pool Bar and Restaurant.
Bob Drumm (11) continued his good, consistent form to win the trophy with a net 72. He was followed by Steve Black (27) net 73, Bill Jones (32) net 74, Keith Hodges (23) net 76 and Colin Cronin (15) net 77.
Back at the bar Malcolm presented Bob with his trophy which was impressively filled with good wine!
Near pins were won in course order by Yves Philibert, Bill Jones, Norman Jones and Bruce Lawrence whilst Neil Duncan sunk a real monster of a two-footer longest first putt on the 18th green.
Note: Any golfers seeking to play with our group that wish to know about the format please visit P J Pool Bar & Restaurant on Soi Watboonsamphan (Soi Kanoi) or phone Neil on 089 511 0575.

O’Donnell storms home at Bangpra

PSC golf from the Cafe Kronborg

Dave Richardson & Thomas Cotton
Monday, 28 July, Bangpra - Stableford
Last Monday, the Bangpra International Golf Club and its monkey residents were hosts for a stableford event in two flights with the cut at HCP 18. The course on this day was in very good condition with most of the renovations finished. The clubhouse will be fully back in operation from August 6.

Ebrahim (right) and Hugh O’Donnell: both divisional winners at Bangpra.
The ever-present Ebrahim took the “A” Flight on a count back from Ralf Zwick, both with 34 points. Doug Maiko was third on a count back over Walter Bachli, both with 33 points.
Hugh O’Donnell took the “B” Flight with 40 points, the best score of the day. Kenny Chung was second with 35 points and Wayne Foch was third on count back over Mike Winfield, both with 33 points.
Thursday, July 31, Eastern Star - Stableford
1st Bill Plath 35pts
2nd Kenny Chung 34pts
3rd Peter Singh Basi 33pts
4th Mike Winfield 32pts
On Thursday, fourteen eager golfers headed south to Eastern Star Golf Course. The weather was muggy until about 11 am when a breeze came off the sea to cool the players down a bit. Four of the greens were under repair and Dave Richardson said that this was “Redneck Golf”. Playing with Dave has the calming effect of a cup of unsweetened chamomile tea, thereby helping one to relax and better one’s score.
We had some fun chasing some geese off one of the back tees, but otherwise it was an uneventful, though pleasant, day except for the buzzing of helicopters and aircraft from a nearby airport. The geese, however, were noisier.
Given the small contingent, there was only a single flight and from Monday’s leader board only Kenny Chung re-appeared.

Café Kronborg the new leader

Pattaya Sports Club Friday Bowling League

200 Bowlers: Ooy, Kran, P.K., Mai, Jan & Rich.

Café Kronborg is the new first place leader after taking all four points from Sala Thai. Kran bowled a 560 series and Jan a 553 for Kronborg.
Bavaria dropped into a tie for second after losing three points to SaBai SaBai Friday. VFW Post 9876 is also tied for second after they won all four points from Café Ole.
Montana is tied for fourth with Brother D as both teams won three points: Montana beat Montgomery and Brother D beat House of the Golden Coin. Canada meanwhile won three points from Jack Tar.
Some good series were bowled in these games with Mai bowling a 221 game and 598 series, Ooy a 205 game, 562 series and Rich a 204 game and 541-pin count. Tukata bowled a 538 series and Rich Montana had a 546.

