Ashton piles on 42 at Riverside

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Wayne Peppernell (center) with John Pearce (left) and Robin Taylor.

PSC Golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society

Monday, Jan. 7, Bangpakong Riverside – Stableford

A Flight (0-15)
1st Phillip Ashton (12) 42pts
2nd Pete Seil (5) 39pts
3rd Maurice Roberts (13) 38pts
4th Colm Lawlor (14) 38pts

B Flight (16-18)
1st Ralph McConnell (18) 41pts
2nd Wayne Peppernell (16) 41pts
3rd Dane O’Brien (16) 36pts
4th Tony Browne (18) 34pts

C Flight (19+)
1st Walter Baechli (21) 35pts
2nd Larry Slattery (19) 34pts
3rd Pierre Zbinden (21) 33pts
4th Kenny Jepson (26) 33pts

We never tire of hearing about how good this course is, as it is almost always presented in immaculate condition with wide, nicely mown fairways, the rough not too harsh and first class greens running with good speed. Today was no exception with the possibility of some big stableford point scores.

Phillip Ashton got into town about a week ago and got right into his game by taking out the “A” flight and the Green Jacket with the best score of the day, a big 42 points. Pete Seil is a class golfer and never far from the podium and his 39 points was a very good score from his handicap of 5. Maurice Roberts is showing some solid form of late and took the countback for third from Colm Lawlor, both on 38 points.

“B” flight was set up for a countback as Ralph McConnell and Wayne Peppernell both had great games amassing 41 points each. That result got Ralph first place by way of a better back nine. There was a gap to third placed Dane O’Brien with 36 points and Tony Browne winning a countback for fourth on 34.

Phillip Ashton.
Phillip Ashton.

The “C” flight at last found world traveller Walter Baechli return to the form we know he is capable of to take first place on 35 points, ahead of Larry Slattery on 34. The final countback of the round saw Pierre Zbinden take third from Kenny Jepson, both on 33.

Near pins went to Carl Luke, Dane O’Brien, Tip Briney and Brendon McGoven.

Wednesday, Jan. 9, Pattavia – Stableford

A Flight (0-15)
1st Phillip Ashton (11) 40pts
2nd Brendon McGoven (+2) 39pts
3rd Maurice Roberts (13) 37pts
4th Bill Copeland (15) 34pts
5th Mitchell Carlon (11) 33pts

B Flight (16+)
1st Wayne Peppernell (16) 41pts
2nd Marco Beer (17) 39pts
3rd Peter Mace (26) 36pts
4th John Hughes (21) 36pts
5th Colin Service (16 36pts

After an unusually high number of no shows and cancellations we took a field of 38 players to Pattavia Century Golf Club.

We did two flights today with 5 places in each and the “A” flight saw Phillip Ashton score his second 40-pointer in a week, just before he heads off home.

We don’t see many plus handicappers playing in our society but we had Brendon McGoven here for a return visit and did he show what a +2 handicapper can do? His 67 “off the stick” was a terrific round of golf. Dave Arataki said later “he plays a different game to us”. That great round equated to 39 points and “only” second place. Then came the very in-form Maurice Roberts with 37 points, followed by Bill Copeland on 34 points and Mitchell Carlon with 33.

“B” flight saw our current Captain, Wayne Peppernell, follow up his 41 points two days ago with yet another 41 points here. He was beaten to the Green Jacket then, but this time it was all his.

Marco Beer had a welcome return to form with an above average score of 39 points for second place while the next three places all had 36 points and had to go to countback. This resulted in Peter Mace for third, John Hughes fourth and Colin Service, who missed a putt on the last hole by a whisker, in fifth.

Near pins were claimed by John Doyle, Gabriel Enright, John Hughes, Steve Truelove.

Friday, Jan. 11, Pleasant Valley – Stableford

A Flight (0-18)
1st Stuart Thompson (18) 39 pts
2nd Wayne Peppernell (16) 39 pts
3rd Colin Smith (14) 36pts

B Flight (19+)
1st Stuart Kidd (21) 34pts
2nd Derek Phillips (19) 33pts
3rd Len Jones (31) 31pts

High season can be tough on golfers and most of the seven groups playing today endured a five-hour plus round in very humid conditions. The course was fair with some damp fairways and greens which ran slower than most. However, generally it was worth the discounted deal which the group enjoyed.

The field was divided into two flights with the cut coming at eighteen and scores in both were a fair reflection of the day.

In the second flight third place went to Len Jones with 31 points, second to Derek Phillips with 33 and Stuart Kidd took the win with 34.

The top flight saw Wayne Peppernell going for a third big score this week and he did not disappoint with 39 points, but he lost top spot to compatriot Stu Thompson whose back-nine was better. Stu thereby took a long awaited and very rare Green Jacket. Third place in the flight went to the consistent Cardiff golfer Colin Smith with another level par score.

The best nine awards were won by Willie Brown (best front 19 points on c/back) and John Harrison (best back 20 points).

Near pins went to Stuart Thompson, Derek Phillips (x2) and Kenny Jepson (17)