From Tony Durkin
NO KIDDING: James Kidd was about to have his best round for the year on Wednesday when an inexplicable four-putt at the difficult 15th rudely intervened. Having stepped aside as Director of Golf just on 12 months ago because of work commitments, James (handicap 5) had four birdies, four bogeys and nine pars on an impressive card which was spoiled by a six at the par-four 15th. With the red pin sitting treacherously close to the front of the green, James struck a seven-iron to six (6) metres past the flag, leaving him a down-hiller, which he proceeded to putt off the green. And, to add to the indignation, with the clubhouse now re-opened for business, that meant a shout for his group. A member since 1991 and once sporting a handicap of one, James was still happy with his round of 74 for 39 points and a runner-up placing in A Grade to Dennis Mikolic. Michael Rutledge (B Grade) and Cordell Smith (C Grade) both scored 41 points to win their respective grades. NOTE: James had a new putter in his bag on Wednesday – a Scotty Cameron (circa 1990) which he sourced from a mate for a carton of beer. It was similar to the putter he used as a teenager, which had mysteriously disappeared. And, apart from that dreaded four-putt, it worked a treat.
‘O’ FOR O’BRIEN: Valerie O’Brien has continued her recent purple patch of form, winning Tuesday’s Single Stableford with 40 points and – again – without a wipe on her card. For the former Pymble Golf Club member who joined Headland with husband Peter a little more than 12 months ago, it was her seventh round in the past two months when she has played to her handicap, or better. Playing off 27, the golfer of just eight years is obviously enjoying her golf and also her role as secretary of the Headland Ladies Match Committee, a role to which she acceded in August. Another ‘Big O’ to shine on Tuesday was Gordon O’Neill, who won the Men’s Single Stableford with 41 points. A retired Accountant, Gordon blitzed the front nine, scoring six three-pointers from his 28 handicap, to turn with 23 points.
ROGER IN TWOS: The popular Headland member with the double-barrelled surname – Roger Van Ginkel – seemingly has a liking for the numeral two when it comes to his golf. A former VFL umpire, Roger returned the leading score in Saturday’s Stableford to win Men’s B Grade with 41 points, and estimated it was his best round in two years and his first win in that same two-year period. And, just to add a further slice of intrigue to the association with the number two, the ex-Headland House Director had two lessons last week with trainee Pro, McKenzie Wright, very much praising the youngster for his professional advice and guidance. More consistency in his round was the outcome for the 19-marker who had five pars, 12 bogeys and just one double on his winning card. Lang Pryor (38) won A Grade, Vicky Sheridan (34) won the Ladies event and 14-year-old Jack Fisher (38) backed up from last week’s Sunday Monthly Medal Medley/Junior double, with victory in C Grade.
MONEY’S WORTH: Generous benefactor Justin Walsh of Walsh Consulting Engineers who annually sponsors the Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship at Headland, managed to collect some of the spoils from his club-sponsored event on Wednesday. Playing in the Walsh Consulting Engineers’ Medley Single Stableford event, three members of his group shared in the prizemoney. Justin (38 points) was placed fourth in A Grade, his father-in-law Don Follent (37) was third in B Grade and Justin’s wife Coralie (35) figured in the rundown. Between them they collected $65, and later celebrated Don’s 81st birthday with his favourite meal – corned beef and sauerkraut sandwiches. The Walsh Consulting Engineers Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship, which was postponed from the Easter weekend because of Covid-19 restrictions, will now be played on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27.
NICK’S REDEMPTION: Nick Reed and his mates play golf every Saturday and Sunday and while other members of the Reed family are very competitive, Nick prefers to play more to enjoy the social aspect of the great game. But so bad has his form been in 2020, and so brutal has the sledging become from his mates – and his brothers Brad and Tim – that Nick was starting to enjoy golf less and less. That was until Sunday when his best-ever round – 87 off the bat – produced 43 Stableford points in the Medley event for a one-point win over former Wallaby halfback Brett Johnstone. Nick (handicap 22), who has been playing competition golf for just two years, had eight pars and no wipes on his card and said a consistent driving round and very few chips was the answer to his historic round. “I am a shocking chipper, so the less times I chip, the better,” he quipped.
