From Tony Durkin
RELAXED RUSSELL: While the national leader of the political party he once led as Queensland Premier was wallowing in hot water last Tuesday, Russell Cooper was having his most rewarding round of golf in years. The woes of Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce could not have been further from the mind of the 1989 Queensland Premier as he and partner Ray Morrison tallied 72 points to win the Medley Fourball Stableford. Both returned 36 points, both had a birdie and both won a nearest the pin shot. And to cap off a great day, Russell’s birdie and NTP – on the 18th – garnered the team four points.
PAIR OF 79s: Two rounds of 79 within three days have raised hopes for Sue Jones that her recently rare ‘hot streak’ of golf may continue. Sue, who was Headland ladies champion in 2014 when her handicap was seven, hasn’t been playing as often of late but her 79 in last Saturday’s fourball and again in Tuesday’s single stableford have fuelled her competitive juices. Now with an AGU handicap of 10, her 40 points in the single event resulted in a runaway win, although double bogeys on successive holes – the ninth and tenth – spoiled what was her best round ‘in an age’.
HEARTFELT WIN: Prior to last Wednesday’s Monthly Medal round, John Bourke had played a mere half dozen games of golf since a heart scare last July. In layman’s terms, his heart kept jumping out of sync and – eventually – a pacemaker was inserted. And not only did the surgery regulate the beat of his ticker, it has also apparently controlled the rhythm of his golf swing and as a result he is the proud possessor of his first Monthly Medal after 13 years as a Headland member. While his 69 nett to win the C grade medal is not his best score during his Headland tenure, the 28-marker is confident he can now close in on his lowest-ever handicap of 19.
COOL RESULT: A Facebook message at 5.30am to his team members from captain Sean McGill had the desired result, with Headland’s A grade Pennant team smashing Hervey Bay 6/1 at Noosa yesterday. Beaten the previous weekend by Caloundra, Headland’s star-studded team was sent a poignant clip – relating to pride and power – from the movie Cool Runnings. And respond they certainly did. Club champion Dave Rattray won 1up, while Adam Rydwanski prevailed 6&5, Matt Walkenhorst 4&2, Ryley Martin 4&2, Frankie Robinson 3&1 and captain Sean McGill 4&3. Jaidyn Dalziel was the only Headland player beaten, going down 3&2.
PENNANTS UPDATE: Headland’s Masters team hit back from last week’s close loss to beat Maroochy River 4/3 yesterday at Cooroy. Ian Moore and Tony Killey continued their unbeaten run with 2&1 and 1up victories respectively, while Brian Kesby (1up) and Burgess Stephenson (2up) also won. In the Juniors, Headland also recorded an impressive win, 3/0 against Caloundra. Patrick Walsh went back-to-back with a 4&3 victory, Ethan Vong held on to win 1up and James Daniel also prevailed, winning 2&1. Unfortunately, the B grade team could not keep the winning record intact, going down 4/3 to Caloundra at Gympie. Michael Thomas won 4&3, Matt Prince 3&1 and Daniel Diachkoff scored a 2up win, but Dean Jones (2&1), Matt Hetherington (2&1), Brendan Duncan (3&2) and Brad Downes (5&4) were beaten.
ROUNDS OF THE WEEK: On any golf course, anywhere, 46 stableford points – or 10 better than the player’s handicap – is an outstanding score. Yet at Headland over the past week two players handed in the best cards of their golfing lives. Firstly, it was visitor Philip Oates from Windsor Country Golf Club near Sydney in Thursday’s single stableford, playing off 24, who finished with a birdie on 18 for a four-over par back nine and a gross score of 86. And then in Saturday’s single event, A grade winner Andy Whitmore (handicap 12) finished two over par, his lowest round at Headland by six shots since he joined the club three years ago. An ecstatic Andy, from Bedfordshire in England, once had 73 at The Bedford course, which he says is a much easier than demanding Headland layout.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Vets Single Stableford, Ladies (45 players) – A grade, Sue Jones (40 points), Heather Lum (35), Gail Young (33); B grade, Coralie Snowball (33), Kym mason (31), Lyn Forbes (31); Men (66 players) – A grade, Jon Welch (38 points), Alexander Jamieson (38), Ross Wedmaier (37); B grade, Brendan Richardson (40), Barry Euston (38), Denis McGrath (37). Medley Fourball Aggregate (64 players) – Russell Cooper and Ray Morrison (72 points), Trevor Simpson and Geoff Sawyer (71), Laurie Inglis and Peter Lowry (70).
Wednesday, Men, Monthly Medal (165 players) – A grade, Shaun Sigley (69 nett), Greg Doolan (72), Peter Dickens (72); B grade, Gus Walker (65), Wayne Cassidy (70), Terry Lawler (70); C grade, John Bourke (69), John Kingston (71), Chris Duhig (72).
Thursday, Ladies Monthly Medal, (75 players) – A grade, Sharon Thomas (76 nett), Janelle Heaney (76), Catherine Peterson (77); B grade, Bev Kelly (75), Maria Hireme (76), Monica Antony (76); C grade, Kerrie Tibbits (75), Lyn Forbes (75), Jane Boaler (76).
Men, Single Stableford (46 players), Philip Oates (46 points), Garry Thomas (42), Dennis Taylor (39).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Men (205 players) – A grade, Andy Whitmore (46 points), Russell Harris (41), Brian Kesby (40); B grade, Gary Savil (42), Peter Raymond (42), Ken Flegler (40); C grade, Brian Peter (39), Karl Aldrich (38), Greg Stray (38); Ladies (35 players) – Mandy Oster (35 points), Monic Knowles (34), Sue Jones (33).
Sunday, Wood Duck Medley Single Stroke (34 players) – Mark Henricks (68 nett) Chris Pace (69) Wayne West (70) Chris Eccles (70) Jacob Mimnaw (71) Gavin Holdway (71).
