Captain Wayne Shows The Way

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

Although there was another Society ahead of us, our first group got away pretty much on time. Those playing today are an organiser’s dream, everyone getting to the tee at their allotted time and ready to go.

The day started off quite warm and stayed that way.  A bit harder to take after we were spoilt a couple weeks ago with some cooler temperatures.

There really is no need to mention the condition of this course, but I will.

First class fairways easy to hit from, and greens running quick at about 10.3 and true. I think the rough was not too bad, I didn’t look, and the bunkers are not the white soft sand as other courses, but more compacted. With an efficient check-in and a just 1050 bht to walk, what a nice day out.

We did two flights today with 5 places in each.

“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 Societies, 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 placing.

Then came the very in-form Maurice Roberts with 37 points, followed by Bill Copeland on 34 points and Mitchell Carlon with 33 points.

“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. The next three placings all had 36 points and had to go to countback. This resulted in Peter Mace for third, welcome back John Hughes, for fourth and Colin Service, who missed the putt on the last hole by a whisker, in fifth.

Near pins : John Doyle (4), Gabriel Enright (7), John Hughes (13), Steve Truelove (17)

“A” Flight (0-15)

1^st  Place – Phillip Ashton (11 ) -40 pts

2^nd Place – Brendon McGoven (+2) -39 pts

3^rd Place – Maurice Roberts (13) – 37 pts

4^th Place – Bill Copeland (15) – 34 pts

5^th Place – Mitchell Carlon (11) – 33 pts

“B” Flight (16+)

1^st  Place – Wayne Peppernell (16) – 41 pts

2^nd Place – Marco Beer (17) – 39 pts

3^rd Place – Peter Mace (26) – 36 pts c/back

4^th Place – John Hughes (21) – 36 pts c/back

5^th Place – Colin Service (16 – 36 pts

Best Front Nine ( non winners)…Jim Ferris……..19 pts

Best Back Nine (non winners)…..Larry Slattery …21 pts.

Phil conducted presentations with the usual hilarity, awarding the “silly hat “ to John Pearce, who forgot his age and thought he could walk

The “wig” went to newcomer Robin Taylor, who hired a set of clubs from Links. Phil put the set together and handed them over.

Right handed Robin had a surprise on the first tee to pull the driver out, only to find it was a left hand club. No excuse for a low score, according to Phil.

On a side note: Links Bar is currently a clear leader in the Pattaya Matchplay series, coming towards the finals. Good Luck.