Dennis gets a ‘Birdie’ treat

PSC golf from the Outback Golf Bar

Monday, 28 July, Burapha - Stableford
The 51 Outbackers out there today were treated to the spectacular C & D course. There were a few concerns that it was going to be a slow round as most of the preceding two Japanese groups, dumped their tee shots into the water. However, those fears were allayed when many of the Outbackers promptly followed them. The first hole from the blue tee, which was well back today, can be a bit of a daunting shot with the water all the way up the right to catch most amateurs favorite shot – the slice. The stiff wind blowing off the left made it even trickier.
The scoring generally reflected the tougher conditions from the blue tees, with only four players matching their handicap or better.
Two Ricks took the main honours, Rick Sharp was first overall with a great 38 points and Rick Evans, who putted extremely well all day, first in Div A on 35 points. Capt’ Bob must have been fearing the new handicap cutting procedure as he finished bogey, triple bogey to end up second overall on 37.
There was one ‘2’ today coming from Mike O’Brien
Overall
1st Rick Sharp (13) 38pts
2nd Bob Philp (7) 37pts
Div A (0–14)
1st Rick Evans (5) 35pts
2nd Bruce Milner (12) 35pts
3rd Dave Porter (13) 32pts
4th Ken Little (11) 31pts
Div B (15–18)
1st Jim Smith (18) 36pts
2nd Bob Lindborg (16) 35pts
3rd Rosco Langoulant (15) 31pts
4th Frank O’Neill (15) 30pts
Div C (19+)
1st Mitch O’Neill (30) 36pts
2nd Barry Chadbourn (20) 33pts
3rd Raleigh Gosney (20) 33pts
4th Campbell Potts (19) 31pts
Tuesday, 29 July, Phoenix – Stableford
Playing Mountain & Lake, nine eager Outbackers were at Phoenix early to enjoy another 4-hour round on this well maintained course so close to Pattaya. There were three new faces today, Lek & Olle Janssen and Richard.
With an excellent 39 points off his 9 handicap Pat Regan was at the top followed by Lek with 38 and Nigel with 35. The 3-week rollover of 2’s was shared by Pat and Chad on the 4th hole at Mountain.
Early risers meet at Phoenix at 07:30 for an 8 o’clock start and are usually on their way by 1 pm to wherever! Call Capt’ Bob or sign up at the Outback Golf Bar.
Note: No early risers on Tuesday August 12th (Queen’s Birthday) - meet again on 19th.
1st Pat Regan (9) 39pts
2nd Lek Jansson (22) 38pts
3rd Nigel Cannon (22) 35pts
Wednesday, 30 July, Emerald - Stableford
The Emerald is still a great little course to play and the 39 Outbackers that played here today are probably of a similar opinion.
Pat Regan on 35 pts, going for his third win in a week, was pipped today by another excellent display by Capt’ Bob to take second with 36. Neither were good enough however, to catch the Div A winner, Bruce Milner, with the best of the day score of 38.
Barry Copestake, playing for the first time with the Outback Golf Bar, took Div B with 37 from a couple of regular Outbackers, Harvey Samuel & Rosco, both on 36.
Thirty-five points was enough to win Div C, and represented a welcome return to form for Sugar Ray, who has just returned to golf after a week’s lay off to nurse a severely bruised rib from an over zealous mate’s bear hug.
There were six 2’s today coming from Bruce Milner, Am North, Jez Lees, Murray Hart, they were the ‘ordinary’ ones. The other two were different; Rosco got his chipping in on the Par 4 second hole and Dennis Persson got his on the 13th through a most unlikely chip. Rumour has it, that he was so far away and down in his sixes match, that his playing partner, a recent birthday girl, promised to bare a certain part of her anatomy if he holed it. Well he did and she did, giving nobody else any chance of putting out for laughing whilst the caddies couldn’t stop giggling either.
Div A
1st Bruce Milner (12) 38pts
2nd Bob Philp (7) 36pts
3rd Pat Regan (9) 35pts
4th Des Scott (8) 32pts
Div B
1st Barry Copestake (15) 37pts
2nd Harvey Samuel (17) 36pts
3rd Rosco Langoulant (15) 36pts
4th John Low (15) 35pts
Div C
1st Sugar Ray Hanford (19) 35pts
2nd Suzi Lawton (20) 33pts
3rd Trudy Chadbourn (27) 32pts
4th Barry Chadbourn (20) 31pts
Friday, 1 August, Siam Plantation - Stableford
It was the turn of Tapioca and Pineapple to bare their teeth as 37 Outbackers battled to break 36 points round this wonderful course. It was to no avail, nearest to that magic figure were Eddie Smith, who came second in Div B with a brilliant 35 off a 12 handicap, and Jake Turner with an equally brilliant 35 off 14, scoring enough on the back nine to snatch victory from Eddie on count back.
Jake, from Worcestershire, UK, is the youngest of three generations of Turners that played the course for the first time today, his dad and grandad also played. Well played young man!
Joe Khomapate, who works with the team reconstructing the new Sriracha course, due to open early next year, beat John Emmerson on count back to take Div A, both with 34.
The highest division today, Div C, had a tough time out there with only two players scoring more than 30 points. One of them was Tony Duthie who won the division with 32 points and the other was the lovely Jum, who came second with 31. The remaining two places required a three-way count back between Joe Spinley (3rd), Andy Dunitz (4th) and Bruce McAdaam.
There were four ‘2’s today coming from; Jake Turner, Bob Lindborg, Pete Stonebridge & Bruce Milner
Div A (0-9)
1st Joe Khomapate (9) 34pts
2nd John Emmerson (7) 34pts
3rd James Brackett (6) 33pts
4th Pat Regan (9) 33pts
Div B (10-17)
1st Jake Turner (14) 35pts
2nd Eddie Smith (12) 35pts
3rd Bill Harding (14) 34pts
4th Phil Knight (11) 33pts
Div C (18+)
1st Tony Duthie (21) 32pts
2nd Jum (36) 31pts
3rd Joe Spinley (22) 29pts
4th Andy Dunitz (18) 29pts
Friday, 1 August, Green Valley - Stableford
The Friday alternate this week was Green Valley, where 20 Outbackers enjoyed an early start, enabling virtually all the groups to get away before the official tee time of 10 o’clock.
Rick Evans headed a smaller than average ‘A’ division with 38 points (75 gross) tucking a second win under his belt following his win at Burapha earlier in the week. Mr. Consistent, Rosco took second on 36 with Brian Wilkinson a slightly distant third with 33.
After last week’s blank, the Chadbourns & Doodys were back on the podium, with Barry (34pts) collecting second and Kathy (33pts), who pipped Suzi Lawton on count back, taking third. Neither did enough however, to catch Roger Griffin with an excellent 38 to head the fourteen players of Div B.
There were three ‘2’s today from Geoff Doody, Pottsy & Brian Wilkinson.
Just a reminder this time of the year to get to the course early as very often the start is ahead of the official tee time. Leaving it to the last minute can inconvenience your fellow players.
Div A (0-18)
1st Rick Evans (5) 38pts
2nd Rosco Langoulant (15) 36pts
3rd Brian Wilkinson (12) 33pts
Div B (19+)
1st Roger Griffin (20) 38pts
2nd Barry Chadbourn (20) 34pts
3rd Kathy Doody (20) 33pts
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. All are welcome to come and join us for a beer and a hit. Just call in and put your name down on the list or give Bob a call on 087 941 2474. Our Bus Trip this month is to Royal Lakeside on Weds 27 Aug. More information can be found on our website www.outbackgolfbar.com.

Aussie’s Rule and No Balls

Golf from the Travellers Rest

Barry Hooper
Tuesday, 29 July, Phoenix (Mountain & Lake) - Stableford
1st Akitoshi Ito (9) 35pts
2nd Billy Fitzgerald (16) 32pts
3rd David Snell (10) 31pts
This month we are not out on Mondays so the first outing of the week was on Tuesday to Phoenix playing Mountain and Lakes. There was a good turnout and some very good play.
The day went to Akitoshi Ito with thirty-five points while Billy Fitzgerald was unable to match last week’s form and came second on this occasion with thirty-two points. David Snell completed the podium in third place with thirty-one points.
There were no 2’s so the bell was rung upon return the Travellers Rest
Thursday, 31 July, Greenwood A & B - Stableford
1st Matt Gibbons (15) 40pts
2nd Ted Senior (17) 37pts
3rd Richard Moore (24) 37pts
4th Billy Fitzgerald (16) 37pts
2’s: Ray Trembath
Thursday at Greenwood saw only a moderate turnout.
Matt Gibbons took the day by three clear points on forty whilst the next three places were fought out on count back, all at thirty seven points: Ted Senior slipped into second, Richard Moore was third and Billy Fitzgerald fourth. The 2’s went to Ray Trembath
Saturday, 2 August, The Emerald - Stableford
1st Eddie Townsend (18) 37pts
2nd Ted Senior (17) 37pts
3rd Chris Stewart (9) 32pts
4th Barry Hooper (32) 31pts
2’s: Chaten Patel, Chris Stewart
On Saturday our golfers made the trip to Emerald and a very good turnout produced some respectable golf on this testy course.

