From Tony Durkin 

PRO-AM DATE SET: Headland has landed a big fish in these uncertain times with the announcement of a major partner for the club’s 2020 Pro-Am to be played on Wednesday, September 2. GemLife, an innovative developer of premium over-50s lifestyle resorts, will be major sponsor of the event with added support already from new member and solicitor, Cordell Smith of Galilee Solicitors. Following a two-year hiatus, Headland staged a highly-successful Pro-Am last year which attracted a capacity field and was won by Brisbane’s Chris Wood with a six-under 66. Sunshine Coaster Charlie Dann (67) was second and both golfers have already pencilled in the date for a return visit. Other sponsorship packages are available and those businesses or individuals interested should contact Head Professional Adam Norlander on 07 5444 5800. 

BUTLER DAY: Two three-putt greens have cost Headland A Grade Pennant player Brad Butler the second-best round of his golfing life. Playing off plus two in Thursday’s Single Stableford event, Brad carded seven birdies in his five-under round of 67 for 39 points, but bogeyed the first and the 14th with three putts. A former Club Champion in 2008 at Brisbane’s Virginia Golf Club where he holds the course record of 63, Brad joined Headland in 2018 and his previous best round at his new home course before Thursday had been 68. But while he was obviously delighted with his round – notwithstanding the two bogeys – Brad was rapt that he was playing in the group with younger brother Ben who aced the par-three eighth during the same round. And for Ben the feat is one-up on his more illustrious brother who, despite a host of outstanding achievements in the sport, is yet to score a hole-in-one. 

FEATHERS FLY: Like his beloved NRL Roosters the previous night, Andrew Fisher stormed home to win Saturday’s A Grade Single Stableford event. Turning three over the card with 19 points, the seven-marker parred the back nine – two birdies, two bogeys – for 21 points to win on a countback from Rhett Charlton (handicap 12) who finished with two one pointers. And it was fitting that Andrew should finish well – the back nine has been kind to him this year with the highlight a three-under par 33, including four successive birdies, back in early March. Ted Banaszczyk (38 points) continued his good run of late with a win in B Grade while Hans Raaschou saluted in a low-scoring C Grade field with 37 points. Roz Brandt had seven three-point holes in her 38 points, which won the Ladies competition.

LOTTO WIN: A ‘grudge match’ that started with a rainbow, ended in a celebration when the Lotto ticket of four Headland members recently snared them a $745 windfall. Although Helen Fraser and Kirsten Kaergaard won the ‘return’ of the grudge match last Saturday against Di Stark and Robyn Boreham, it was ‘lucky’ Helen who purchased the ticket from the newsagency at Mountain Creek. And although the $186 each was eagerly accepted, one more number would have given the quartet a $740,000 bonanza. The ladies believe a rainbow, which appeared briefly as they played their first hole, may have been the lucky charm.

TWO NINES: When English ex-pats Gary Marr and Kirk Stansfield stepped onto the first tee at Headland on Wednesday for the Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford event, they were playing together for at least the 30th time. But anyone examining their card from the following 18 holes of golf might well think they had just met. Although the duo – who have been regular playing partners since Kirk joined the club in October last year – scored 47 points to win the event, their scoring pattern was noteworthy. Of the 24 points scored on the front nine, 19 came from 13 handicapper Kirk, with Gary scoring on just two holes. Then, on the back nine, the roles were completely reversed, with Gary (12) scoring 21 of the 23 points and Kirk relegated to a single-hole contribution. While claiming they scored the same points on at least half a dozen holes, they clearly understood each other’s role. On their card were seven two-pointers, nine three-pointers and a four-point birdie from Gary at the par-five 13th. 

UNREMARKABLE: Retired banker Mark Glassop described his 43-point round to win Tuesday’s Single Stableford as ‘unremarkable’, but he says he will take that kind of golf every time he steps onto the course. Mark penned four pars, 10 bogeys and four doubles on his card, but from his 25 handicap the 73-year-old was still able to manage eight three-point holes. Apart from his past two rounds, Mark says his golf had been terrible – a similar tale to that of Trudi Russell who won the Ladies’ event on Tuesday with 39 points. A SWING graduate from 2017, breast cancer survivor Trudi said she had definitely fallen out of love with golf during the past two months and had been playing so poorly that even air swings had crept back into her game. But 22 points on her first nine on Tuesday, in a round that included three four-point holes, has reignited her passion.

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (53 players) – Trudi Russell (39 points), Valerie O’Brien (38), Ree Gordon (37); Men (74 players) – Mark Glassop (43), Greg Jellis (39), Bruce Horton (39).

Wednesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (229 players) – Gary Marr and Kirk Stansfield (47), Ed Hoey and Paul Garth (46), Russell Harris and Gerry Brown (46), Earl Hicks and Josh Vearing (45), Gordon Russell and Graham Pitt (45).

Thursday, Ladies, American Foursomes (116 players) – Cheryl Kitson and Lesley Pinn (73.375 nett), Annabel Harris and Julie Lewis (73.375), Jodie McDonell and Colleen Berger (75.5), Naomi Doyle and Fiona Munro (76), Monica Knowles and Sue Jones (76.375). Men, Single Stableford (91 players) – Tony McDonough (40 points), Kevin Howe (39), Brad Butler (39), Josh Poole (39).

Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (26 players) – Roz Brandt (38 points), Kirsten Kaergaard (37), Sandee Brimblecombe (35); Men (222 players) – A Grade, Andrew Fisher (40), Rhett Charlton (40), Ash Reck (37); B Grade, Ted Banaszczyk (38), Ray Stonehouse (38), David Munns (36); C Grade, Hans Raaschou (37), Ossie Laurikainen (37), Gerry Brown (36).

Sunday, Medley Single Stableford, beat the Vice-President (competition abandoned because of insufficient starters due to inclement weather).