From Tony Durkin

MASTERFUL WIN: Headland’s 2018 quest for Sunshine Coast Zone Pennant honours is off to the perfect start with the Masters yesterday scoring a crushing 5½ to 1½ victory over reigning champions Caloundra. On a saturated Mt Coolum course, the 2016 Masters victors cruised home with five wins, one loss and a draw. Peter Holt led the way with a smashing seven and six win, while Ian Moore and Brian Kesby each won 4&3. Tony Killey and Burgess Stephenson also both won 2&1, Warren Selvage squared his match while Brent Dalby lost 6&4. A grade and Junior Pennant matches kick-off next Sunday (February 11) with Headland playing Caloundra in A grade at Maroochy River and the Juniors against Maroochy River at Caloundra. And B grade play the following week (February 18), also against Caloundra, at Gympie.

PENNANT TEAMS: Headland’s A grade team for Sunday’s opening Pennant match against Caloundra at Maroochy River will be captained by Sean McGill and is an extremely strong line-up. The team, in playing order, is: Mat Walkenhorst, Ryley Martin, Dave Rattray, Adam Rydwanski, Sean McGill, Scott Walker and Brad Butler. Reserves are Jaidyn Dalziel, Frankie Robinson, Aaron Shaw, Scott Bromfield and Glenn Kelly. Team manager is James Brownsworth, and the players tee off from 7.45am. The Headland Junior Pennant team, managed by Nate Smyth, is: Patrick Walsh (captain), James Daniel, Kieta Griffin-Klazema, Ethan Vong and Charlie McCulloch. The Juniors meet Maroochy River at Caloundra on Sunday, teeing off from 6.51am. Both teams would appreciate club members supporting them on the day.

RAYMOND’S REVENGE: Most golfers concur that a double bogey on the first hole is the worst possible start to a round, and that a double bogey to finish usually leaves a sour taste in the mouth. But Peter Raymond experienced both on Wednesday yet still returned plus five in the single par event – the equivalent of a nett 66 or 42 stableford points. Yet that great score – his best in a decade he reckons – wasn’t good enough to win the B grade prizemoney or even take second place. The double bogey on 18 cost him, with his playing partner on the day, Doug Bannam – birdie on 18 – and Alan Parker – par on 18 – both also scoring plus five and relegating him to third place on a countback. PS: For the ever-consistent Doug Bannam, the win was his second in B grade on successive Wednesdays.

DAD BEWARE: Aaron Kenzler defied the wet conditions on Thursday and put a huge dent in his dad’s golfing dominance with a superb round that returned 42 stableford points. Both newcomers to Headland in the past 12 months, Aaron and his dad Neville have become fiercely competitive with Aaron (handicap 15) vowing to soon be lower than his dad (handicap 11). A fly-in, fly-out electrician based in Broome but now living on the Sunshine Coast, Aaron was playing off 11 two decades ago when he gave the game away and until joining Headland in May played only a couple of times a year with mates. But his 81 off the stick on Thursday, with included a par 36 on the back nine and nearest the pin on 18, has fuelled his appetite to gain that long-desired ascendency over his dad, whose handicap has been as low as eight. 

MIXED FOURSOMES: Nominations are now open for Headland’s 2018 Mixed Foursomes Championships to be played over 36 holes on Saturday, March 17. Current champions and holders of the Amy and Ian Pincott trophy are mother-and-son combination Sharon and Blake Thomas. Sponsored by Marc Venter and Brad Wall of Guide Financial, nominations close on Wednesday, March 7, and the cost is $40 per person, which includes lunch. Players will also have the opportunity to win the fashion stakes, with a best-dressed duo competition to be judged on the day.

MILITARY MAN: Dennis Mikolic has spent his adult life as a member of the military, so persistent rain and sloppy conditions underfoot didn’t deter the winner of Saturday’s Monthly Mug. Because of a lack of numbers – due to the weather – only one mug was awarded; just 32 of the 50 starters finished; and the ladies’ competition was abandoned because of insufficient starters. Mikolic backed up two brilliant rounds in January – when he won the A grade Monthly Medal (67 nett) and was third in the Monthly Mug (69) – with another 69 on Saturday, which equalled his best-ever gross round (80) since he joined Headland two years ago. Sunday’s Monthly Mug winners were Matthew Duncan (65 nett) and Patrick Walsh (Junior Medal) with a nett 69.

 WEEKLY WINNERS:

Tuesday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (24 players) – Rebecca Masters (34 points), Lesley Johnston (34); Men (102 players) – A grade, Jock McLaughlin (41), Barry Bowditch (37), Terry Hayward (37); B grade, Graeme Genrich (38), Richard Churchman (38), Jim McRae (38); C grade, Chris Cameron (40), Stuart Dykstra (39), Barry Rawlings (37). Single Stableford, Ladies (32 players), Veronica Bassingthwaighte (33 points), Kathryn Tales (33), Catherine Peterson (32); Men (55 players), Josh Poole (39 points), Alan Barlow (39), Barry Suddens (39).

Wednesday, Single Par, Men (200 players) – A grade, Shaun Sigley (plus 4), Jeff Davis (+4), Gavin Rooney (+4); B grade, Doug Bannam (+5), Alan Parker (+5), Peter Raymond (+5); C grade, Graham Pitt (+3), Drew Walker (+3), Phil Cooper (+1).

Thursday, Single Stableford, Ladies (competition abandoned because of rain); nine-hole competition (six players) – Cathy Haines (15 points), Raewyn Bissett (15), Julie Welsh (14); Men (35 players), Aaron Kenzler (42 points), Malcolm Galletley (38), Ian Hepburn (37).

Saturday, Monthly Medal, Ladies (competition abandoned because of lack of numbers); Men (50 players) – Dennis Mikolic (69 nett), Russell Harris (70), Mark Swift (70), Chris De Bruyn (73).

Sunday, Monthly Medal (62 players) – Matthew Duncan (65 nett), Nathan Osborn (69), Chris Klazema (69); Junior Medal, Patrick Walsh (69 nett).