From Tony Durkin
WESTERN WIN: Josie Ryan has had a near-perfect lead into this week’s West Australian Senior Amateur with a win and a second in the Senior Ladies Order of Merit event at the immaculate Lake Karrinyup Country Club last week. Josie won the nett event and finished second behind Australian Trans-Tasman team captain Jacqui Morgan in the gross. The Senior Amateur Championships of WA, for both men and women, tees off at Perth’s Hartfield Golf Club on Wednesday until Friday, with Josie flying back home in time to join Headland’s Weekend Pennant team for their crucial match against Beerwah at Woodford on Sunday.
FOOTY AMBROSE: Golf and footy will unite at Headland on Saturday week (April 13) with the inaugural Medley Two-Ball Jug competition. Co-sponsored by Hometree Property and Finance (Graeme and Jack Nicholas) and Grant Martyn Constructions, the event is a two-person Ambrose with a perpetual Claret Jug to be presented to the winners. And, with players requested to wear footy gear of their favourite team – any code – football-themed golf bags of their choice will also be presented to members of the winning teams. Cash prizes of $100 will be up for grabs for long drives and straight drives on the third and 12th holes, while every player who hits the 18th green will go into the draw for $100. As well, a wine-tasting station will be set-up on the 18th tee. Bookings, as usual, will open on Saturday.
Jack Nicholas (centre) holds the Two-Ball Jug while his dad Graeme (left) has an Adelaide Crows golf bag and Carlton fan Grant Martyn displays his AFL colours
BUILDING SUCCESS: Englishman Gavin Terry has been living in Australia for a decade but the former five-marker had rarely picked up a competitive club in that time – until he joined Headland last October. And following his excellent 44 points – 77 gross – in Sunday’s Fourball Best Ball Aggregate, he isn’t about to take any more breaks from the game in the foreseeable future. Partnering Chris Eccles – whom he had not met until they arrived on the first tee – 13 handicapper Gavin had two birdies, nine pars and seven bogeys in his round as he and Chris (37 points) – totalled 81 to win in a canter. Describing Headland as an awesome club – both on and off the course – builder Gavin credited his great round to a new driver, which he said found the middle of the fairway all afternoon.
MEDLEY VICTORS: Joy Ryan and Althea McLean have completed a rare Headland double by becoming the second ladies pairing to win a Medley Fourball event in three weeks. The two good friends and regular social playing partners combined superbly for 71 points – Joy 38 and Althea 33 – with two three-pointers on the 18th getting them home in a nail-biting finish. But for Joy it was a rare competition round – just her third game in more than 12 months in fact. She had lost her competitive edge which, understandably, has now returned. And, as detailed in HH two weeks ago, two ladies winning a Medley Fourball competition at Headland is not as rare as we suggested. Jackie Walkington and her fellow SWING graduate Trudi Russell combined to win the Tuesday Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford with 47 points three weeks ago. We noted the rarity of the win, and suggested that Jackie and Trudi were thought to be the first combination of two ladies to win a Medley Fourball at Headland in a number of years – maybe as long as a decade. But we were wrong. Roz Brandt reminded us she and Trish Marsden had won a Medley Fourball Aggregate, beating two men on a countback, in February of 2016. And now Joy and Althea have broken through again.
MASTERS MONDAY: Only two of the past four winners of Headland’s famed Masters green jacket have the chance to once again don the coveted prize when the 2019 Headland Masters Champion is unveiled on Monday week (April 15). Inaugural winner in 2015, Club Captain and sponsor of this year’s event, James Kidd (EKO financial), and 2017 champion Nathan Osborn, are again in the field, while Adrian Barr (2016) and last year’s winner, teenager Ethan Vong, are unavailable. Masters Monday kicks off in the clubhouse with coffee served from 6am, a buffet breakfast from 7am and viewing of the final round of the US Masters. Once the tournament has been decided, a shotgun start will get the Headland field away. Cost is $40 for members and $50 for non-members, but only a few spots are available so late bookings should be made immediately via the office.
