From Tony Durkin
THREE-TIME CHAMPS: Scratch markers David Rattray and Ryley Martin have – not unexpectedly – won the 2018 Headland Men’s Foursomes Championships, which were contested on Saturday. Members of Headland’s victorious 2018 A Grade Sunshine Coast Pennant team, the pairing combined superbly to clinch their third Foursomes title, winning from Scott Walker and Adam Richards, with Sean McGill and Adam Rydwanski third. Their morning round of 71 – one under par – was followed by an afternoon score of four-over 76, to win by a remarkable 13 shots. The pair first won in 2015 and again in 2016, but neither contested last year’s event. His championship win is the fifth for Rattray, who previously won in 2008 with Matt Kiernan and in 2009 (Darren McLeod), as well as the three times with Martin. The 36-hole nett event went to Brad Reddan and Mick Kelsey, by three shots from Nathan Osborn and Peter Holt, and the pairing assessed as the best dressed was Matt Hetherington and Ciaran Fenton.
VOLUNTEER REWARDED: The continued excellence of Headland golf course is the result of much hard work by many people, and one of those is volunteer David Feez. The ex-farmer, who joined the club just on a dozen years ago, has for half that time been utilising his wide range of skills assisting recently-retired Course Director Rob Howard with various odd jobs on and around the course. And on Thursday the 83-year-old was repaid in spades with his best-ever round of 99 returning him an exceptional 45 stableford points. It was the first time the 36-handicapper had broken 100, and he streeted the field of 83 to win by four shots. His excellent card revealed seven three-point holes and three four-point pars, plus countless slaps on the back from his fellow volunteers and mates at the club.
AGELESS ANDERSON: For some, the number 13 may be unlucky, but not for Ken Anderson who shot less than his age on Wednesday for the 13th time. There is never any luck about the way the 77-year-old navigates the Headland course or in the meticulous manner in which he practices – almost daily. And long-time playing partner Brian Richards says that when Ken does find trouble, he is a genius at extricating himself. Ken’s three-over par 75 on Wednesday is the fourth time this year he has shot less than his age – two scores of 76 in July and a magnificent 74 back in April. On Wednesday, playing off a daily handicap of 4.9, he eagled the second, birdied the 10th and had six bogeys to return 38 stableford points, and win A Grade. Ken first beat his age in a five-under par round of 67 in 2011 when he was 70, and Brian Richards says seven years later the old master – with his effortless swing – still makes the game seem easy.
BEAMING BRENDA: With sons Shaun and David single-figure golfers at Maroochy River, Social Scientist Brenda Smith-Gittings decided she would take up the sport when she retired four years ago. She joined Headland’s SWING program, graduated in 2014, joined the club and became ‘a regular around the place’. And while her golf and her handicap steadily improved, Thursday’s winning score of 44 stableford points in the Claire Watson Day was her best by an incredible seven points. And, to her beaming delight, there were no wipes on her card for the very first time. Brenda, whose putter ran hot on Thursday, has been in good form of late with four scores in the mid-30s, and her goal to lower her AGU handicap to 30 by Christmas is looking very much on track following four three-point holes, two four-pointers and a birdie – for five points – on the par-three 14th.
BUNKER BEWILDERMENT: The Collins English dictionary defines a bunker as a place built with strong walls to protect against heavy gunfire and bombing – but Headland member Ross K Thompson disagrees. After taking 11 to remove his Titleist from the bunker on the right side of the 13th hole on Wednesday, Ross reckons they are the kind of hazards golfers need to be protected against. Although the event was a stableford, former nine-marker Ross was determined not to be defeated, much to the amusement of his playing partners. And when he finally did play the definitive shot, the ball flew the green. At least there was a silver lining – it was a record bunker display from Ross, who has been a Headland member for 45 years, and he and his partner still managed to win the Lotto ticket.