Saturday winners - Eddie Townsend and Chris Stewart.
I was able to join in having not played for many weeks and was impressed with what I found. The course played well and the weather, although a little damp at the start stayed mostly dry but humid. This must have suited the Aussies as it turned out to be an Australian benevolence event with all the top three places being taken by the antipodeans.
Eddie Townsend took top spot, albeit on count back from Ted Senior with both of them on thirty seven points, and third place went to Chris Stewart visiting with us for a few more days who despite losing some five balls on the day still came in with thirty two. Yours truly held up the British honours in fourth with thirty-one.
The ‘No Balls’ comment in the headline relates to the fact that on arrival at Emerald we found that no-one had collected any balls on the practice range and that if you required a knock-up it meant venturing out on the range and collecting same. So a strange site ensued with golfers trailing around and picking up golf balls whilst taking their chances from any stray shots that may come their way.

Rehm continues fine form

IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the OK Corral

Sunday, 27 July, the Pattaya Golf Society visited a very full Emerald in Ban Chang to play their usual Sunday stableford event over a course which is now in very fine condition.
The field was a high quality one with the average handicap barely fifteen, and it was a pleasure to welcome back Paul McNally, newly married and en route to his work base in China. He found Ban Chang was still a tough nut to crack however after a few month’s barren of golf.
Principals to feature were Larry Slattery in fourth place with a fine 35 points, and Chris Voller sharing second place with Wichai Tananusorn on 38 points each. The winner was John Rehm, following a very successful week at the IPGC Annual Championship, putting together a quality card of 40 points on the strength of some very sound iron play.
John also had the honour of the only birdie ‘2’ of the day, nailing a crucial ten-foot putt on the fifteenth.
Len Jones had played the first nine in 22 points but then found the wheels coming off his wagon after the thirteenth and he ended up with the Booby Bevy for a paltry 33 point final haul: Four uphill putts on the seventeenth is enough to break anyone’s soul!
Regular Sunday golfers are reminded that the Pattaya Golf Society is back on schedule at Eastern Star every weekend until the end of October.
A doddle
at Greenwood
The Pattaya Golf Society visited glorious Greenwood on Thursday, 31 July, to play a stableford event on the A & B nines. The course was beautifully turned out and the scene was set for some very good scores as the tees were well forward, giving even the shorter hitters more chance of “greens in regulation”.
So it was to be as Chris Voller joined Bill Pickersgill on 39 points for a share of third place, Chris using the bonus points to seal his first ‘Player of the Month’ award since relocating in November.
A country mile ahead in second was Keith Hector on 43 points and he must have been disappointed not to win as John Rehm continued his exceptional form at the moment with a startling 45 points, to register the group’s second best total of the year. Such has been John Rehm’s form that in the space of a week he has taken a divisional victory in the IPGC Annual Championships and played two other rounds in a total of 13-under par! Golf is obviously a doddle for the Swiss golfer at the moment.
Four people had a share of the rolled over 2’s pot with the lucky golfers being Bill Pickersgill, Keith Hector, Peter Duncan and Larry Slattery, who chose to sink a pair from off the greens. Playing partner George Doyle found his first round with the group memorable as he picked up the Booby Bevy for his low score.
At the end of the day, after a performance like that, John Rehm must be wondering what will happen next. For certain it’s going to get tougher John.

Three Sisters stop the rain - once again

Despite the early morning rain the stalwart members of the Three Sisters golf group proceeded to the Pattaya Country Club for their usual 6:30 am rendezvous and, as if by order, the drizzle stopped and rain clouds began breaking up.

Tuesday winner Bill Key, Jr. (left) with second placed Paul Donahue.

The first group off had to contend with wet and slow greens and a few of the fairways were pretty damp, but by 9 am the sun was breaking through and conditions improved.
Late to arrive was Bill Key, usually out in the first group, and grabbing a cart he proceeded to zip past singles, pairs and foursomes to catch up with his usual group at number 12. His rushing around the course didn’t hurt his play as he came in with a top score of 38 points. This being the last game of the month, Bill gets his name engraved on the Three Sisters trophy.
Struggling to catch Bill were Paul Donahue and Dale Murphy, both coming in with 37 points apiece. Paul took second place from Dale courtesy of the count back. Usually at the bottom of the stack, Paul managed to keep his head down and his score showed it today.
The remainder of the group came in with mid to low 30’s and everyone then retired to Caddy Shack II for some great spicy sausages, provided as usual by Herbie Ishinaga, accompanied by some liquid refreshment.

