From Tony Durkin
EPIC ROUND: After taking a few rounds to reconcile with his new Callaway Epic driver, Mark Henricks had his best round in almost two years to salute the judge at Headland on Saturday. The Sunshine Coast Grammar PE teacher, who missed just on three months of golf at the start of the year after undergoing major prostate surgery, came home with a one-over par back nine to add 23 points to his front nine score of 19, and a win in A Grade with 42 points in the Single Stableford event. Mark conceded he had been playing poorly since his return to golf, and described his Saturday round as ‘nothing amazing, but solid, with no disasters’. And he acknowledged the new Epic driver – recommended by Club professional Adam Norlander after a session in the Simulator – was now working a treat. NOTE: Mark, who recently turned 50, said his prostrate issue was discovered during an annual blood test. He urged all Headland male members, irrespective of their age, to have a regular check.
MATT’S WALTZ: Graeme Warne may have scored his first hole-in-one in almost half a century of playing golf, but Headland Assistant Professional Matt Douglas was the shining star in his team’s win in the oddly-named Waltz Stableford on Thursday. Graeme and Matt were joined by Mick Kelsey and Neil Oxley in the four-person team’s event, winning easily with 94 points. Apart from a wipe on the 16th – where he ‘charged’ his birdie putt – Matt was in total command with five birdies and 12 pars giving him 40 points from his one handicap, and an impeccable front nine of 33. The scoring system was very different to the norm, and somewhat complicated, with teams taking the best individual score on the first hole, the best two scores on the second and the best three scores on hole three, then repeating that scoring method over the following 15 holes. Graeme’s hole-in-one on the 18th enabled his team to score a collective eight points on the hole, but it wasn’t his only major contribution – the 14-handicapper also signed for seven three-pointers. Naturally, the group later duly celebrated – not just their win, but Matt’s 41st birthday.
TEAM PERFECT: Rhonda Parry and Kathy Petrie had never played as Fourball partners prior to Thursday’s event at Headland, but more team unions are planned for the future. Rhonda and Kathy formed an almost-perfect partnership to score 47 points and win Thursday’s ladies event, with 22 and 26 points on the card, respectively. But it was the manner in which the SWING graduates combined that earmarked them as Fourball specialists. Rhonda contributed 18 points on the front nine and four on the back, while Kathy’s input was seven and 18. The highlight of their round was a five-pointer on the par-three eighth for Rhonda, who rolled in a 10-metre putt from the back of the green.
THREE-PUTT SMUDGE: Three putts on the first and last greens may have blemished the card of Anthony Fichera in Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford, but the engineer still won the event with his equal best round in his seven years as a Headland member. The father of three started on the back nine with 19 points, then came home with a one-under par 35 for 23 points and a winning total of 42. His best round since being runner-up in the A Grade Monthly Mug back in January consisted of four birdies, eight pars and six bogeys. One of those bogeys was on the final hole when, shooting for his first-ever par-round, he was too aggressive with his putt for birdie, and then missed the return. But for someone who has not been ‘putting it all together’ of late, the win was a confidence boost for the seven marker.
SANDY WINS: It’s been a long time between drinks for Sandy Alexander, but the Scotsman admits to enjoying a tipple after returning the best score in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford. A Headland member for 30 years, Sandy regained some of the form of bygone days with 42 points, highlighted by a three-over par back nine of 38, and 23 points. His win in B Grade came on a rare Wednesday appearance after his decision to switch from what had become a regular Thursday commitment. Recently-retired John Harris won A Grade with 39 points while the ageless John Miller (40 points) won C Grade for his third victory in three months.
TWIN FIRSTS: On the Sunshine Coast to escape the winter chills of Victoria, National Golf Club member Joe Homsey enjoyed his two firsts at Headland on Tuesday. Playing in the newly-introduced Modified Stableford event where eight points are scored for a nett eagle, six for a nett birdie, four for a nett par and a point deducted for each wipe, Joe returned 50 points to win on a countback. Not only was it his first time playing this particular event, it was his first game at Headland – a course he later said he enjoyed greatly because of its ‘natural feel’. The 13-marker had two six-point holes, with birdies (nett eagle) on the fourth and sixteenth, and five four-pointers. After his maiden visit Joe, who lives in Melbourne, is keen to return to Headland for a return bout with the course. This was just the fourth time the Modified Stableford has been played at Headland, with Joe’s 50 points the lowest of the winning scores. The record is held by Mick Kelsey, who signed for a phenomenal 55 in May, while John Bourke won the inaugural event with 52 and Stephen Woolcott won with 51 points in April.
