From Tony Durkin

THAT’S GOLD: All members, male and female, who won a Monthly Mug or Monthly Medal in the past 12 months last week played off for the ultimate trophy – the gold version for men or the medal of medals for the ladies. On Thursday Monica Knowles (70 nett) won the Medal of Medals while the winner on Saturday was Jill Graham (76). For the men, the Gold Mug last Wednesday was won by John Franklin (65) and on Saturday the Gold Mug winner was John Kamm (71).

ROUND OF THE WEEK: Carmel Visser concedes her golf has been in a purple patch of late, but last Tuesday’s winning 45 points has exceeded all expectations. It was her best round – 91 – since she started playing just five years ago, and even beats her impressive journey to win the Ladies match play final against Kate Wilkie back in September. She also won the match play last year. And while sexagenarian Carmel confesses that she is ‘hooked’ on golf, is competitive and thoroughly enjoys the fun of playing, to her the most important aspect of the game is that it is played in good spirit. In five years Carmel has reduced her handicap from 45 to 23, but the current wave of success she is riding is not quite as big as those her son Mark, the world-renowned big wave surfer, regularly catches.

DID YOU KNOW: When members see the name Dustin Norlander in the field, they should not be confused and conclude that Dustin is a relative of our club professional and generous sponsor of Saturday’s Monthly Mug and Medal, Adam Norlander. They are, in fact, one and the same. It seems that when Adam recently joined the TaylorMade-Adidas stable some skulduggery occurred within the confines of the Headland Pro Shop, and Adam suddenly became Dustin. The reference is in reverence to world No.1 Dustin Johnson, who is also sponsored by TaylorMade-Adidas.

WHOOPS: Jim Macready understands golf is a demanding game, but reasoning with a nett 67 in the Monthly Medal in October and a nett 97 last Wednesday is difficult for him. But he does accept that 10 shots in the bunker on the third, for a 16 on that hole, didn’t help. Jim, however, had a good reason for feeling fatigued. He and his fellow members of Mooloolaba Rotary Club had returned the previous day from a nine-day trip to Longreach where they distributed special gifts to the local women who have been experiencing some tough times because of the recent lengthy dry period.

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Tuesday, Single Stableford, Men (70 players): Robert Pixley (41 points on a countback), Andrew Hempsall (41), Barry Suddens (41); Ladies (57 players): Carmel Visser (45 points), Kathy Atkins (43).

Wednesday, Men’s Mid-Week Medal (205 players): A grade, Glenn Kelly (68 nett on a countback), Grimish (68), Peter Gablonski (68); B grade, John Franklin (65), Ian Scobie (68), Richard Ryan (68); C grade, Dave Butcher (67 on a countback), Trevor Gourlay (67), Malcom Woods (68); Gold Medal (27) – John Franklin (65).

Thursday, Ladies, Medal of Medals and Rabbits Cup (87 players): A grade, Monica Knowles 70 nett, Mandy Oster (72), Robyn Homans (74); B grade, Gay David (73), Robyn Boreham (73), Lesley Johnston (74); C grade, Tove Larsen (67), Helen Mulholland (68), Di Stark (69). Medal of Medals (20) – Monica Knowles; Rabbits Cup (67), Tove Larsen. Note: The Rabbits Cup is contested by those who do not qualify for the Medal of Medals.

Men, Single Stableford (83 players): Burgess Stephenson 45 points, Paul Stephens (44), Peter Wark (42).

Saturday, Men’s Monthly Mug (210 players): A grade – Rob Cunningham (68 nett), Glenn Kelly (69), Andrew Nairne (70); B grade – Matt Macauley (66), Graham Meyers (68), Ross Roberts (68); C grade – Graham Clarke (65), Laurie Inglis (69), Graham Miller (70); Gold Mug (36) – John Kamm (71).

Ladies Monthly Medal (33 players) – Susan Briffa (65), Lynn Nicholson (70), Pam Vincent (72); Medal of Medals (8) – Jill Graham (76).

Sunday, Medley Monthly Medal (52) – Jeremy Alkin (65 nett), Michael Good Luck (66), Bill Oster (68). Junior Medal – Keita Griffin-Klazema (77 nett).