Russell Exley and Paul Taylor secure the medals

IPGC golf from The Haven

Monday, 28 July, Green Valley – Stableford
1st Shane Heavey 44pts
2nd Alan Pilkington 42pts
3rd Fred Land 40pts
4th Chris Knapp 38pts
5th Phil Groves 38pts
6th Ken Deringer 38pts
Usually by Monday morning the tees have been moved back from the weekend positions, but on this day they were found unmoved and somewhere near the usual red placements. This made the course very short for the higher handicappers and they all made hay while the sun shone from clear skies.
Shane Heavey was the player who benefited most from his 18 handicap as his short game is extremely good. He amassed a very unusual seven-under the day’s CSS of 71 and came sharply into the handicapper’s focus for a trim.
Alan Pilkington, who is in good form having just succeeded in the Club Championship, also took advantage of the reduced length to put in a good return of six-under, just ahead of Fred Land who with his already prodigious length off the tee found things a lot easier that a normal Monday and went four below.
Chris Knapp led home the group on two-under par by count back from Phil Groves and Ken Deringer.
Once again there were no 2’s in the second division but Glyn Nicholas, who had just moved divisions over the weekend had one in the first together with Barry Traynor.
Before presenting the prizes, The Doc welcomed new members Bob Wardle and Ken Deringer and welcomed back Markku Tynell and Harry Vincenzi. There was also a farewell to the IPGC Net Champion, Alan Pilkington, who is returning to Blighty to celebrate.
The day was also the culmination of the July Walker of The Month, which this time was taken by Chris Knapp with a total of 144 and Barry Traynor as runner up on 142. The best score of the month went to Trevor Schirmer with his outstanding effort of 46 points at Greenwood.
This competition is open to all, who must select four courses from the month’s schedule and play an extra round if desired as replacement for a poor result. The total stableford points score determines the month’s winner.
Tuesday, 29 July, Siam Country Club – Stableford
1st Russell Exley 36pts
2nd Barry Winton 36pts
3rd Fred Land 34pts
4th Trevor Schirmer 33pts
5th Graham Davis 33pts
A day out testing the new Siam Country Club Old Course was a complete change of pace as the usual format for prizes was altered to best score and best front and back nines. These turned out to be the top of the normal order in any event, with Russell Exley winning on count back and Barry Winton winning the front with 19 points and Fred Land the back with 20 points. There were no 2’s competitions, which was just as well as nobody had one.
The general consensus was the best looking and prepared course in the area bar none, but a few too many tricked up greens which is unnecessary for such a great course from tee to green. The round took over four and a half hours whilst playing in three-balls due to the excessive walking from cart path to ball.
The main drawback here is the cost, which may be very reasonable for tourists who typically pay more than the total sum inclusive of a cart in their home countries, but is a little expensive for those golfers living here who are used to prices of a third of those charged on the day, although perhaps for courses not quite of the same quality.
For those interested, the CSS on the day calculated at 73.
Wednesday, 30 July, Phoenix Blue Tees - Monthly Medals
Division 1
1st Russell Exley net 76
2nd Marty Rock net 77
3rd Tony Barritt net 78
4th Ian Grout net79
5th Al Keith net 79
Division 2
1st Paul Taylor net 71
2nd Shane Heavey net 72
3rd Ken Graham net 74
4th Tom McCarthy net 76
5th Chris Knapp net 78
Starting out under clear skies, none of the competitors were prepared for the torrential rainstorm that hit with the majority of the field still having five holes to play. A stoppage ensued with the greens unplayable, but Phoenix always drains well and play resumed quickly, although the rain and wind continued to decimate the scores as every hole went by.
One may have thought that the two divisions were played over different courses as the second division contestants by and large achieved lower scores, with Paul Taylor leading them in on three-under from the blues after the CSS had gone out to 76 with the conditions as they were.
Shane Heavey again showed well in second place and ensured that he would be three shots lower on the following Monday, and Ken Graham also did well as one of the earlier starters.
The first division was a much tougher affair as most of the players went off later and took the full brunt of the storm, but Russell Exley still managed to put in a very respectable card to lead them in with Marty Rock, an early starter, just one back in second and Tony Barritt, who just finished before the heavens opened taking third place.
Once again there were no 2’s in the second division but Barry Winton had two in the first division. He unfortunately forgot that the day’s format was medal on the fourth hole after missing his bogey putt, performed a very good example of his Mum’s pudding bowl method, he then picked up to record a no-return on a day which he surely could have won.
Prior to the presentations Ian Grout was welcomed back from school and there was a farewell to Tom McCarthy who was returning to school.
Friday, 1 August, Crystal Bay - Stableford
1st Tony Thorne 37pts
2nd Russell Exley 34pts
3rd Barry Winton 33pts
4th Orathai Winton 33pts
5th Graham Davis 33pts
6th Ken Deringer 33pts
Another very tough day with the wind always a factor and seemingly never really helping even down wind, and it showed in the scores with only one player getting within the buffer zone and therefore requiring the CSS to be set at 75.
This was a big blow in all senses for Tony Thorn as the day’s winner, who lost an extra shot for the upcoming August Knockout Matchplay.
Russell Exley rounded off a good week of two wins and two in the buffer zone and a return to a single figure handicap with a solid round. Barry Winton led in a large group, consisting of his wife Orathai, who won her first prize ever, and Graham Davis and Ken Deringer all having to be separated by count back.
Barry Winton and Russell Exley shared the first division 2’s pool but once again there were none in the second division making it a quintuple rollover and leading to speculation that the purse holder may well do a runner before the next pay out is due. Fortunately we know where his family lives.
Before pressing the prizes The Doc welcomed back Dougie Brennan.

