From Tony Durkin
MOORE MONEY: Former Headland Club Captain Ian Moore had every reason to believe his best score in a couple of years could bring him more than the $52 he collected from the $1000 prize pool in Sunday’s Medley Wood Duck Challenge. But despite Ian topping the leaderboard with his 67 nett, 18 others in the field of 85 also broke their handicap in the event which rewards players for a score of nett 71 or less. Ian started superbly with birdies at the first two holes and his two-over par 74 card revealed three bogeys on the front, one on the back for scores of 37/37. One of the best putters in the club, Ian credited his short game for the good score saying he did not miss any putts he had expected to make. Improving 24-marker Tom Burnett also returned 67 nett. Others to share in the booty, which had jackpotted five times, were Burgess Stephenson (69), Lang Pryor (69), Lance Richards (69), Jamie Torres (70), Brian Kesby (70, Matt Prince (70), Graeme Warne (70), Neven Daniel (70), Darryl Kong (70), Aaron Shaw (70), Jay Gourlay (71), Warren Gee (71), Anthony Fichera (71), Simon Whittle (71), Glen Wakefield (71), Dean Jones (71), Adam Rydwanksi (71). The Wood Duck Challenge in 2018 was sponsored by EKO Financial (James Kidd) and Mod Bathrooms (Chris Klazema).
GENEROSITY PAYS: Graham Myers knew his 18 handicap was ‘a bit generous’ and like former Australian cricket captain Greg Chappell during one of his rare run of outs, he was hitting the ball well but not scoring. But that changed on Saturday when Graham had 10 pars in his score of 83, returning him 43 stableford points, the best score of the day and a win in B Grade. In the past four months Graham’s AGU handicap has ballooned from 11.5 to 16.4 and he felt the time had come to capitalise. And that he did, with his only major disappointment double bogeys on his two favourite holes, 17 and 18. Graham lives part of the year in the adjoining apartments at The Crest and says he enjoys watching his fellow members regularly three putt the treacherous 17th green – just as he did on Saturday. But, following that hiccup after his round started on the 10th, Graham reeled off six pars on the front nine to finish a point ahead of a group of five players on 42 points.
SHARON CROWNED: Sharon Thomas has finished an exceptional golfing year by being crowned winner of all three A Grade Ladies Annual Events for 2018. As well as winning six Monthly Medals during the year, Sharon collected the Thursday Eclectic, the Thursday Best Eight and the Thursday Order of Merit awards. The Best Eight is judged on the best eight cards returned by a player during the year while points are awarded for the Order of Merit in Monthly Medal rounds and in the first individual round competition each month. Other winners of multiple awards, which were announced on Thursday, were Jodie McDonell, Katrina Watts and Del Whittaker. The Most Improved Player in 2018 was 2016 SWING graduate Ruth Broderick, who reduced her handicap during the year from 34 to 27.
MERV HUMS: Popular member Merv Lum, who spent four years as the official starter at Headland, has once again found his love for golf and as a result won Wednesday’s A Grade Mid-Week Medal. Merv was a teenage prodigy, playing off a handicap of four at Melbourne’s famed Metropolitan course at 14 years of age, and in fact was still on single figures until 12 months ago. But for some inexplicable reason Merv says he lost interest in golf and his game-day handicap drifted out to 12, from which he played on Wednesday to score 70 nett and win on a countback from Barry Newton. And his score could have been even better had he not three-putted the 18th from two metres. After 61 years playing the game, Wednesday’s impressive round of 82 has reignited his once-waning hunger.
SUPER GOLF: The only spots available in this coming weekend’s field for Headland’s annual Super Golf tournament are in the 7am timeslot on Sunday. In an outstanding show of support for the innovative 10-hole ‘cross-country’ events, a capacity of 60 teams (240 players) are expected to tee off in the three time slots – 7am, 10.30am and 2pm – each day of the final official weekend of golf at Headland for 2018. Two different courses have been mapped for the two days of the event, with Sunday’s layout an eye-opener for members and a genuine – and very exciting – challenge of golf. Trophies will be awarded for competitions on both days, but overall weekend team winners will also be recognised. Major sponsors are Bidfood and CUB while EKO Financial, Walsh Professional Engineers, Outdoor Elegance, GV Sensors, Image Business Furniture, BCP Strata, Grant Martyn Constructions, Better Business Finance, Headland Pro Shop and Directline Timbers have taken hole sponsorships for both days.
SOCKS UP SUNDAY: As Sunday’s round two of Super Golf will be the final day of official weekend competition on the Headland calendar for 2018, the event has been dubbed ‘Socks Up Sunday’. Players are urged to wear long socks – of any description – and a prize will be awarded to the most creative/colourful team. Chief judge will be 34-year Headland Bar Manager and highly-regarded fashionista Derek Azar, whose opinion may well be swayed by those members of his working staff on Sunday, who will be his assistant judges. While the prize for the best ‘socked’ team is being kept under wraps, Headland Club Captain James Kidd says the reward for joining into the spirit of the occasion will be ‘quite substantial’ and more than likely something the winning team members can consume.
