From Tony Durkin
JACK’S BACK: Three-time Headland Men’s Foursomes champion, dual Mixed Foursomes champion and once the course record holder, Justin Nicholson, has rediscovered his winning form of the late 1990s with back-to-back under par rounds on the weekend. His first was a sizzling 71 to win Saturday’s Single Stableford event with 44 points, and he backed that up with a two-under 70 to win the Goomeri Open on Sunday. Known to his mates as Jack, Nicholson had just the single blemish on his card on Saturday with a bogey on the 10th hole, but came home with birdies on the 12th and 17th to score his first under-par round at Headland in – his words – at least five years. The following day he travelled to Goomeri for the club’s annual Open event, shot four birdies in his round to beat fellow Headland member Scott Walker on a countback. And it was a visit to the club’s new simulator under the watchful eye of Club Professional Adam Norlander that has done the trick. With his clubs and his swing both slightly tweaked, the husband of popular bar staff stalwart Jenene Nicholson, Jack capped off Saturday’s victory with a hefty bonus of $63 for winning the Pro Pin shot on the 12th hole. NOTE: His course record 67, scored in the first round of the Headland Club Championships in 2003, has since been bettered by Duane Smith (65 in 2004), Adam Richards (65 in 2005) and Brett Rankin (63 in 2010).
SPECIAL WIN: Former Ladies Club Champion Sue Jones concedes it was not her greatest round of golf, but winning the ladies’ service section of Thursday’s Diggers Cup was still ‘very special’. Sue, a member of the Australian Navy for more than three decades, served alongside David Edwards, the son of foundation Headland members Bert and Dorothy Edwards who in 1959 gifted the club the Servicemen’s Shield, which is contested each Anzac Day. Sue’s name, and the name of 2019 male ex-service winner Neville Daniel – a decade-long servant of the Royal New Zealand Air Force – will be inscribed on the shield. Neven scored 35 points and Sue 30, while Michael Nicholls (Air Force – 29 points), Alan Dellar (Army – 27) and Ted Banaszczyk (Navy – 34) won their respective divisions. The best score on the day was 42 points from Russell Harris. Still sponsored by the Edwards family, the Serviceman’s Shield is – at 60 years – the longest-running sponsored event at Headland Golf Club. Each player on Anzac Day donated $5 from their entry fee to Legacy, resulting in more than $1000 for the charity.
MODIFIED STROKE: From Wednesday of this week, Monthly Medal and Monthly Mug events at Headland during the winter months will be played under the newly-endorsed Golf Australia ruling of Maximum Hole Score, where players must pick up after 10 shots on a hole. Universally adopted by the golfing community, ‘maximum score’ is a new, additional form of stroke play primarily designed to speed up play, but also to encourage golfers of all levels to contest stroke events. Whereas players who have ‘picked up’ in the past would have automatically been disqualified from the event, under this new ruling a misadventure on a hole becomes a maximum score of 10 and does not necessarily rule the player out of winning the event or figuring among the placegetters. Next Saturday’s Monthly Mug for Men, and Monthly Medal for ladies, will also be played under the same rules, as will the Medley Monthly Medal and Junior Medal on Sunday.
DAD REIGNS: Like a gun racehorse returning from a spell, Ken Reed greeted the judge with 38 points in Thursday’s Diggers Day at Headland to beat his three sons for outright family honours in the annual event. Ken and sons Tim (35 points), Brad (33) and Nick (28) – all Headland members – have a family Anzac Day tradition where they attend the dawn service, play golf together, have lunch and then watch the annual NRL clash between the Roosters and Dragons. Also on the line is the Arthur Scholes Cup, contested in honour of Ken’s 97-year-old neighbour and Digger, and dad and youngest son Nick prevailed over Brad and Tim, winning 2&1. For Ken, Thursday’s round was just his fourth in seven months and has whet his appetite to the extent that he has booked lessons with Club Professional Adam Norlander because he realises his ultra-competitive offspring will be keen to strike back when the next regular family challenge is played.