The Square Ring: by Howie Reed

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad will open this Friday in Beijing, China, before more TV and media coverage than any event in history. “Back in the day” that would mean an automatic shot in the arm for the sport of boxing. Cassias Clay, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones jr., the Klitschko’s and Oscar De La Hoya all got their pro careers jump started via Olympic boxing.
What happened? First and foremost the International Amateur Boxing Association became just as corrupt as the Olympics themselves. Judges were bribed to determine the outcome of fights, which meant the term Olympic Champion Gold medal winner didn’t mean ‘diddley.’
Roy Jones loss in 1988 turned the harsh light of public opinion on the problem of corrupt judging. TSR has some personal knowledge of an official who was offered money and refused only to find his bags packed and sitting in the lobby of his former hotel.
From the HBO website came, “After watching Jones soundly defeat hometown favorite Si-Hun Park in the light middleweight final, the world was stunned when the South Korean boxer was given the gold medal by a score of 3-2. As one boxing expert moaned: ‘Those blind bums would have given Custer a gold medal after the Little Big Horn.’ One judge immediately admitted the error of his ways, but later, after a serious discussion with his superiors, he recanted. In an attempt to cover up the blatant crime the Olympic officials exposed it further by awarding Jones the Val Barker Trophy, given to the Games outstanding boxer.”
The sport was already in disfavor when TV decided that the Olympics was more than sport so they went out of their way to show Olympic events as “family entertainment.” That welcomed in the era, which we’re still in, of water ballet, women gymnastics, synchronized swimming (singles and pairs) along with other feel good politically correct events that sell cosmetics.
You can never have too much TV time devoted to pairs rhythm gymnastics, ballroom dancing or fencing, which one must watch while sipping a double coffee late’ mocha from a recyclable organic container in natural sunlight.
Amateur
International
Boxing Federation
To its credit, it appears that the AIBF is taking steps to improve its image by electing Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu as the new president. He replaces the 84-year old Anwar Chowdhry from Pakistan, of whom many ethical questions were asked.
Those questions were not only about officials, but also finances. Following an outside financial investigation, AIBF Turkish General secretary Caner Doganeli was suspended. The AIBF ethics committee is looking into financial irregularities against both Doganeli and Chowdhry.
The critics of “business as usual” involved in amateur boxing strongly supported and voted for Dr. Wu. Prior to the Olympics he received a letter, released to the public, from Dr. Jose Sulaiman, President of the WBC.
“I am suggesting to President Wu that he take a very important step in the history of amateur boxing, which is to warn the ring officials that will work in the coming Olympic Games to devote themselves absolutely to the principles of honesty, impartiality, competency, and loyalty to the AIBA institution, and that those who do not should be eliminated from the Olympic Games and never be appointed officially by the AIBA again,” said Sulaiman.
He continued, “I believe strongly in Dr. Wu’s honesty and integrity. I am confident that he will work very hard to erase the apparent corruption that has existed in the past with some of AIBA’s ring officials that (has) hurt many innocent boxers and nations who have deserved to win medals.”
Note to Dr. Sulaiman - Nations don’t win Olympics medals, athletes do. As Jeeves’ mother use to say, “People in glass houses should not run away nekked.”
2008 Thailand
Olympic Boxing Team
Thailand has had some success in Olympic boxing, starting in 1996 when Somluck Kamsing became the Kingdom’s first Gold medal winner. Many felt that he had a good chance to repeat the feat in Sydney in 2000 but by skipping training while working on his singing and acting career he eliminated his chances.
Manus Boonjumnong got the light-welterweight Gold in Athens by out-punching Cuba’s Yudel Johnson. He collected a $600,000 USD bonus from the Kingdom and then went goofy by acting like a farang on holiday. He spent the money on alcohol, gambling and one would expect an occasional “lady”.
To turn things around and get away from the “Bangkok playboy lifestyle,” Manus spent time in Cuba and then became a monk to wean himself off the party life. He’s back on the team as the leading candidate for the Gold. He turned up winning Gold at the 2006 Asia Games and the Southeast Asia games last year.
Trying to head off a “train wreck” at this year’s Games, Thailand’s boxing chief Taweep Jantararoj three months ago deported the team to rural Vietnam to avoid “distractions” of the Thai nightlife. “I’m keeping them in Vietnam right up until the Games because I worry about what they will do at home,” said Jantararoj.
There will be eight Thai boxers at this year’s games with Taweep tipping seven to win medals. Two boxers, besides Manus, have good chances of winning. Flyweight veteran Somjit Jongjohor was the runner up last year at the world championships in Chicago and reigning bantamweight silver medallist Worapoj Petchkoom is back.
Called the “best of the new bunch,” but a long-shot for a medal, is middleweight Angkarn Chomphuphuang whose stock shot up after the beat Kazakhstan star Bakhtiyar Artayev, the Olympic gold medalist from 2004, in the Kings Cup.
Former Olympians
2004 Olympic silver medallist, Amir Khan (18-0), has dipped into the North American pool of trainers as he replaces Dean Powell with Jorge Rubino. While his September 6 opponent is still a mystery, his trainer won’t be. Rubino’s most successful trainee to date is Yuriorkis Gamboa (11-0). Regular readers of TSR will remember Gamboa as one of the Cuban boxers who defected in December of ’06 while the team was in Venezuela. Venezuela wanted, and tried, to send Gamboa back to Cuba but the Germans stepped in to save the day. Gamboa fought in Bangkok in ’03 in the world amateur’s, losing to Somjit Jongjohor from Thailand after 2 earlier wins.
One might think that maybe former world champion Jeff Lacy, 2000 USA Olympic team, has gone a little “loopy”. After his “disputed “ win over Epifanio Mendoza it was announced that Lacy would face former USA Olympic teammate Jermain Taylor on November 11.
Within days that announcement was met with a riposte from Lacy about retiring from boxing. “I feel like Taylor needs me more than I need him and what do I look like fighting that fight for $550,000 and risking my life in there like I did against Mendoza because the referee is not on top of this guy hitting me in the back of the head?”
Within moments Lacy’s attorney told the St. Pete Times, “I’m telling you, as Jeff’s attorney, a deal has been reached. It took a lot of work, a lot of effort, a lot of discussion, but we got it done.”
One of the first ‘eastern block’ fighters to gain world recognition was former champion Mate Parlov of Croatia, who died of lung cancer last week.
After winning the gold medal at the 1972 Olympics he went on to a successful pro career (24-3-2), which included the WBC world light-heavyweight championship. He won that title in January 1978 when he KO’d previously unbeaten Miguel Angel Cuello. He would defend against the UK’s John “Mr. Elbows” Conteh before losing the title to Marvin Johnson.
He fought some of the best, getting a draw and loss against Marvin Camel and Matthew Saad Muhammad respectively. He also had a win against Tony Mundine whose bum son, Anthony, got an easy win last week in Australia.
Three Dot Lounge …Ya all come on in
“How ya doing Mr. Dunahey. What’ll it be? The usual?”
“Sure Joe. Did you get a chance to watch the replay of the Margarito-Cotto fight?”
“Yea, was a hell of a scrap.”
“You know Joe, what helps make a great fight is sometimes the third man in the ring. In this fight Kenny Bayless did a hell of a job. He was in charge, stayed out of the fighters’ way and knew that people paid to see two gladiators and not some guy in a blue shirt and bow tie run off at the mouth.
“A lot of folks that watched the fight, at least in the USA, thought that Cotto might have been winning. If you listen to Jim Lamply and ‘expert judge’ Harold Lederman you had Cotto winning: ‘Jim he’s landing the more effective punches.’ What a lot of bull stuff Joe.
“To hear Lamply, who was in his ‘don’t believe your lying eyes listen to me’ mode, it was Cotto’s match to lose. After 10 rounds the official judges had it scored 96-94 on two cards for Margarito, with one judge seeing it 95 all. TSR had it 96-94 for Margarito. Another Lamply mistake was when he said ‘three Nevada judges’. Judge Glen Hamada is from the state of Washington, which for Jim’s edification is not part of Nevada.
“Ok one for the road Joe. If I stay too long I’ll probably do something stupid like the California boxing officials who seem to have stayed on past ‘last call.’ You may remember that a couple of weeks ago The Square Ring took California boxing officials to task for their stupid decision in the James Toney-Hasim Rahman fight. The Square Ring and boxing announcer par excellence, Barry Thompkins, were ‘befuddled’ by the official ruling of a TKO for Toney. Following the 3rd round Rahman said, ‘I can’t see.’ The doctor told the referee to stop the fight and he did. Common sense and boxing rules called it a ‘No Contest.’
“After the fight was off television, the boxing officials of California decided that Toney was the winner because Rahman had indicated he couldn’t see before the cut was even examined, so a TKO was ruled. We suggested a ‘single Finger’ salute. Now following an appeal by Rahman the result is changed to ‘No Contest.’”
Here’s Jeeves…
If viewers can tear themselves away from the Olympics on Monday, from 7-9 pm, they’ll get a chance to watch WBC lady atomweight champion Vinyu ParadornGym (7-1) against Momo Koseki (5-1) from Japan. Vinyu won the crown when she defeated Momo last August in Thailand. The referee for that one was your Lordship’s cousin, Bruce MacTavish.
Also on the TV card is former WBA champ Wandee Singwancha (56-8-) taking on Takahisa Masuda (18-7-3). Wandee is 17-0-1 over his last 18. He had a very tough patch in ’03 when he lost to world ranked Hussein Hussein, Peter Culshaw and Vic Darchinyan twice.
Your Lordship, as I get your attitude adjustment fluid, a cigar and some musical sounds, I have a question for you. You know that the biggest event in North American harness racing is the Hambletonian. It was run last Saturday. Do you know the name of the winner? O.K. I’ll give you a hint. The horse was named after either a law firm in England or all the bar owners in Pattaya. Give up? The horses name is Deweycheatumnhowe.