MATT’S MAGIC: Novice golfer Sandi Linnane stunned all-comers but most of all herself when, in her first-ever round of competition golf, she scored an extraordinary 43 points in Thursday’s single stableford event. And she deflected all praise towards SWING coach, Matt Douglas, and organiser Laurel Opray. Sandi first joined Headland in 2005, but work commitments back then restricted her to just a few games. But when she finally retired last year she decided to re-join, graduate through the highly-successful SWING program and be tutored by coach Matt, who last week gave her a refresher lesson with ‘amazing’ results. Although a newcomer to golf, Sandi has previously played a host of sports including hockey, swimming, touch football and indoor cricket which she says has given her a competitive edge. But, her goal for golf is modest – she simply wants to reach a level where she feels confident playing in competitions without holding up the field.
ROUND OF THE WEEK: Sue Hadenham does not shy away from the fact she is totally intoxicated by golf, and enamoured by all things associated with Headland Golf Club. And the fact she scored an incredible nett 66 – playing from a daily handicap of 44 – in last Monday’s Headland Ladies Open has merely added to the thrill of a game she started playing less than three years ago. Yet another graduate of Headland’s unbelievably-successful SWING program, Sue had the best score of the day in the Open which attracted 126 golfers from interstate as well as most clubs on the Sunshine Coast. And not only did she win C Grade and a $40 gift card, she also pocketed another $40 for the best score returned by a senior. But winning money at Headland is not new for Sue – in the past three months her name has been drawn twice in the Friday night member’s draw and while missing out on the big prize, she has collected $100 both times. Sue – and her husband Gary – play at least three times a week, love the social aspect of the club and Sue says she is deeply indebted to teaching professionals Adam Norlander and Matt Douglas, as well as her SWING mentor Di Stark, for her love of the game. To refer to her as a happy member would be an understatement.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Ladies Open Day, Single Stroke (126 players), nett – A Grade, Wil Sprake (69 nett), Vicky Cush (73), Cheryl Loimaranta (73): B Grade, Dorothy Chatfield (72), Debs Rutherford (76, Del Whittaker (76); C Grade, Sue Hadenham (66), Marion Dennis (71), Kay Campbell (71); gross – A Grade, Tam Reid (81), Leanne Gwyther (83), Linda Urquhart (86); B Grade, Aileen Craig (95), Lesley Johnston (95), Jenny McAtamney (98); C Grade, Susan Briffa (100), Jacqui Crawford (101), Pam Andrews (105).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (40 players) – Margaret Howard (38 points), Heather Lum (37), Kym Mason (36); Men (82 players) – Rodney Hutchison (42), Paul Stephens (39), Ken Scanlan (39).
Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (209 players) – A Grade, Ken Anderson (38 points), Mark Wittholz (37), Merv Lum (37); B grade, David Richards (39), Wayne Deague (37), Wes Houk (37); C Grade, Peter McMillan (41), Peter Andrews (38), Paul Stephens (38).
Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford (100 players) – A Grade, Sharon Thomas (36 points), Heather Lum (35), Catherine Peterson (34); B Grade, Del Whittaker (40), Lesley Johnston (40), Ali Lamond (39); C Grade, Brenda Smith-Gittings (44), Sandi Linnane (43), Marion Dennis (40). Men, Single Stableford (83 players) – David Feez (45), Tim Rees (41), John Sims (40).
Saturday, Men, Foursomes Championships (84 players) – 36-hole gross (champions), David Rattray and Ryley Martin (147); runners-up, Scott Walker and Adam Richards (160); 36-hole nett, Brad Reddan and Mick Kelsey (145), Nathan Osborn and Peter Holt (148); 18-hole gross (morning), David Rattray and Ryley Martin (71); 18-hole gross (afternoon), Scott Walker and Adam Richards (79); 18-hole nett (morning), Brad Redden and Mick Kelsey (70.5); 18-hole nett (afternoon), Neven and James Daniel (70.5); best dressed team, Matt Hetherington and Ciaran Fenton. Overflow, Single Stableford, Ladies (14 players) – Lesley Johnston (35 points), Liz Dunford (34); Men (91 players) – A Grade, Mark Wittholz (42), Tony Pattinson 40), Wes Houk (40); B Grade, Ross Wedmaier (42), John Christmas (39), Les Schumacher (39).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford – beat the Finance Director (45 players) – Tom Burnett (38 points), Tim O’Keeffe (37) NOTE: 32 players in the field beat the Finance Director’s score of 28 points.
