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3rd Annual Charity Open - 2005
Misty’s
for “Care for Kids”
It was clear from the size of Friday’s field, 131 players strong, that Misty’s Annual Charity Open has now etched its name onto the list of premier Pattaya tournaments. The innovations made each year by owner, Andy James, make the event a continuum of interest, and coupled with his choice of a superb venue, Burapha, its popularity can only grow. Of course, it's association with Care for Kids only further embellishes its popularity. Andy proudly handed over a check to the Care for Kids fund of 150,000 baht.
The format was, as it has been since Andy’s brain fostered the tournament three years ago, a 4-person scramble. Handicaps were based on the lesser of (a) one-tenth of the sum of the team’s handicaps and (b) the handicap of the team’s best player. Several teams lost mates due to the prior evening’s party injuries and their handicaps were adjusted to compensate. When the registration dust settled 34 teams had set off for a shotgun start. The shotgun blast was pre-empted by a three-man parachute jump, choreographed by Belgian Patrick, coming in over the course, over the bonnet of Neilsen’s BMW’s displayed new 3-Series motorcar and landing on the course infield. After that, a shotgun blast seemed anti-climatic.The players were treated to the standard type of technical prize distractions such as Near Pins (The Classroom), Long Drives (Shenanigan’s), and Long Putts (Lolitas) which were embellished by the overt generousness of their respective sponsors’ prizes. In a day of uniqueness, two BMW motorbikes were offered as hole-in-one prizes. Since the insurance was already paid, the sponsors of the two holes, Randy Essary of Morning Cloud and Andy of Misty’s were rooting hard for a winner, but alas, the 1 million baht prizes went unclaimed.
Randy Essary greeted players as they crossed from one nine to another with Italian sausage dogs and drink for their grateful consumption. Several holes later the players were provided a variety of complimentary beers, courtesy of Foster’s Thailand. The teams made good time around the A and B courses which showed there teeth with a stiff mid-day breeze on an otherwise fine day. The scores came in and the seasoned local players started taking the better of it. When all cards were collected, six were sub net 60. The Birdies Boys (Roy Thornton, Richard Holmes, Barry Traynor and Glynn Nicholas) left a couple of putts short, either of which would have given them the whole enchilada, but that is the way with golf and their 58.0, while superb, was only good for Second Runner-Up.
After all the math and 18 holes of struggle it was remarkable that two teams, Cuel and Unusual and The Classroom, were knotted at 57.5 each. C&U had 6.5 handicap and The Classroom only 5.5 however the latter shot 31 on the back nine to the former’s 33. When all the countin’ was done, Cuel and Unusual (Russell White, Steve Hovi, Steve Staley, Chris Oxley) was holding the First Runner-up and The Classroom (Mike Craighead, Julian Clarke, Jim Munns, and Peter Henshaw) held the Championship. It should be noted that the oldest young man on The Classroom side, and perhaps in the tournament, Mike “The Mechanic” Craighead, has now been on the winning side in two consecutive Misty’s Opens. Any three players who are contemplating playing next year, and there are many, bring your CV’s for Mike’s review, that is, if you need a fourth and you want to win!
The players retired to Misty’s for a sumptuous feast sponsored by Belgian Patrick’s Restaurant and Palmer’s. Everyone ate and drink until they were content and cuddled the lovely ladies of Misty’s as a fine party, interspersed with raffle prizes, carried on until the wee hours. A brand new step-thru was raffled of as were a number of vouchers from the vast group of sponsors.
To make this tournament a success for the Kids required funds over and above those generated by the tournament entry cost alone. Special thanks to the contributions of Randy Esary’s Morning Cloud, Randy Nielsen of Neilsen BMW, Gary of Foster’s Beer, Peter of Suzie Wong’s A-Go-Go, Andy of Electric Blue - BKK & Patatya, Tim and Darrel of the Dollhouse- BKK & Patatya, Bruno’s, Mick O’Brian of Moonlight, Star and Too’s Bars, The Jesters, Dudley of The Penthouse Hotel and The Kitten Club, Peter of the Classroom, Simon of Shenanigan’s and Gary of Lolita’s and Peter Yung of Boswell Golf Int’l. Also thanks for the raffle prizes provided by The Blue Parrot, The Shamrock Bar and Lewiinski’s. While thanks are being handed out, Manager Tim at Misty’s deserves a hand, as do the girls who made a hot day hotter by helping out at registration, team photos, and post tourney banality.
1st Runner-up: Cruel and Unusual – Russell White, Steve Hovi, Steve Staley, Chris Oxley – 57.5
2nd Runner-up: Birdie Boys – Roy Thornton, Richard Holmes, Barry Traynor and Glynn Nicholas– 58.0
Technical Prizes:
Near Pins (sponsored by The Classroom): #A-3 North – Peter Henderson; #A-6 – Nigel Cannnon; #B-3 – Roger Koehler; #B-8 – Joe Mooneyham
Long Drives (sponsored by Shennaigan’s): Dennis Willett and Steve Hovi
Long Putt (sponsored by Lolita’s): Phil Taylor.
Nearest the Keg (sponsored by Misty’s) – Damien Trant
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