DOCTOR, DOCTOR: This Wednesday’s sponsor of the Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford event at Headland – the Happy Doctors – is not a new organisation, just a new name. For almost three decades a group of a dozen local doctors has played together each Wednesday, and sponsored generously under the collective of Young Doctors. But following some good-natured ribbing of late a name change, to Happy Doctors, has been made, and the sponsorship this year has been increased to three events. One of the original members, Dr Rob Ingham, has revealed the turning point came last year when the winner of their event, in accepting his prize, commented that while disappointed none of the Young Doctors could attend, he was nonetheless pleased they had sent along their fathers to represent them. Ouch.
EAGLE SUNDAY: Eagles landed in spades at Headland on Sunday, with three scored in the Medley Single Stableford event. The first was by Rod J Berger when he aced the par-three fifth hole for his second hole-in-one. His first was at the 18th on Anzac Day five years ago. Two-marker Wayne West was next cab off the rank, scoring a miraculous eagle on the fourth hole. His pushed tee shot finished 20 metres in front of the ladies’ tee on the eighth hole and, with a restricted view of the mid-green pin, he struck a ‘soft’ eight iron through a gap in the trees and was unaware it had bounced once, and then jumped in the hole. And former Club Champion Ryley Martin, who is now a member of Maroochy River, dunked his third shot on the par-five second for the third eagle of the afternoon. Ryley, playing off plus four, penned five birdies as well as the eagle on his scorecard of five-under 67, for 37 points, while Wayne had three birdies and an eagle on his 21-point front nine.
LADIES’ MATCHPLAY: Four members remain in the race for the 2020 Guide Financial Headland Ladies Matchplay Championship, with an uncapped winner to eventually be unveiled. With the semi-finals to be completed by July 31 and the final played before August 27, Jenny Ingham, Robyn Boreham, Rose Sztama and Bev Barnes are the four left in the race for the prestigious title, with none of the quartet having previously won the Championship. In the first round Jenny Ingham beat Leanne Ptak (walkover), Mary Dowling beat Trish Murphy (5&4), Trish Marsden beat Gail Young (20th hole), Robyn Boreham beat Ellen Bloxsome (8&6), Rose Sztama beat Mandy Oster (3&2), Vicki Maynard beat Leigh Derigo (WO),Wil Sprake beat Katrina Watts (WO) and Bev Barnes moved to the quarter finals by downing Carmel Visser (5&4). In the quarters Jenny Ingram beat Mary Dowling (2&1), Robyn Boreham beat Trish Marsden (3&2), Rose Sztama beat Leigh Derigo (3&2) and Bev Barnes prevailed over Wil Sprake (5&3).
HEADLAND AT COOLUM: Gun Headland golfers Josie Ryan and Brian Kesby are among the entrants for the Queensland Women’s and Men’s Senior Championships to be held at Mt Coolum next month. Played over 54 holes, the Championships (for those aged 55 plus) are the first to be played in the state post Covid-19, the first to be played in conjunction and the first not played under matchplay conditions. As well as the Senior event, a Queensland Women’s Mid (age 30-45) Championship will also be held in conjunction, and Christina Claxton is the only Headland member entered, while Annabel Harris and Chris Parkinson will join prolific winner Josie in the Senior field. The event will be played on August 2,3 and 4, and entries – on the Golf Australia website – close on July 22.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (54 players) – Valerie O’Brien (40 points), Carmel Visser (38), Louise Armstrong (38); Men (74 players) – Gordon O’Neill (41), Jason Meehan (39), David Sims (39).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (236 players) – A Grade, Dennis Mikolic (40 points), James Kidd (39), Tony Coad (39), Justin Walsh (38); B Grade, Michael Rutledge (41), Gus Walker (41), Don Follent (37), Barry Mapes (37); C Grade, Cordell Smith (41), Dave Butcher (39), Ed Hoey (38), Sid Ryan (37).
Thursday, Ladies, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (competition abandoned because of weather conditions). Men, Single Stableford (10 players) – Jack Kelly (35 points), Mick Kinnear (34), Shane Muller (34).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (23 players) – Vicky Sheridan (34 points), Gwen Nancarrow (33), Leeanne Ptak (33); Men (218 players) – A Grade, Lang Pryor (38), Ross Brimblecombe (38), Dennis Orr (38), Gary Duckling (37); B Grade, Roger Van Ginkel (41), Bruce Prince (39), Michael Rutledge (38), Danny Shaw (36); C Grade, Jack Fisher (38), Adam Robins (36), Andrew Hempsall (36), Sid Ryan (36).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (83 players) – Nick Reed (43 points), Brett Johnstone (42), Michael Rutledge (38), Tony Durkin (38), Mackenzie Wright (38), Mal McDougall (37).
