From Tony Durkin
LAVISHING LUKE: Generous sponsor Luke Godwin, principal of Team Godwin Real Estate, became even more benevolent during Wednesday’s post-golf presentation when he was unveiled as the B Grade winner of the Single Stableford event with the day’s best score of 44 points. Already sponsoring the day’s event and adding prizes for long drives and a $40 Pro Shop voucher for the last-placed player in each grade, Luke donated his $65 winnings to the lowest score in B Grade, with the proviso the player was in the room. And, as fate would have it, the lucky player was former Headland president and well-known solicitor Malcolm McColm, whose company does legal work for Team Godwin. But while Luke was exceptionally giving on the day, his generosity was repaid with his outstanding round, which included a birdie, eight pars and just one double bogey from his 17 handicap. A Headland member for 17 years, Luke – whose handicap has been as low as eight during his 40 years playing the game – declared his nine-over par 81 as ‘one of those magical days’.
JULIE’S JOY: Engrossed by the pleasant company and good play of Marg Smith and Catherine Peterson, Julie Lewis was enjoying her round of golf on Tuesday so much that she didn’t think much about her score. Obviously, Julie was aware she was playing well, but was stunned when she finally signed her card for 40 points in the Single Stableford event, a result that won her the day by a comfortable four points. Not only was this Julie’s best score since she started playing golf ‘spasmodically’ a decade ago, but it was the first time she had scored 40 points in a round. Julie and her husband Peter share their time between Melbourne, where they have business interests and family, and the Sunshine Coast, hence her irregular outings on the golf course. But her ‘absolutely’ best-ever round, which included a four of four on the first, seven three-point holes and just the one wipe, has whet her appetite to play more and reduce her 38 handicap.
BOB’S HOT ROUND: So inconsistently has he been playing of late that Bob Snowball teed it up in Saturday’s Single Stableford event believing the likelihood of a winning score was ‘a snowball’s chance in hell’. And adding to his erratic form was a stifling morning, with scant breeze. But Bob defied history, the weather and the odds, to come in with 42 points from his 23 handicap, scoring him a C Grade win and returning the best score in the field of 226 on a relatively-low scoring day. His 89 off the bat was his lowest round for at least six years with his consistency – six pars, seven bogeys and five doubles – the most pleasing result for the 20-year Headland member. The best round of the day came from A Grader Scott Walker, whose two-under par 70 garnered him 40 points, while the ‘blowout’ of the day was from House Director Wayne Hutchison. Wayne stood on the 16th tee in total command, with 36 points on his card. But his drive on 16 found him stymied behind a tree and he took double, before another tree on the left of the 17th green again caused interference and consigned him to a wipe. He recovered to birdie 18, score 39 points and finish third in A Grade, on a countback.
VISITOR PIPPED: Visitor Sam Dight from Goondiwindi Golf Club was sitting pretty in the winner’s circle at Headland on Sunday until those in the last group finished their round. Sam and his sons Mitchell and Will are holidaying at Mooloolaba and – despite the heat – have made golf a priority, playing both Maroochy River and Headland. Teeing off in the first group in Sunday’s Medley Single Par, Sam had 87 gross from his 15 handicap to score plus two, and lead the field until the last minute. Jacob Mimnaw (also 15 handicap) was the spoiler – his 84 giving him plus three, with a superb three-over on the back nine the clincher. The best round of the day was a two-over 74 from five-marker Jamie Duffy, who finished third on plus two.
REDDY PENNANTS: Headland men’s Pennant players will break with custom and wear red during the 2019 Sunshine Coast Golf Zone Pennant competitions. The club was virtually forced in to making the decision to switch from their traditional colour when made aware Maroochy River would be wearing blue. But Headland – who according to patron and long-time member Simon Whittle have customarily worn blue – have accepted the change with enthusiasm and believe the vibrant new colour is being embraced as the standout uniform of the worthy defending A Grade champions. And while Headland has lost Mat Walkenhorst and Ryley Martin from last year’s winning team, the club has welcomed Jamie Hill from Oxley as well 2018 Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Champion, Jake Crowther, from Nambour, who won’t be fielding an A Grade Pennant team this year. Pennant competition for B Grade and Masters starts this coming Sunday (February 3), with the Juniors playing the following weekend (February 10). The A Graders will not start their competition until Sunday, March 3.
B Grade Pennant team member Matt Hetherington shows off the new uniform
SUNDAY COUNTS: In 2019 the Sunday Medley Monthly Medal is to be given the same status as the Monthly Mug, with winners eligible to contest the Gold Mug play-off at the end of the year. All grade winners of the Saturday Monthly Mugs, plus the Sunday Medal winners, will line-up for a crack at the Gold Mug when the finale is contested on Saturday, November 2. The reigning Gold Mug winner is Glenn Kelly. The first Medley Monthly Medal will be contested this coming Sunday (February 3).
MONDAY VETS: From February 11, when the club hosts visitors from Peregian Golf Club, the Headland Veterans (Vets) competitions will return to what had been their regular day of Monday. In an endeavour to free up time on Mondays for social play, the Vets competitions were switched to Tuesday throughout 2018, but a Golf Operations Review towards the end of the year confirmed the past, popular format with the Vets, will return from next month. Vets time slots will be from 7am to 9am on Mondays, with a specific portal now on the Headland website dedicated to Vets.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (41 players) – Julie Lewis (40 points), Bernadette Cassidy (36), Jane Boaler (33); Men (76 players) – Ray Dempsey (40), Bernie Green (38), Bill Boucaut (37).
Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (208 players) – A Grade, Tony Pattinson (41 points), Arthur Soanes (40), Phil Johnson (39); B Grade, Luke Godwin (44), Erik Larsen (42), Wayne Phair (41); C Grade, Peter Norris (39), Brendan Richardson (38), John Siddins (37).
Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford (77 players) – A Grade, Josie Ryan (37), Trish Howe (36), Kristin Griffiths (35); B Grade, Yvonne Richter (37), Kathryn Tayles (34), Pam Andrews (33); C Grade, Barb Marrington (38), Wendy Derrick (34), Katrina Burke (34). Men, Single Stableford (86 players) – Steve Nash (41 points), Garth Seymour (41), Alf Gloster (40).
Saturday, Medley Single Stableford, Ladies (25 players) – Lisa Ramen (36 points), Sue Jones (35), Helen Fraser (35). Men (226 players), A Grade, Scott Walker (40), Dennis Mikolic (39), Wayne Hutchison (39); B Grade, Ian Scobie (40), Scott Roush (38), Gary Rugless (38); C Grade, Bob Snowball (42), John Logan (40), David Evans (39).
Sunday, Medley Single Par (30 players) – Jacob Mimnaw (plus 3), Sam Dight (+2), Jamie Duffy (+2).
