From Tony Durkin
RETIRED BLISS: Although he is playing only one additional competitive game of golf a week since he retired in December of 2018, John Harris is reaping the benefits of a more enjoyable lifestyle, and a relaxed approach to the sport. John shot his best round in an age – possibly since a par round in Sydney two decades ago – when he won Saturday’s Single Stableford event with 40 points. His two-over par 74 revealed two birdies, four bogeys and 12 pars on his card, but did not divulge 13 greens hit in regulation, a three putt from inside three metres plus three missed birdie putts from around the same distance. But the 60-year-old was still delighted with his round which rewarded him with not just the $55 for winning A Grade, but an additional $56 for the Pro Pin shot at the sixth. And the current love affair John is having with the game is seemingly being reciprocated by the Headland course. The ex-National Sales Engineer declared the course on Saturday to be in surprisingly good condition despite the consistent recent rain. David Cekulis and Scott Hendriks, both with 38 points, won B and C Grade respectively.
DAVE’S COMEBACK: In the space of five days last week, the performance of four-time Headland Club Champion Dave Rattray encapsulated all the vagaries of a game with which all golfers are fascinated. Last Saturday week, playing off a handicap of two in the March Monthly Mug, he scored 81 off the bat to record his highest gross score in as long as he could recall. The following day, as a late call up to Headland’s A Grade Pennant team, Dave won the final hole in his match to clinch victory for his club and virtually seal a 2020 finals berth. Then, on Wednesday, in heavy conditions following the recent spate of rain, the 48-year-old had an eagle, a birdie and two bogeys in a one-under 71 for 38 Stableford points, to win the A Grade Medley event. In the past six months – when he was playing golf for fun, having a beer and relaxing – Dave’s handicap had crept out to four, a mark he last had when a 14-year-old paying in his native New Zealand. And to add to the ‘fun’ on Wednesday, his eagle came at the par-four sixth hole where he collected $44 for the Pro Pin, to add to his $55 for winning A Grade.
JUG IS BACK: Following the success of the inaugural event last year, the Two-Ball Jug Open has returned to the Headland golf program for 2020. Co-sponsored by Hometree Property and Finance (Graeme and Jack Nicholas) and Grant Martyn Constructions (Grant Martyn), the Medley two-person Ambrose competition will be held on Saturday week, March 28, with the perpetual Claret Jug to be presented to the victors. And inaugural winners, 20-year plus Headland members Scott Bromfield and Mick Morris, have declared they will be in the field to defend their title. Just of $3000 in prizes will be up for grabs on the day with special NTP prizes on offer, and long drives on the third and 12th holes. And, as was the case last year, a footy theme will prevail and players are urged to dress in the colours of their favourite team. Entries for the Two-Ball Jug Open on the Headland member’s portal at 6.30pm this coming Saturday (March 21).
AMATEUR OPEN: Reigning Headland Club Champion, Jake Crowther, has announced he will not be defending his Walsh Consulting Engineers Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship to be contested at Headland during the coming Easter weekend. Jake, who last year became the first Open Amateur Champion to go back-to-back in more than two decades, has moved to Sydney for work and is unable to return for the event, to be played over 36 holes on Easter Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12. Entries for the long-standing Championship, which is again sponsored by generous club member Justin Walsh, close at 5pm on Thursday, April 2. Entry fee is $75 with breakfast or luncheon rolls included. When nominating, players are asked to indicate their preference for a morning or afternoon tee time. Maximum handicap for eligible players is 17.5.
NO DUCK: Three dropped shots on two of the final three holes has cost Wayne West the March Wood Duck Challenge, and $250 in prizemoney. No player in the field was able to beat their handicap in the monthly black-tee event, with Wayne’s nett 73 the closet. The three-marker was just one over the card before he took a double-bogey six at the 15th and a bogey five at 17, to finish with 76 in the difficult conditions. The Wood Duck prizemoney will now jackpot to a minimum $500 on April 26, with any players beating their handicap to share in the cash.
WHOOPS: The aptly-named Gary Duckling was another who went close to claiming some prizemoney in Sunday’s Wood Duck Challenge, but two double bogeys and a bogey on three of his final four holes put paid to his assault, and he finished with a nett 74. But he fared better than his son Ashleigh – the genuine duckling – who was visiting from his Defence Force posting in Darwin. Ashleigh could not find his tee shot on the tenth, so decided to pull up stumps on his scorecard. Ironically his dad ‘birdied’ the same hole.
