PATTAYA, Thailand – The Bunker Boys kicked off the week on Monday, 18 August, at Crystal Bay C & A, where those not ill, injured, or away on holiday teed off. The course was in superb condition, arguably the best seen in years, with even some maintenance being carried out—something rarely observed. Despite a roughly forty-minute interval for the last group, which may have contributed to the results, competition was keen.
Fresh from a scuba diving trip to Vietnam, Anders Nielsen showcased his versatility, taking first place with 35 points, narrowly edging out Alan Howard in second with 34 points. After a long layoff due to a shoulder problem, Michael Brett finished third with 32 points, although two wiped-out strokes curtailed any chance of a higher finish. Only two near pins were claimed, a notably poor effort overall.
1st – Anders Nielsen (26) – 35 points
2nd – Alan Howard (22) – 34 points
3rd – Michael Brett (13) – 32 points
Near pins – Alan Howard & Michael Brett
On Wednesday, 20 August, the Society faced Greenwood A & B, where an unusually large turnout of eighteen players faced challenges on a crowded course. With the C nine closed, four societies competed on the A & B loops, slowing the pace significantly. Damp conditions produced several mud-balls, and ball cleaning was disallowed due to past abuse of the rule. Despite these setbacks, the greens were excellent.
Overall scoring was modest, with Alan Howard and Robbie Watts sharing first place with 37 points each. Greg Berry earned third with 35 points, and Anders Nielsen rounded out the winners with 32 points. Near pins went to Greg Berry, Alan Howard, and Gerry Cooney (who claimed two on the A nine).
1st – Alan Howard (22) – 37 points
2nd – Robbie Watts (13) – 37 points
3rd – Greg Berry (14) – 35 points
4th – Anders Nielsen (26) – 32 points
Near pins – Greg Berry, Alan Howard, Gerry Cooney x2
Friday, 22 August, saw a challenging day at Eastern Star, starting with rain delays of roughly forty minutes. Compounded by two busloads from another society being placed ahead, the Bunker Boys teed off from hole ten, with light drizzle continuing throughout much of the round. A damp course with heavy air made the course play exceptionally long, resulting in modest scoring.
A decisive five-pointer on one hole allowed Bil Richardson to edge past Anders Nielsen by a single stroke, securing first place with 32 points. Hubert Stiefenhofer finished third with 27 points. Only three near pins were recorded during the round. This marked Anders Nielsen’s last game of the tour, while Dave Galvin made his debut. Seasonal players like Keith Hemmings and Tony Robbins are expected back soon.
1st – Bil Richardson (23) – 32 points
2nd – Anders Nielsen (25) – 31 points
3rd – Hubert Stiefenhofer (17) – 27 points
Near pins – Alan Sullivan, Hubert Stiefenhofer, Michael Brett