Aussie sailors dominate the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek

The keelboat fleet in line on Day 1.

Time to have some fun on the final day of the regatta.

The monsoon weather conditions tested everyone’s sailing skills.

Story by Peter Cummins; Photos Martyn Goodacre for IMAGE asia
Peter Ahern’s Australian team from Perth made no mistake in the Racing (IRC-1) Class at the recently finished Six Senses Phuket Raceweek - sailed over the period 23-27 July – with a total of eight races for some of the seven classes participating. Peter won every race on “Yo!2” for a perfect score.

All girl band ‘Unicorn’ dished up some entertainment for the sailors.
Elsewhere Peter’s compatriots had a highly successful regatta as well; Andrew de Bruin easily winning the Club Charter Class, Bill Webb coming second behind South African skipper Shane Smith in the Ocean Multihulls, and Ben Copley followed Peter Ahern in the IRC-1 Class.
Other class winners were the Thai-registered yacht “Phoenix”, skippered by Niels Degenkolw (IRC-2), Ocean Multihulls Phuket-based Ao Chalong sailor Mark Horwood on “Charro”, British entrant Peter Dyer skippering “SEA Property”won the Firefly 850 and persistent Nutt Gunter helmed one of the ‘Queens of the Seas’ “Kerida” to win the superb Classic Class.

Phuket’s Laem Ka Bay provided a picturesque location for the fifth Six Senses Phuket Raceweek.
The last day of the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek was in effect, a microcosm of the whole week. Although the regatta opened in rather dismal conditions, it moved on very quickly into a perfect few days of yacht racing out off the Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spas, around the beautiful island-studded Laem Ka Bay on Phuket’s southeast coast. But moderate to strong southwesterly monsoons gave the fleets, at times, more than some of them could handle.
The more than 10 nationalities which participated included Australia, China (Hong Kong), France, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, UK, USA and Thailand, and added to the great media coverage the event has attracted via print and TV, the sailors from these regions will be spreading the word upon return to their home ports.
The regatta, in its fifth sailing, featured 44 craft and more than 30 co-sponsors, supporters and ‘Island Partners’.
Concomitant with the greatly expanded fleets, the international media honed in on the action with media partners in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand -in fact a worldwide coverage – televising the event via sporting and life-style channels and print.
Eurosport, Star Sports, the European Sailing Channel, CNN Mainsail and a special UK programme, Proactive TV, distributed through Watersports World, brought the beauty of yacht-racing specifically, and Phuket generally, to a potential viewing audience of over 150 million around the globe.
Of course, the Thai press also covered the action, the Bangkok Post, the Pattaya Mail, the Pattaya Blatt and the Phuket press to name a few of the media outlets.
This attention, in turn, attracts more sponsorship and this year the Six Senses Resorts and Spa, as the principal sponsor, had the naming rights having supported the regatta, with the Evason Phuket as the host venue, since day one.
Six Senses Chief Executive Officer, Sonu Shivdasani, sees a remarkable symbiosis between his company’s goal of maintaining a sustainable environment and yacht racing – probably one of the sporting world’s most environmentally-friendly pursuits.
Other generous supporters were Raimon Land, with a similar philosophy to Six Senses, whose concern for developing a better environment has been the catalyst for the company sponsoring so many ventures in the marine sector and yacht racing up and down the Kingdom.
Rodenstock eyewear has also entered the arena of sports sponsorship, embracing yacht racing via the Koh Samui and the Six Senses Regattas and introducing specially designed lenses for sports people. Rodenstock’s daily ‘happy hour’ was always a full house at the splendid sea-front restaurant of the Evason.
The Sports and the Tourism authorities of Thailand stamped their imprimateur on the regatta, ably supported by the national authority, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, located in the adjacent bay to the Laem Ka racing area.
The “on-water” action was only matched on the land with, at one count, six parties for five days of racing. One such spectacular was the Raimon Land party at the Ratri Jazzhouse, Kata Beach, with a splendid view over Phuket. On hand, so to speak, was the ‘Unicorn’ all-girl band, so nobody – at least among the weary sailors – bothered to look at the views of Phuket!
Possibly the regatta could be summed up by Peter Ahern, who had written in his local yacht club newsletter to his Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club’ colleagues before he came to Phuket: “I strongly recommend anyone looking for a relaxed but competitive yachting regatta, in the middle of the next (Australian) winter, to participate in the 2008 Phuket Raceweek.”
The Rear Commodore of the club, Peter had spent many months refurbishing his Farr 40, “Yo!2” and arrived in Phuket with a top team of Perth yachties, joined by several out of Malaysia.
Meanwhile Johnnie Walker and Mont Clair Wines kept the thirsty sailors, race management and regatta personnel steadily supplied with a deluge of beverages and Sixt Rent-a-car also joined the fray in 2008.
The regatta managers, Phuket entrepreneurs Grenville Fordham and Andy Dowden, along with the superb team of Simon James’ race officers, Mark Pryke’s international jurors and, yes, even the press and media will look forward to the sixth edition of the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek next year.