WHOOPS II: Perennial Ladies Champion Josie Ryan will miss her co-sponsored Irish Foursomes event on Thursday after being forced to self-isolate following her return to Australia from an overseas trip. Josie and husband Ron McMahon have been visiting family in Thailand and now face two weeks enjoying the ocean views from their Alexandra Headland home
MEN’S PENNANTS: Headland’s A Grade team has qualified in top spot for the finals of the Sunshine Coast Golf Zone Pennant Competition for 2020 after thrashing a weakened Maroochy River 5½-1½ at Noosa on Sunday. And the minor premiers will meet Maroochy River again next Sunday, at Peregian, with the winner to play the final at Gympie the following weekend. Maroochy River were without four of their regular team members, but that did not detract from the celebrations of the unbeaten Headland team. After missing last week Headland No.1 Jake Crowther returned to inflict a 6&4 defeat of his opponent, while last week’s hero, 16-year-old Josh Holbrook, continued his unbeaten run with a 2&1 win. Other victors were Brad Butler (3&2), Jamie Hill (4&3) and Sean McGill (3&2), while Adam Richards squared his match and Adam Rydwanski tasted his first defeat (2&1). A 6-1 win in B Grade also has Headland finals bound, finishing second in their pool and facing a semi-final at Caloundra next Sunday. Victors in the 6-1 smashing of Twin Waters at home were Ciaran Fenton (4&3), Tim O’Keeffe (3&2), Matt Hetherington (3&2), Matt Macaulay (5&4), Rhett Charlton (5&4) and Tom Burnett (4&2). James Kidd went under (4&2) to a tough opponent – his putter. Headland Masters did not enjoy the same fortune, beaten 4½-2½ by Maroochy River at Gympie. Warren Sorby (3&1) and Burgess Stephenson (5&3) were Headland’s winners, with the undefeated Scott Bromfield squaring his match. Ian Moore lost 3&2 as did team captain Warren Selvage, Brett Stephenson went down 3&1 and Neil Oxley lost on the 18th. And the Juniors also missed the finals, beaten 2-1 by Caloundra at Caloundra. Skipper Keita Griffin-Klazema thrashed his opponent 8&6, but Jack Fisher (2&1) and Van Wild-Baldock (5&4) were beaten.
LADIES PENNANTS: Headland’s Weekend team was brave in defeat, but the 5½-1½ loss to Mt Coolum at Beerwah on Sunday has not overly-harmed their chances to still win what is a topsy-turvy competition. With still four matches to be played, Headland has one win and two losses to date and will rest up with a bye this coming weekend. Christina Claxton squared her match on Sunday while Monica Antony (2&1), Wil Sprake (1-down), Vicky Sheridan (3&2) and Fiona Munro (2&1) went down fighting. With Susie Fenton (7&5) and Mouna Humzy (7&6) scoring huge wins, Headland’s Division Two Weekday team scored a resounding 4½-1½ victory over Pelican Waters at Beerwah on Monday. Jane Boaler also won (1-up) and Robyn Boreham squared her match, but Jenny Pirini was beaten 7&6. But the situation was reversed in Division Three, with Pelican Waters prevailing over Headland by the same score, 4½-1½. Headland’s lone winner was Rhonda Parry (1-up), while Ellen Bloxsome squared her match. Leigh Derigo, Joy Bullock and Brenda Smith-Gittings each took their opponent to the 16th green before being beaten 2-down
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford (abandoned because of weather conditions).
Tuesday, Medley Single Stableford (abandoned because of weather conditions).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (173 players) – A Grade, Dave Rattray (38 points), Barry Newton (38), Gary Savill (38); B Grade, Peter Leggo (39), Dennis Farmer (38), Drew Walker (36); C Grade, Jim Saunderson (37), Ashleigh Matheson (37), Leo Schumacker (36).
Thursday, Ladies, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (abandoned because of weather conditions). Men, Fourball Aggregate Stableford (abandoned because of weather conditions).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (17 players) – Carol Dwyer (35 points), Sue Jones (35).
Men (171 players) – A Grade, John Harris (40 points), Andrew Fisher (38), Andrew Beck (38); B Grade, David Cekulis (38), Kirk Hardy (35), Richard Thurgood (35); C Grade, Scott Hendriks (38), Andrew Hempsall (36), Gary Jamieson (36).
Sunday, Medley Wood Duck Challenge (25 players) – Wayne West (73 nett), Katrina Watts (74), Gary Duckling (74).
