No more ‘bridesmaid’ for Masa

0
854
Masa Takano (center) with Mark Stubbing (left) and Jim Ferris.
Masa Takano (center) with Mark Stubbing (left) and Jim Ferris.

PSC golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society

Monday, Feb. 18,
Mt. Shadow – Stableford

A Flight (0-18)

1st Larry Slattery (17) 37pts

2nd Bill Shepley (4) 33pts

3rd Pete Seil (4) 33pts

4th Kevin LaBar (12) 30pts

B Flight (19+)

1st Barry Oats (29) 36pts

2nd Stuart Kidd (19) 34pts

3rd Derek Phillips (19) 33pts

4th Darren See (30) 30pts

A tough task lay ahead of the society on Monday as thirty-eight golfers made their way to Mountain Shadow to play a stableford round on the course which was very dry, giving lots of run but many tight lies on the dusty fairways.

Greens were quite good but the back nine were slightly slower than those on the front. The course demands accuracy, fairways have to be hit and the punitive rough avoided. Quite a daunting prospect after a Pattaya weekend!

The field was divided into two flights at eighteen and under and scores were inevitably close. In the second flight fourth place went to Darren See on his debut round with the group, with 30 points. In third place was Derek Philips with a very sound 33 points, one behind runner-up Stuart Kidd, playing his final round this trip. The flight winner was Barry Oats with 36 points.

In the top flight fourth place was held down by Kevin LaBar with 30 points with Pete Seil on 33 points taking third after losing a countback with runner-up Billy Shepley. The flight winner and deserved wearer of the Green Jacket was Irish golfer Larry Slattery with the only sub-par round of the day, 37 very solid points.

Near pins went to Phil Davies, Larry Slattery, Stuart Kidd and Tip Briney and the consolation best nines awards went to Darren Beavers (front nine, 17 points) and Chris Barker (back nine, 19 points). Chris also took the “silly hat” after a shabby six points on the front nine in a round of two distinct halves.

Wednesday, Feb. 20, Khao Kheow – Stableford

A Flight (0-19)

1st Masa Takano (9) 39pts

2nd Dave Hewson (8) 37pts

3rd Chris Barker (11) 35pts

4th Derek Phillips (19) 34pts

5th Mike Ehlert (11) 34pts

B Flight (20+)

1st Vic Barton (28) 32pts

2nd Bryan Barrell (31) 32pts

3rd John Anderson (29) 32pts

4th Gordon Loviolette (24) 31pts

5th Paul Chesney (20) 30pts

Thirty-nine golfers took to the Khao Kheow course today and relished the decision to play from the yellow tees.

Masa Takano has been the “bridesmaid” many times on this trip. He has had some excellent scores which deserved a Green Jacket, but somehow managed to be the second best score. Today, just before heading home and back to work, he got his wish. With a nice 39 points he took out the “A” flight and the Jacket. Dave Hewson has been on the podium a bit and with his lowly handicap held second spot with 37 points and Chris Barker, another regular place getter, was third on 35 points. Derek Phillips and Mike Ehlert went to a countback on 34 points resulting in Derek getting fourth spot and Mike fifth.

A three-way tie had to go to countback to split them in “B” flight. Vic Barton won out to take first place from Bryan Barrell who, in turn, beat John Anderson into third. Gordon Loviolette with 31 points held out Paul Chesney who finished with 30 points.

Near pins went to Dave Hewson (A3), Paul Chesney (A5), Mike Ehlert (B3), and Richard Dobson (B8), while the best nines for non-winners came from Darren Beavers on the front with 18 points and a similar score from Connie Walsh on the inward half.