From Tony Durkin
RICHTER ACES: The odds of an amateur golfer scoring a hole-in-one are 12,500 to one. The odds of an amateur golfer scoring a hole-in-one on the same hole, in the same event, on three successive years, is ‘off the Richter Scale’ at something like 15 billion to one. But Headland A Grade Pennant player Jamie Hill proved the impossible is possible when he again aced the 18th on Thursday during the annual Women’s Ovarian Cancer Charity day. Admittedly the odds of this occurring would be shortened considerably by hitting shots for each member of the groups – 128 players in total. And it was the same in 2019 and again last year, when he also holed out at the par-three final hole, which means he has struck in the vicinity of 360 shots to achieve this truly incredible feat. In the first two years the beneficiary of Jamie’s sharp shooting was Helen Fraser, while Thursday’s recipient was – ironically – Yvonne Richter, who played in the same group as 17-time Club Champion Josie Ryan. NOTE: Recently at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, former World No.1 golfers Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas each hit 50 balls to a 135-metre par three, and failed to score an ace.
NEWTON’S LAW: Simply working on the law of averages, Barry Newton knew it would not be too long before he and business partner Tony Pattison would extract revenge on regular Wednesday opponents Chris Duhig and Bevan Horsnell. But he did not realise he would produce his cleanest-ever card on Wednesday to avenge a recent loss at Maleny that his mates ‘have never stopped crowing about’. Two weeks earlier Chris and Bevan ‘shot the lights out’ at Maleny to beat Barry and Tony by 22 units in their match – on Wednesday the tables were reversed by 10 units. And Barry (handicap 5) was the star turn, returning an emblemised card of one-under par 71, with 17 pars and a birdie at the par-four fourth. It was his equal lowest score in 21 years as a Headland member and good enough to not just win A Grade, but return plus five in the Medley Single Par event with the best score in the field of 202. Ty Pilcher (plus 4) won B Grade and Graham Pitt (plus 3) was the best in C Grade.
OVARIAN DAY: With the considerable generosity of Property Today Real Estate Consultant and Headland member Jamie Hill, more than $2200 was raised by Headland Women at Thursday’s Ovarian Cancer Charity Day. Not only did Jamie hit tee shots at the 18th hole for each member of each group in the field of 128 for a gold coin donation, he also made a personal bequest of $500. And mother and daughter Jenny and Amanda Ingham continued their good form in the recent Headland’s Handicap Consolation Match Play competition for Pennant players, teaming with Division One Match Play winner Kate Wilkie. The fourth team member was rookie Janette Ritchie, who was having her first competition game of golf. The team scored 60.875 in the Scrambled Ambrose event to win from Helen Fraser, Kathy Atkins, Monica Knowles and Anne Callaghan (62 nett).
GOLFING MARVEL: Barry Mapes described Saturday’s round of golf as something of a miracle, but the real marvel is the fact the former banker can still play, and is even alive to enjoy the game. A Headland member for 21 years, Barry scored plus six to win B Grade in the men’s Single Par event returning his best-ever score – 83 – by four strokes. But almost four years ago Barry lay in a Brisbane hospital bed following major stomach surgery (Whipple procedure) believing he would never play the game again, and may in fact not live. Although he was hospitalised for nine weeks and out of golf for 10 months, Barry (handicap 19) has made the most of his good fortune and is now playing up to three times a week. His round on Saturday was highlighted by plus five on the back nine with two birdies in his three-over par 39. Scores of plus five from Scott Lindsay and Sean Fitzpatrick won A and C Grades respectively.
SUPER FINISH: Jill Nixey may have wiped the first hole in Saturday’s Single Par event, but her following 17 holes were blemish free and the resultant score of plus five won the day. Playing off 26 – double what her handicap was when she and husband Wayne left Headland 17 years ago to operate a business in other states – Jill played steady golf to record six plusses and 11 squares on her impressive card. And although she has won three Monthly Medals since her return last year, Jill claimed Saturday’s consistent round had not been expected because of her recent poor form. The couple maintained their now four-decade Headland membership while away and, with much affection, Jill says ‘it’s great to be back’.
FOUR BIRDIES: Two weeks after being presented with his green jacket as Birdie Board Champion for the Headland Hustler’s group, Dan Hurst rolled in four more birdies during Sunday’s Wood Duck Challenge. And although six bogeys also appeared on his card, the nett 68 from the Caloundra State High teacher was good enough to win the event on a countback from teenager James Daniel. Playing from the Championship tees, Dan (handicap 8) shot one over-par 37s on both nines and suggested the recently-renovated greens have become more responsive than in recent years. The delayed 2020 presentations for the Headland Hustlers – a like-minded group of 30-40 year-old mates – was held on a weekend away at Byron Bay, with Dan again leading the Birdie Board after being crowned the original green jacket winner in 2018. Joining Dan and James shooting under their handicap, Matt Doyle, Col Pledge, Karen Wilson, Bryan Haggarty, Dave Sims, Brad Reddan, Skip Antony and Shane Muller shared in Sunday’s spoils.
THANKS DAD: Brett Stephenson paid tribute to his dad’s putting after Thursday’s Fourball Aggregate Stableford, but said the father-and-son combination was somewhat embarrassed by their win. Brett (35 points) and his father Burgess left the field in their wake with 74 points, with Burgess scoring seven three-pointers in his round of 84. And although it was their first Fourball win together after more than a dozen starts as teammates, Brett confessed the fact they played on their own had left the winners feeling a tad uncomfortable. Brett may have been overshadowed by his dad on the day, but did have two birdies on his card. NOTE: After initially playing through a group (with the sanction of Ranger Russell Harris) Brett and Burgess completed the 18 holes in three hours and 40 minutes.
