From Tony Durkin
CHARLIE SHEENS: Former Headland Sunshine Coast Open Amateur champion Charlie Dann missed a birdie putt on his last hole of the day to be beaten into second place in Wednesday’s Property Today-Innovative Planning Solutions Headland Pro Am. The Gympie-born Sunshine Coast local, who turned professional late last year, returned the only unblemished card in the field of 71 professionals to finish at five-under, a shot behind Wynnum’s Chris Wood and tied for second with Braden Becker from Western Australia. Charlie birdied each of the par fives and chipped in for another on the 17th, only the second green he missed in his flawless round. Chris Wood (66) had five birdies, an eagle on 10 and a bogey on three, while Braden Becker (67) also eagled 10, added four birdies but stumbled with a bogey at the 12th. Some of the more fancied professionals in the field struggled in the difficult conditions – one-over 73 for Michael Sim and Jack Wilson, and Jacob Boyce, Jason Norris and the fancied Tim Hart signed for 74s.
A BLUE DAY: Schoolteacher Simon Groom had a sizzling three-over par round of 75 – 38 stableford points – to win the amateur section of Wednesday’s Property Today-Innovative Planning Solutions Headland Pro Am, and then declared the Blues certainties to win the State of Origin decider. The NSW ex-pat, from Scone, has had scant success since he joined Headland 14 months ago, but saved his best for the big occasion. But he had to do it the hard way, beating off Reilly Wunderlich, Burgess Stephenson and Steve Phillips to win on a countback. Playing off five, Simon also beat home 20 of the professionals in the field of 71. Adding more salt into the wounds of Queensland Origin hopefuls was runner-up Reilly, a five-marker from Yamba, who also signed for a 75. Reilly, 16, is a close mate of Headland’s trainee Professional, MacKenzie Wright. The teams event, with the best three stableford scores on each hole recorded, was won by Chris Wood, Matt Fisher, Gavin Terry and Greg Stray with 123 points, from Luke Paroz, Glenn Kelly, Daniel Diachkoff and Steve Rose (122).
DOCTOR EAGLE: He may only have one good eye at the moment, but Trevor Beall had no problems spotting the red flag on the par-four sixth hole on Sunday. The Buderim GP, who has suffered from a retinal detachment of his left eye for almost 12 months, holed his pitching wedge for an eagle in the Medley Stableford event, with the resultant five points giving him an aggregate of 12 points in three holes. In his most productive golf round for more than 12 months, Trevor went on to score 41 points, win the event and pocket $55, plus $15 for his eagle and another $35 for the Pro Pin, which was on the sixth. But it isn’t the doctor’s first eagle – that came on the difficult par-four 16th a couple of years ago when he dunked a nine iron.
PAM RETURNS: Although she has never reached their great heights in the sport, retired schoolteacher Pam Vincent has taught some of Headland’s most-decorated golfers at Buderim Mountain State School. And although Pam was somewhat embarrassed, the likes of David Grenfell, Richard Moir, Andrew Bonhomme and Marcus Cain – each of whom have played as professionals – would have been proud of the 43 points their former teacher scored in Saturday’s Single Stableford event. Pam was embarrassed because when she took leave from the club because of illness 18 months ago, she was playing off a handicap of 20, but at the weekend played off 45. Her score included 10 three-point holes and a four-point par on the eighth. And another recent retiree, ex-public servant Michael Moore, has a similar story to Pam. Michael also scored 43 points on Saturday, and has also had his handicap drift in the wrong direction in the past 12 months – from 16 to the 21 mark from which he played to win C Grade. His 86 off the bat – 45/41 – is his best score since he ditched his pen in July last year.
VOLLIES WIN: Despite a brilliant two-under round from the newest member of Headland’s ground staff, the annual Staff V Vollies match has been won by the club’s magnificent team of volunteers. Greenkeeper Stephen Hudson, who plays off scratch, scorched around the front nine in an unblemished 34, with birdies on the fifth and ninth holes, for 20 points. But his impressive round wasn’t enough to win the day. The best score, of 21 points, came from volunteers Barry Mapes and Ken Scanlan, while staffer Nick McClymont’s 19 points was matched by volunteers Steve Eggins, Bob Hayward, Jim Snowball and Merv Lum. In the wash-up, Vollies won the event, with their best five scores totaling 99 points to 86 from the staff. The annual inter-club match, sponsored by the club, culminated in a clubhouse luncheon.
