PATTAYA, Thailand – The Bunker Boys concluded October with three rounds at Eastern Star, Pattana and Mountain Shadow, producing contrasting scores and a first-ever Golfer of the Month title for Alan Sullivan, who had already celebrated his maiden hole-in-one earlier in the year.
Monday, October 26 – Eastern Star Golf Course
A bright, sunny day with a light breeze greeted the players at Eastern Star, where the course was in excellent condition. Members also received a pleasant surprise when the normal all-inclusive fee of 1,650 baht was honoured despite their not having PSC vouchers.
Les Cobban (10) took first place with 38 points, followed by Ken Smith (32) on 36 points, edging Geoff Williams (13), also on 36, on countback. Smith recorded his best score of the trip. Cobban and Alan Sullivan dominated the near pins, claiming two each. With only one round remaining, Sullivan held a commanding lead over Williams in the Golfer of the Month competition.
Wednesday, October 28 – Pattana Golf Course
Conditions were initially sunny but windy at Pattana, where play began on the C course. Dark clouds gathered later, but the threatened rain stayed away. With few other golfers on the course, the group enjoyed an uninterrupted round.
Returning from the UK, Paul Smith (3) produced the week’s outstanding performance, winning with 42 points and recording an eagle on the par-six hole. Geoff Williams (13), playing his final round before returning to Australia, recovered from a disastrous start of just one point over three holes to finish second with 35 points. Ian Flannigan (20) claimed third with 34 points, his first appearance among the prizewinners.
The four near pins went to Geoff Williams, Bil Richardson, Alan Howard and Michael Brett. The round also marked the end of low-season pricing at Pattana, with higher rates likely to keep the society away for some time despite the course’s popularity among members.
Friday, October 30 – Mountain Shadow Golf Course
Mountain Shadow provided a difficult conclusion to the month, with the smallest turnout for several months and the lowest scores of the week. Despite well-grassed fairways, satisfactory greens and no delays from other groups, the players struggled throughout a surprisingly slow round.
Michael Brett (17) secured first place with 29 points, four ahead of Uwe Jurgensen (29) on 25. Ian Flannigan (20) finished third with 19 points, well below his Wednesday performance. Brett also claimed two near pins, with Jurgensen taking the remaining prize.
The month’s final result confirmed Alan Sullivan as the Bunker Boys’ October Golfer of the Month, winning the trophy by a comfortable margin. It marked another memorable achievement in an excellent golfing year for Sullivan, who also recorded his first-ever hole-in-one.