WELCOME BACK: Former Headland Golf Manager, Brent Dalby, is back in the swing of golf – literally – following a five-month lay-off because of illness. Late last year Brent was diagnosed with Thymic Carcinoma – a form of bone cancer – and underwent a series of radiation, injections and medications which have stabilised his condition. He was recently given the medical ‘all clear’ to get back to what he loves, and has been playing each Wednesday and Saturday – from his very generous handicap of 17 – for the past three weeks. A Headland member for three decades and Golf Manager for nine years until retiring in December 2017, Brent is feeling so well that he is contemplating re-joining the Vets and playing three days a week. He is also looking forward to a Christmas visit from his London-based family – son Shannen, his wife Sara and their children Maddy and Nathan. The visit has been financially-assisted by Brent’s popular Headland Jackpot Joker win ($7900) back in May.
THIRD TIME LUCKY: Perfect Sunshine Coast weather is predicted for Headland Ladies Open Day on Thursday, which has attracted a capacity field of 132 players. Sponsored by Jody McDonell of Century 21 on Duporth, the Ladies Open has twice been postponed earlier in the year because of inclement weather. Such has been the response for the third attempt that some nominees have been balloted out of the field. The majority of the Sunshine Coast-based clubs will be represented, with other visitors from New Zealand, Woorayl (Victoria), Foster-Tuncurry, Indooroopilly and Young. The field will be sent off with a shotgun start at 8am.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (29 players) – Dianne Kean (41 points), Norma Hobson (37), Robyn Homans (36); Men (83 players) – A Grade, Greg Doolan (38), Ian Scobie (37), Barry Reilly (35); B Grade, Tim Fisher (42), Peter McMillan (38), Sergio Nogarotto (36); C Grade, Barry Euston (40), Bruno Ciot (37), Stuart Miles (36).
Tuesday, Medley Modified Stableford (126 players) – Joe Homsey (50 points), Ray Norman (50), Jackie Thinee (49), Geoff Sawyer (48), Roy Peterson (47), Rod J Berger (47).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (209 players) – A Grade, John Harris (39 points), Peter Francis (37), Dennis Mikolic (37); B Grade, Sandy Jamieson (42), Martin Dix (39), Malcolm McColm (37) ; C Grade, John Miller (40), Phil Martin (39), Geoff Montgomery (38).
Thursday, Ladies, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (108 players) – Kathy Petrie and Rhonda Parry (47 points), Jan Miles and Fay O’Connor (46), Di Stark and Helen Mulholland (45), Francis Renehan and Raewyn Bissett (45), Susan Wake and Cheryl Kitson (45). Men, Four-person Waltz Stableford (91 players) – Matt Douglas, Mick Kelsey, Neil Oxley and Graeme Warne (94 points), Scott Mansfield, Peter Stocker, Ross Halyday ad Geoff Opray (88).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (28 players) – Bev Kelly (36 points), Kristin Griffiths (36), Wil Sprake (35). Men (194 players) – A Grade, Mark Henricks (42 points), Peter Francis (40), John Harris (39); B Grade, Danny Shaw (40), John Kamm (38), Jon Welch (38); C Grade, Barry Potter (42), Brendan Richardson (41), Roly Hoy (41).
Sunday, Schweppes Junior Classic, Girls – Caitlyn Wheatley (Noosa Springs) 73 nett, Jasmine Lena (Noosa Springs) 74, Caitlyn Vanderkruk (Keperra) 77; Boys, Wilson Foster (Mt Coolum) 68 nett, Keita Griffin Klazema (Headland) 72, Matthys Visser (Redcliffe) 75, Josh Holbrook (Headland) 76. Medley Single Stableford (58 players) – Anthony Fichera (42 points), Ben Brown (41), Sharleen McMullen (41).