TROUBLE-FREE: Roz Brandt concedes she has never been the sporting type, but with 30 years of Headland membership in her golfing bank after not taking up the game until in her 40s, she enjoyed her spot on the dais on Saturday. Breaking 100 for the first time in recent memory, Roz scored 42 stableford points to win the single event, streeting the field by a massive six points. After achieving her lowest-ever handicap of 19 quite some years ago, Roz has drifted out to 29 in recent times as she finds the course more difficult to play in her advancing years. And while she still loves the club and enjoys the company of her fellow members, Roz will continue to attempt to ‘stay out of trouble’ on the course, just as she did at the weekend with no wipes on her winning card which was highlighted by seven three-point holes.
FOOT-SLIP EAGLE: Back for just her third round of competition golf since recent knee replacement surgery, Trish Howe celebrated with an eagle and a $57 collect on the sixth hole in Sunday’s Medley Wood Duck Challenge. Trish spanked a drive down the fairway and, with just a wedge to the front pin, intended to carefully caress her next shot. However, mindful of her still tender right knee, Trish’s foot slipped on her downswing, the ball did not leave her club exactly as she had hoped, but was on line. The thud of the ball striking the pin was easily heard by the group on the adjacent seventh tee, but only Trish and her group saw her TaylorMade disappear into the hole. And it was her third eagle – Trish has previously had two holes-in-one at Headland. Her bonus cash prize was for winning the Pro Pin.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies and Men – abandoned because of inclement weather.
Wednesday, Men, Monthly Medal (196 players) – A Grade, Merv Lum (70 nett), Barry Newton (70), David W Smith (71); B Grade, Greg Wareham (67), Jeff Blundell (70), Ivan Fortmann (70); C Grade, John Ross (69), John Miller (69), Steve Walters (69).
Thursday, Ladies, Nine-hole Closing Day Ambrose (115 players) – Front nine, Bev Barnes, Robyn Boreham, Maureen Cartledge and Gail Young (32.5 nett), Diane Molineux, Dahleen Cuthbert, Ann Dykstra and Sandy Linnane (32.5), Jane Boaler, Judith Vine-Murray, Lyn Forbes and Brenda Smith-Gittins (32-85); Back nine – Vicki Houlahan, Josie Ryan, Carole Ryan and Katrina Burke (31.25), Kathryn Tales, Marg Smith, Catherine Peterson and Dominique Paice (33), Jodie McDonell, Monica Knowles, Kathy Atkins and Frances Scanlan (33). Men, Fourball Best Ball Stroke (74 players) – Josh Poole and Steve Walters (60 nett), Phil Kornmann and Gary Rugless (61), Greg O’Connor and Alf Gloster (62).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (25 players) – Roz Brandt (42 points), Robyn Boreham (36), Sharon Thomas (36). Men (213 players) – A Grade, Kevin MacDougall (42), Brian Kesby (39), Jamie Hill (39); B Grade, Graham Meyers (43), Ivan Fortmann (42), Peter Wark (41); C Grade, Scott Simpson (42), Dave Walker (42), Deon Breytenbach (42).
Sunday, Medley Wood Duck Challenge (85 players) – Ian Moore (67 nett), Tom Burnett (67), Burgess Stephenson (69), Lang Pryor (69), Lance Richards (69), Jamie Torres (70), Brian Kesby (70, Matt Prince (70), Graeme Warne (70), Neven Daniel (70), Darryl Kong (70), Aaron Shaw (70), Jay Gourlay (71), Warren Gee (71), Anthony Fichera (71), Simon Whittle (71), Glen Wakefield (71), Dean Jones (71), Adam Rydwanksi (71).
Ladies Annual Event results – Thursday Eclectic – A Grade, Sharon Thomas (winner), Sue Jones (runner-up); B Grade, Jodie McDonell, Robyn Boreham; C Grade, Sue Keays, Christine Parkinson. Weekend Eclectic – Division One, Kate Wilkie, Kathy Atkins; Division Two, Janelle Heaney, Doreen Davidson. Thursday Best Eight – A Grade, Sharon Thomas, Christina Claxton; B Grade, Gwen Nancarrow, Jodie McDonell; C Grade, Kathy Walker, Katrina Watts. Weekend Best Eight – Division One, Helen Fraser; Division Two, Del Whittaker. Thursday Order of Merit – A Grade, Sharon Thomas, Lisa Ramen; B Grade, Mary Dowling, Jodie McDonell; C Grade, Kay Campbell, Katrina Watts. Weekend Order of Merit – Division One, Kirsten Kaergaard; Division Two, Del Whittaker. Most Improved Player – Ruth Broderick.