Six Senses Phuket Raceweek: Results RACING CLASS (IRC-1) (first six only). 1. Peter Ahern (Aus, “Yo!2”, 7); 2. Ben Copley (Aus, “Katsu”, 16); 3. John Vause (NZ, “Ruby Tuesday”, 22); 4. Stuart Williamson (UK, “Endeavour of Whitby”, 33); 5. Toshio Furuta (Japan, “Emma”, 44); 6. Peter Jones (Malaysia, “Moya Hin”, 46). IRC-2. (first three only). 1. Niels Degenkolw, (Thai, “Phoenix”, 9); 2. Peter Dyer (UK, “Madame Butterfly”, 11); 3. Mick Kealy (Thai, “Evason Phuket Minx”, 20). CLUB CHARTER (first four only). 1. Andrew de Bruin (Aus, “Awatea”, 5); 2. Horst Lakits (Austria, “Big A”, 11); 3. Roger Harris (“Simone”, 19); 4. Somov Viatceslav (Russia, “Thalassa”, 21). OCEAN MULTIHULL (first three only). 1. Shane Smith (South Africa,”Chameleon”, 4); 2. Bill Webb (Aus., “Out of the Bag”, 8); 3. Bernard Chapus (France, “Chamaral”, 20). RACING MULTIHULL (first three only). 1. Mark Horwood (Thai, “Charro”, 11); 2. Bob Brindley (Aus, “X-Catriot”, 11); 3. Neil Ayre, “Shanghai Baby”, 20). FIREFLY 650 (all). 1. Peter Dyer (UK, “SEA Property”, 16); 2. Henry Kaye (UK, “Mamba”, 16); 3. Roger Kingdon (UK, “Moto Inzi”, 17); 4. Bill Phelps (Thai, “Twin Sharks”, 19); 5. Chris Jongerius (“The Frog”, 30). CLASSICS (all). 1. Nutt Gunter (Thai, “Kerida”, 4); 2. Mark Myking (USA, “Idiom”, 5); 3. Neil Parry (Aus, “Burong Bahri”, 9); 4. Tom Howard (Thai, “Seraph”, 13).

League of Legends - Round 5

Morris makes a date with the handicapper

Jomtien Golf with the IPGC

Monday, 28 July, The Emerald - 1-2-3 Stableford
Our fun game of the month with, as always, an individual stableford competition for two divisions for the 29 players and also today a three-in-a-team stableford contest for nine groups. Needless to say there was total confusion back at Siam Cats after the organiser asked for a separate scorecard for each player and an extra one for the team score.
In the end, after some fun barracking to some of the players (no names mentioned of course) William Chang, Joe Kubon and Dave Ross were declared runners up with 76 points, and just one point ahead in first were the trio of Peter Grant, Jimmy Johnson and Bryan Rought. There were seven teams within 5 points of the winners so it was a very close contest indeed.
Two birdies on the 15th for Burnie Sinclair and Paddy Wilson secured a share of the 2’s pot and the ‘Near Pins’ went to Keith Hector, Bill Hewitt, Jim Lane, Phin Stewart, Andy Crabb, Peter Grant and Jean Morel.
In the individual stableford contest, Bob Green recorded his first ever 36 points to win division 2, just beating Bryan Rought by 1 point. Ted Morris took division 1 honours after beating Dave Ross on an 18/16 back nine count back. Paddy Wilson was third on 36 points.
Wednesday, 30 July, Greenwood – Stableford
It was a smaller field than on Monday but still worth the journey here to Greenwood.
Jimmy Johnson won division 2, beating Russell Benson on count back after both finished with 36 points, and the in form Ted Morris took division 1 with a 41-point haul off his 8 handicap. Burnie Sinclair finished second with 37.
There were no nearest the pins today, but in the two’s competition Jimmy Johnson and Jean Morel had one each to share the prize.
Friday, 1 August, Eastern Star – Stableford
With the new greens starting to show some materialization after all these weeks, the management has told us they should be ready within the next 2 months.
The scissors will be out this weekend in the weekly IPGC handicap update as Ted Morris won division 1 for the third time this week,but only with 36 points this time. Calon Blackburn came in second 4 points behind. Still the same old names crop up, and waiting to be cut as well after scoring 39 points was division 2 winner Bryan Rought and in second place 6 points behind Peter Grant.
Note: Jomtien Golf meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Siam Cats, Soi 5 Jomtien Beach Rd. at around 8.30am for a 10.00am tee off. There is one month’s schedule in the bar so please sign up or call Glyn on 086 837 5464.