FAMILY FAIL: Family ‘leader’ Justin Walsh blamed it on a dodgy Vindaloo the previous night, but whatever the reason, the Headland golfing zealots on Saturday created a record that may take some beating. A stipulation of the sponsorship from Bryan Haggarty of R2G Communications is that a prize goes to the lowest score of the day, conditional that the player is in attendance at the prize presentations. And, as outstanding Headland supporters and keen enthusiasts of a post-golf beverage, Justin – 24 points in the Single Stableford event – his wife Coralie (22) and their son Emmett (20), were on the premises to collect their booty of a carton of Great Northern Super Crisp for the lads and a bottle of Wirra Wirra Church Block Shiraz for Coralie. However, none of the above brew – according to Justin – will be consumed as the accompaniment to a curry.
FINE-TUNED FIONA: Headland’s professional staff has helped Fiona Munro fine tune her game to extent that on Thursday she played her best golf in at least six months. Fiona teamed with Sharon Thomas to win the American Foursomes event, the pair signing for a nett 75 despite the worst-possible start. They started with an eight on the first, followed by a seven on the second to be six over par after just two holes. But then they fired, playing the next 16 holes in four over par for 83, the best gross score of the day by nine shots. Their round included three birdies. Although Sharon obviously played her part, she was full of praise for her partner, saying she played ‘beautifully’. Fiona agreed, and paid tribute to Adam Norlander for his lesson in the simulator and to Matt Douglass for adjusting her irons.
WHOOPS: Claims in last week’s HH column that the July Monthly Medal was the first to be contested at Headland by both men and ladies, has been scuppered – as has the joy of Dr Scott Masters at being one of the first winners. Long-term member Helen Fraser has informed HH that when she joined the club in 1990 both sexes were included in the Wednesday fields. She recalls ‘very sociable days, with a barbecue on the verandah after golf’. “It then became so popular, the club decided to take over the running of the competition and thus ended the barbecue. And by the mid-90s ladies were no longer included in the Wednesday field,” Helen revealed. Her recollections were supported by Sandy Whittle, wife of Patron Simon Whittle, who recalls winning a book as a prize in a previous Wednesday Medley competition.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Medley Single Par, Ladies (27 players) – Ellen Bloxsome (37 points), Robyn Boreham (34), Mouna Humzy (31); Men (54 players) – Phil Humzy (40), Nigel Morrison (37), Patrick Carmody )36).
Wednesday, Property Toady-Innovative Planning Solutions Headland Pro Am,
Professionals (71 players) – Chris Wood (66), Charlie Dann (67), Braden Becker (67), Benjamin Stowe (68), Andrew Dodt (68); Amateurs (152 players) – Simon Groom (38 points), Reilly Wunderlich (38), Burgess Stephenson (38), Steve Phillips (38), Jay Gourlay (36); Teams – Chris Wood, Matt Fisher, Gavin Terry, Greg Stray (123 points), Luke Paroz, Glenn Kelly, Daniel Diachkoff, Steve Rose (122).
Thursday, Ladies, American Foursomes (76 players) Fiona Munro and Sharon Thomas (75.1 nett), Kathy Atkins and Robyn Muir (79.6), Sue Jones and Monica Knowles (79.6). Men, Fourball Stableford Aggregate (83 players) – Matthew Brady and Dillon Grant (70 points), Josh Poole and Garry Clotz (70), Ray and Nigel Morrison (70).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (31 players) – Pam Vincent (43 points), Leanne Ptak (34), Christina Claxton (34). Men (219 players) – A Grade, Terry Ward 40 points), Adam Richards (38), Ken Wedmaier (38); B Grade, Ted Banaszczyk (41), Greg Stray (40), Les McClymont (40); C Grade, Michael Moore (43), Dennis Farmer (43), Graeme Denovan (42).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (54 players) – Trevor Beall (41 points), Michael Needham (38), Tristan Scott (37).