GOLF OBSESSION: When Nathan Osborn and his wife bought a home a few hundred metres from Headland following a move north from Newcastle four years ago, Nathan decided to join the club and start to seriously play the game in which he had previously dabbled. His interest, he admits, soon became an obsession and he played at least three times a week, practiced as often as time permitted and within two years had reduced his handicap from 19 to four. Although his fanaticism with golf has since diminished somewhat and he now averages three games a fortnight and his handicap is out to seven, Nathan still plays extremely well as he displayed in winning Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford event with 43 points. His two-over 74 (39-35) is his second-best round at Headland, just behind a 73, 18 months after he joined the club.
CREST ENVY: How many Headland golfers have walked up the 17th fairway and admired the apartments overlooking the 18th tee? And many, no doubt, have mused ‘wouldn’t I love to live there one day’? Well, the time – maybe – has come, because fellow member Chris Pace, Principal of McGrath Estate Agents at Buderim, has the prime penthouse apartment in the complex on his books. With three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a three-car garage, Apartment 24 is now for sale by tender. Boasting panoramic views from Moreton Island to Mudjimba but taking in the vista and the entire golf course as well as the serenity of Mooloolaba, Alex, Cotton Tree and Maroochydore, this is a rare opportunity for a Headland member to secure the best of the best. And, if a Headland member does buy the Penthouse, $500 will be donated to the Headland Future Fund by McGrath Estate Agents. Click on the link below to drool over what the apartment offers
https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment/qld/sunshine-coast/buderim/404545
LADIES PENNANT: Headland ‘s Weekend Team remains in the top half of the ten-team competition in fifth position following 3-2 loss to Noosa on Sunday. Playing at Beerwah, Monica Antony led off with a comfortable 3&2 win and was joined by Wil Sprake with one of the best wins of the season, 8&6. However, team captain Kirsten Kaergaard was beaten 4&3, Christina Claxton lost 3&2 and Kristen Griffiths’ halved hole on the 18th resulted in her being beaten one down. On Monday the Division Two and Division Three teams were both victorious, scoring 3-2 wins. Pik Chong (2&1), Gwen Nancarrow (1up) and Jenny Pirini (1up) scored wins in Division Two against Bribie Island at Maroochy River, while Norma Hobson (4&3) and Susie Fenton (5&4) were beaten. In Division Three, played against Caboolture at Caloundra, super-impressive winners were Chris Parkinson (6&5) and Kerrie Tibbits (5&3), while Leigh Derigo and Joy Bullock halved their matches and Di Stark went down 2&1.
JOKER JACKPOT:Yet again Headland’s Joker Jackpot draw resulted in a non-winner last Friday night and the jackpot is now worth $7900. Tom Pearson was the member drawn last week and, with just six cards remaining the cabinet to be turned, ironically he selected the six of diamonds. With five unturned cards now remaining, members are reminded they need to register at the club on the night to be eligible for the draw for the Joker Jackpot, which has been unclaimed since the first Friday in May last year.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (11 players) – Bernadette Cassidy (27 points), Wendy Derrick (24), Kate Wilkie (23); Men (32 players) – Mark Garcia (37 points), Jamie Torres (36), Steve Walters (35).
Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (108 players) – A Grade, Peter Richardson (40 points), Bevan Horsnell (38), Ken Anderson (38); B Grade, Drew Walker (42), Erik Larsen 38), Alexander Edin (37).
Thursday, Diggers Day Single Stableford, Ladies (57 players) – Katrina Watts (39 points), Kristin Griffiths (33), Dom Paice (33); Men (160 players) – Russell Harris (42 points), Glen Kelly (41), Gary Jamieson (39), Brian Callaghan (39), Steve Phillips (39); Servicemen’s Shield, Neven Daniel (35) and Sue Jones (30); Air Force, Michael Nicholls (29); Army, Alan Deller (27); Navy, Ted Banaszczyk (34).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (20 players) – Kate Wilkie (31 points), Trish Howe (31), Doreen Davidson (30); Men (209 players) – A Grade, Justin Nicholson (44 points), Darryl Kong (41), Ciaran Fenton (40); B Grade, Ross Wedmaeir (40), Ross Itzstein (38), Paul Garth (38); C Grade, Lang Pryor (38), Karl Aldrich (37), Ed Hoey (37).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (50 players) – Nathan Osborn (43 points), Earl Hicks (39), Geoff Bland (39).