Thailand beat Hong Kong in Pattaya thriller

The Thailand Tigers relax after the game at Horseshoe Point following their historic win over reigning Asian champions, the Hong Kong Dragons.

David Paterson
Thailand’s Australian Rules Football club, the Thailand Tigers hosted reigning Asian Champions the Hong Kong Dragons last weekend at Horseshoe Point in Pattaya and handed the champions their first defeat in more than a year.
It was a significant victory by the Thailand Tigers as the best Australian football sides have not been able to get close to the Hong Kong team in recent times.
The last time the Dragons came to Thailand, they were undefeated in their run through the 2007 Asia championships, eventually taking home the trophy after a thrilling extra-time final against the Bali Gecko’s. However this time a rejuvenated Tigers team took it up to the champs to come away with a hard fought win.
The Tigers started the better, getting away to an early lead with goals to full forward Aaron Klutke and rover Damien Hoo. Although it was a tight and scrappy encounter early on, the Tigers were able to make the most of their opportunities, whereas the visitors were rushed in front of goal, and unable to convert.
New International Captain, Jarrad Rexilious, was leading the way in the midfield, with some explosive runs from the center of the ground and continually pumping the ball into the forward line. He was in good company with Nathan Kincaid also prominent in his first game for the Thailand team, showing plenty of aggression at the contests, and also pushing forward to provide another scoring option.
The Dragons rallied after quarter time, showing some of the qualities that make them such a force in Asian football. And though they won a lot more of the football around the ground and looked to be getting on top of the Tigers, the desperate efforts of the Tigers key defensive players in Chris Cleave and Michael Sammons were proving too hard to penetrate. Cleave was a tower of defense in the air, and also at ground level with his fierce tackling. What Sammons and Cleave didn’t mark or spoil seemed to be cleared by the Tigers fleet of nimble defenders in James Lie and Ryan Collett. The Tigers taking a 25-point lead into half time.
With the Hamilton-Riddell Cup on the line, and looking for an improvement a month out from the 2008 Asian Football Championships in Singapore, the Hong Kong team threw everything into the second half and started to peg back the Tigers early lead. The Dragons were not having things their own way however, with goals still proving hard to come by for both teams as the pressure intensified. Keeping the Tigers in front was Hoo whose continued hard running through the middle of the ground, and aggressive tackling eventually earned him a shot on goal that he duly converted for full points.
However the Dragons kicked four goals straight for the term to the Tigers two goals and two behinds, reducing the Tigers lead to 14 points going into the three quarter time break.
This lead was quickly reduced to only eight points when the Dragons booted the first goal of the final term and it was suddenly “game on”.
However the Tigers had been resting several of their better players during the third quarter, and with Rexilious, Hoo, and Kincaid back into the middle, and dominant ruckman Luke Rogowski drifting across the half back line, the Tigers grabbed control again. They pushed the ball forward where Klutke was able to gather a loose ball and kick his third goal for the day, a great effort on the run from 40 metres out, restoring a comfortable margin.
This proved too much for the Dragons, with the home side The Thailand Tigers running out victors by 13 points.
International coach David Paterson was happy with the win leading into September’s Asia Championships. “We were very happy to come away with a win against the benchmark in the competition, as we have continued to make significant inroads from where we were as a team this time last year. It reinforces that the challenge is definitely there for this group if they want to achieve the ultimate success in Singapore,” he said.
Final score: Thailand Tigers: 8 - 7 - 55 defeated the Hong Kong Dragons: 6 - 6 - 42
Best Players for Thailand: Chris Cleave, Damien Hoo, Jarrad Rexilious, Nathan Kincaid.
Goal Kickers: Klutke (3), Hoo (2), Kincaid, Sullivan, Rogowski.

Charity Pool at the Sportsman

The pool players gather for a group photo prior to the knockout tournament.

A charity Pool night on behalf of the Mercy Centre was held in the Sportsman Pub & Restaurant, Soi 13 on Saturday 20 July. The Mercy Centre was opened for disadvantaged and abandoned children by Fred and Dianne Doell.
The evening included 14 players who were whittled down to Mr. Blue and Dave Bowers who took 1st and 2nd respectively. There was also a raffle to raise extra money with kind donations from Manhattans Steakhouse, Casa Pascal, Poseidon and the Sportsman Pub & Restaurant in the form of meal vouchers.
A total of 15,500 was raised and Desmond Chalice from Door 2 Door food delivery then generously added 9,500 baht to the cause, making a grand total of 25,000 baht. Sportsman Pub and Restaurant would like to thank all competitors and contributors for making the evening a great success.

Siripen scores best of the day 43 points

July Diana Seniors, Super Seniors & Ladies Open

Thursday 31 July, Pattaya Country Club - Stableford
Thirty-one golfers arrived at Pattaya Country Club to contest the monthly Diana competition for Super Seniors (men over 65) Seniors (men 50 - 64) and Ladies (any age). They were welcomed by Nigel Cannon who was standing in for Mike Franklin.
The course was in its usual fair condition with the greens rather slow. The weather was fine for this time of year with just a little sun.
The best score of the day was 43 points by Siripen Homkum (18) - winning the Ladies with Sue Murphy (31) the runner up with 42 points. However the ‘gentle giant’ Herb Schwieterman (23) was not letting the ladies have it all there own way with 41 points to win the Seniors competition, with Ian Covill (13) runner up with 38 points. John Hurst (15) was the Super Seniors winner with 39 points, closely followed by runner up by Frank O’Neill (15) with 38 points.
The next competition exclusively for men over 50 and ladies any age is scheduled for Thursday August 28 at Pattaya Country Club with tee times from 9am. Sign-up sheets are at Diana Driving Range and Green Bottle, 2nd Road until Tuesday, August 26.
Long Putt: #9 Prakong Robinson, #18 Siripen Homkum
Near Pins: #5 Mick O’Meara, #7 Frank O’Neill, #12 Mick O’Meara, #16 Siripen Homkum.