WATERLOGGED WIN: Ray Morrison, fresh from a fourball win with his son a couple of weeks earlier, last Thursday braved the sloppy under-foot conditions – and the rain – to win the Single Stableford competition with a very creditable 39 points. Claiming he was not demented, but merely a lover of golf, Ray and 13 others completed their rounds in the first non-abandoned competition since the rain started on Wednesday. Two weeks earlier when winning with his son Nigel, the long-time Headland member said he could not remember the last time he had won a competition, or had shot in the 80s. On Thursday he had eight pars in his 85 off the bat and although the bunkers were out of play and preferred lies were in play, Ray described the greens as absolutely superb.
JACKPOT JOKER: One lucky golfer could have their membership fees covered for the next six years if they select the elusive joker card in Friday night’s Joker Jackpot draw, now worth a staggering $7450. Shannon Walters was the unlucky member last week when his nominated card was the two of diamonds – but he still had $100 credited to his House Account. Only the names of those members present – who must register – will go in the draw for the Jackpot, which has remained unclaimed for almost 12 months. And with only eight cards remaining unturned, the odds have become irresistible.
PENNANTS: Headland Men’s A Grade team, the reigning Sunshine Coast Golf Zone Pennant champions, need to beat the red-hot Maroochy River next weekend to be assured of a spot in the 2019 semi-finals, but go in to the clutch match full of confidence following a strong 5-2 win over Hervey Bay on Sunday. Jake Crowther continued his great form with an 8&7 thrashing of his opponent, while other winners were captain Sean McGill (2up), Jamie Hill (1up), Scott Walker (5&4) and Brad Butler (4&2). Schoolboy Ben Duncombe (2 down), who has been superb in his debut year, and club champion Dave Rattray (1 down) were beaten in the match, played at Maroochy River. Headland’s Men’s B Grade lost in another close match, this time 4-3 to Mt Coolum at Nambour. Winners were Dean Jones (3&2), Matt Macaulay (5&3) and Will Millroy (2&1) while Dan Diachkoff (7&6), Matt Prince (1 down), Blake Thomas (6&5) and Brad Downes (1 down) tasted defeat. Headland’s Masters and Juniors had the bye.
LADIES PENNANTS: The Ladies’ Weekend team, with three players scoring huge wins, beat Nambour 3-2 at Headland on Sunday. Will Sprake and Monica Antony both scored 6&5 victories while Christina Claxton won 5&4. Captain Kirsten Kaergaard fought back from four down to lose her match on the 18th while Kristin Griffiths was beaten 5&3. Division Three Ladies scored a comfortable 4½-½ win over Noosa at Mt Coolum on Monday. Chris Parkinson was in a winning mood from the get-go and finished her match at the 14th hole, with a 6&4 thrashing. Other winners were Leigh Derigo (4&3), Jane Boaler (3&1) and Kerrie Tibbits (2&1), while Di Stark halved her match. Division two had the bye.
Division Three winners (from left) are Di Stark, Christine Parkinson, Leigh Derigo, Jane Boaler and Kerrie Tibbits
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (24 players) – Sue Jones (37 points), Susan Stratford (37), Heather Lum (34); Men (83 players) – A Grade, Huki Matenga (39), Dennis Taylor (39), Jeff Jones (39); B Grade – Peter McNeven (42), Roly Hoy (38), Bruno Ciot (36); C Grade – Joseph Daniels (36), Robert Pixley (36), John Visser (34).
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford (102 players) – Althea McLean and Joy Ryan (71 points), Tony Kelleher and Mick Kelsey (71), Brad Butler and Jamie Holbrook (7).
Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (competition abandoned due to minimum numbers not being met because of inclement weather).
Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford (competition abandoned due to minimum numbers not being met because of inclement weather). Men, Single Stableford (14 players) – Ray Morrison (39 points), Mick Kinnear (37), Neil Oxley (34).
Saturday, Competition abandoned due to Rule 19 of Standard Conditions of Play (not all players could complete their rounds due to lightning).
Sunday, Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford (46 players) – Chris Eccles and Gavin Terry (81 points), Jacob Mimnaw and Tracey O’Connor (73).