ADVANTAGE SUE: Sue Briffa regularly plays Headland in the same group as her husband Tony, who is well known around the club for his garish golf outfits. And that was to be the case again on Tuesday for the Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford until Tony withdrew from the field because of work commitments. Four-year member Colin Cross jumped from the waitlist to partner Sue and the pairing flourished, scoring a very healthy 49 points to easily win the event. Between them they had 11 three-point holes on their card, with Colin adding a four-point par at the 17th. While it was the first time Sue and Colin had met, this was also the first time Sue had won a Fourball event without her husband by her side during their six years as Headland members.
VISITORS RULE: Headland men were upstaged on Veterans’ Monday, with all three divisions taken out by visitors. Rob Mowat, a six handicapper from Noosa Springs, won the A Grade Single Stableford event with 38 points while Peregian pair Rodney Alfredson (37) and Chris Wilson (39) won B and C Grade respectively. Robert Rowen (37) was the best of the Headland men. But Trudi Russell kept the local flag flying, winning the women’s event with 37 points.
BUFFALO’S BRIEFS: To celebrate the kick-off to the upcoming footy season, we will be clearing our stock of official NRL and AFL cart bags. These bags, from Walkinshaw Sports, feature a 14-way top with full-length dividers, external putter pit, cooler pocket, valuables pocket, hideaway padded shoulder strap, rain hood and towel ring with glove grabber. The RR price is $250, but we will sell our current stock – one each of Sea Eagles, Broncos, Roosters, Cowboys, Warriors, Titans, Storm, Knights, Hawks, Magpies and Blues – for $179, which is way below cost. This bargain will last until the Broncos score their first try of the 2021 season.
MIXED FOURSOMES: Reigning Champions Josie Ryan and Sean McGill have confirmed they will defend their Mixed Foursomes title when the first Headland Club Championship event for 2021 is played next month. Entries for Mixed Foursomes Championship, sponsored by Lendlease Retirement Living, close at 5pm on Thursday, March 11, with the event to be staged over 36 holes on Saturday, March 20. Cost is $40, which includes lunch. The win last year was the third for the Ryan-McGill partnership.
EAT OUT IN: This week’s takeaway menu at Headland’s Eat Out In, is available at www.eatoutin.com.au and orders should be lodged by Monday (March 1). Orders can be made on the website, or texted to 0414 375800. Keen to grow his Eat Out In customer base, Headland caterer and Vista Executive Chef Greg Pollard is asking members to encourage friends and neighbours to utilise the meal service. And, if one of those new customers places an order and mentions the name of the member who referred them, a discount voucher will be sent to the Headland member for use against their next order. New customers who use the code FIRST ORDER when ordering on line, will receive a 10% discount.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Vets, Single Stableford, Women (32 players) – Trudi Russell (37 points), Joy Logan (36), Sue Jones (35). Men (100 players) – A Grade, Rob Mowat (38 points), Brian Richards (34), Ross Itzstein (34); B Grade, Rodney Alfredson (37), Ken Ring (34), Barry Mapes (34); C Grade, Chris Wilson (39), Robert Rowan (37), Clive Glover (36); Super Six – Women, Kath Barford; Men, Bruce Reid.
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (118 players) – Sue Briffa and Colin Cross (49 points), Tony McDonough and Ray Menyweather (47), Sergio Nogarotto and John Marrington (45).
Wednesday, Medley Single Par (202 players) – A Grade, Barry Newton (plus 5), Bill Bolland (+3), Nick Cox (+3); B Grade, Ty Pilcher (+4), John Henry (+4), Clint Adams (+4); C Grade, Graham Pitt (+3), Errol Greiner (+3), Bob Keogh (+3).
Thursday, Women, Scrambled Ambrose (Ovarian Cancer Day), Sponsors: Friends of Lindy – Monica Knowles, Kathy Atkins, Jodie McDonell, Robyn Muir, Anne Callanan, Pamela Hudson-Jessop, Carol Quin, Karen Wilson, Fran Scanlan, Mel Byrne (128 players) – Amanda Ingham, Jenny Ingham, Kate Wilkie and Janette Ritchie (60.625 nett), Helen Fraser, Monica Knowles, Kathy Atkins and Anne Callanan (62), Mandy Oster, Vicki Maynard, Judy Farmer and Sharon Thomas (62.875). Men, Single Stableford (90 players) – Brett and Burgess Stephenson (74 points), Kevin George and Craig Jenkins (70), Tony Kelleher and Mal Galletly (69).
Saturday, Single Par, Women (32 players) – Jill Nixey (plus 5), Joy Logan (+4), Fiona Munro (+3). Men (214 players) – A Grade, Scott Lindsay (+5), Terry Ward (+5), Morgan Winston (+4); B Grade, Barry Mapes (+6), Tony Coad (+5), Matt Folker (+3); C Grade, Sean Fitzpatrick (+5), Lindsay Parchert (+4), Graham Sargent (+4).
Sunday, Medley Wood Duck Challenge (54 players) – Dan Hurst (68nett), James Daniel (68), Matt Doyle (70).
