Richie McGhie’s Super Round

A hasty re-scheduling saw us heading for Khao Kheow to use our “rain check” vouchers before they expired.

Although we were given a limit of six groups, we had thirty three golfers sign up before we knew it but, because the course was not busy, Khao Kheow allowed us some slack and all lined up without inconveniencing any others.

The drizzle we had encountered on the trip to the course amazingly stopped just as our first group hit off A1, and stayed away for the whole round.

The course is in very good condition but, once again, the tee boxes are undergoing maintenance, so some are a little rough. No carts on fairways so lift, clean and place was the order.

However, my caddie was very happy when receiving news that we could take carts on fairways on the second nine.

When playing off a handicap of two you can’t afford many mistakes and Richie McGhie obviously had a very clean round to score 38 points, 72 gross , to win the “A” flight. On a day where most struggled that is first class.

It was a big gap to second placed Selwyn Yates scoring 33 points. He has been in good touch already on this trip.    Toby Glass made 31 points to just edge into third spot.

“B” flight saw similar scoring with newcomer to Links, Godfrey Atienza, taking first place with 36 points ahead of Bill Stewart on 33 points. Stu Brown continued his recent good form to get third on a countback with 32 points over Colm O’Donovan who, however, won the best front nine award.

Near pins: ( somebody forgot to number them)  Adam Barton, Bill Stewart, Nils-Peter Kristensen, Toby Glass

“A” Flight (0-16)

1^st  Place – Richie McGhie (2 ) -38 pts

2^nd Place – Selwyn Yates (12) -33 pts

3^rd Place – Toby Glass (16) – 31 pts

 “B” Flight (17+)

1^st  Place – Godfrey Atienza (23) – 36 pts

2^nd Place – Bill Stewart (17) – 33 pts

3^rd Place – Stu Brown (28) – 32 pts c/back

Best Front Nine ( non winners)…Colm O’Donovan….18 pts

Best Back Nine (non winners)…..Dave Hewson …16 pts

Once again, there were many contenders for the “silly hat” with some very lowly nine hole scores. However, they escaped because Maurice had a mix-up with locker keys when key number 18 fitted locker 79. Some panic occurred when he couldn’t find his clothes, but all ended well and he wore the hat.

There were three scores of just 18 points but countbacks awarded another newcomer, Kaj Aabling his first “wig”

The course played long from the yellow tees and it was a tough day at the office, except for Richie McGhie who wore the Green Jacket for the first time.