From Tony Durkin 

JOEL SALUTES: A rep rugby league halfback and team captain as a youngster, 21-year-old Joel Stahlhut has survived a bogey finish to win the Walsh Consulting Engineers 2021 Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship played at Headland over a wet Easter weekend. A plus three handicapper from Pelican Waters, Joel had rounds of 73,70 (143) to win by two shots from another Queensland young gun, Will Florimo (71,74) of Atherton, with last year’s winner, Adam Hawkins (76,70) third. Dual golf-tennis professional, Scott Draper (72,75), was next while Club Champion, Scott Walker, was the best of the Headland players (76,73) and finished seventh. For Joel, who hails from Goondiwindi where he won three Club Championships while still a junior, it is his first win in a major event since he was Pelican Club Champion in 2018. His two-under par 70 on Sunday – the equal best round of the tournament – featured five birdies from holes seven to 13, and despite a bogey at the last the left hander was thrilled with his golf over the weekend. It was just his second visit to Headland and despite the recent spate of rain, he described the course as ‘outstanding’. “The greens were so great to putt on that it was impossible to believe we had so much rain,” he said. 

EASTER OPEN: Sponsor Justin Walsh of Walsh Consulting Engineers has paid tribute to the staff, committee and volunteers of Headland for the manner in which they combined to ensure the 2021 Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship over Easter went ahead as scheduled. “Considering the weather we have had of late, and the threat of heavy rain on both Saturday and Sunday, there were times we doubted whether we would get any golf at all. But the ground staff, who had the course in almost perfect condition three weeks ago, did a brilliant job preparing the layout under the trying conditions that prevailed over the weekend. And the match committee, with the help of the volunteers, made sure we took advantage of any small window of opportunity we had,” said the 22-year sponsor. Justin added that Keperra members, brothers Scott and Mark Draper, had told him they had rarely putted on better greens. With heavy rain predicted for Sunday afternoon, the match committee elected to have the top 32 golfers following the first day’s play tee off in the morning, rather than the afternoon as is traditional, and that decision was a masterstroke. 

PENNANT CHAMPS: Even though the final round still has to be played, Headland’s Division One Women’s Pennant team has won the North Coast Zone Ladies Golf Association competition for the first time since 2012. Headland halved its recent match against Caloundra at Maroochy River, and the three points gained left the team 6½ points clear at the top of the ladder, and unable to be headed. But the ‘draw’ with the talented Caloundra team did not come easily and veteran Champion Josie Ryan had to come back from three-down against young gun Megan Smith to square her match, and clinch the nail-biting result. Earlier Jenny Ingham and Kate Wilkie lost the opening matches (5&4 and 2&1 respectively), before Annabel Harris chipped in with a 4&2 victory against veteran Faye Payne, while the undefeated Karen Wilson clinched her 2&1 win at the 17th. Division Two Headland women also produced another great result at Twin Waters, and lead the table by two points midway through the season. The 4-1 victory against Caloundra came courtesy of wins to Mouna Humzy (5&4), Chris Parkinson (2&1), Leanne Ptak (2&1) and Robyn Boreham (2&1), while Carmel Visser was beaten 2&1. And continuing the good Headland form, Division Three women recorded their best finish of the season, squaring their game against Mount Coolum at Maroochy River. Club Captain Jane Boaler scored the only win (2-up), but Penny Cooper, Rhonda Parry and Veronica Bassingthwaighte all finished with a square result, and Di Stark lost on the 17th, 2&1.

JUDD HELPS: With his nine-year-old son Judd on the bag, Carlton AFL fanatic Josh Vearing finally broke through the 80-barrier at Headland on Thursday after eight years of trying. Despite a double-bogey six on his final hole – the ninth – Josh (handicap 11) shot 78 for his 41 points, to win the Men’s Single Stableford on a countback from former tennis champ, Mick Kinnear, who is also a Carlton fan and sports a Carlton golf bag . His impressive card revealed three birdies – at holes two, 11 and 13 – seven pars and seven bogeys, as well as his six at the ninth which was the result of an errant iron from the tee. The win was his first in just on two years. NOTE: Judd is named after Carlton’s dual Brownlow Medalist, Chris Judd. 

ROSE BOWL: Headland women have had success in the recent Maroochy River Rose Bowl, where the team of Jane Boaler, Julie Halliday, Rhonda Parry and Valerie O’Brien was placed third in the overall team’s event. In the individual Stableford, Robyn Boreham (39 points) finished second in Division One and Valerie O’Brien (also 39), was runner-up in Division Two. And to add variety to the women’s program at Headland, a special Captain’s Ambrose – sponsored by Jane Boaler – will be played on Thursday (April 8) – with each team comprising a player from each of the four grades. 

DAVE BREAKS: Although his best round at Headland in his 15 years as a member has been 73, Dave Mayes finally broke through the 80-barrier again on Wednesday after a long drought where work had stymied his regular two-day-a-week playing regime. The winner of six successive No.1 sales awards for his company U-Blinds Australia was so busy for much of last year that he forfeited his regular Wednesdays at Headland, and his golf ultimately suffered. But after six weeks back on his Wednesday-Saturday routine, Dave scored 40 points for the second time in three weeks to post the best score of the day, carding two birdies, seven pars and nine bogeys. And he and partner Ian Scobie (39 points) scored 79 points in the Fourball Aggregate Stableford, to win by a massive six points. Ian’s round of 84 is his lowest at Headland in at least 18 months.

TOP COMPANY: Even though she is Captain of Headland’s Southern Division Two Pennant team which is currently leading the North Coast Zone competition, Chris Parkinson relished the opportunity to play with A Graders Josie Ryan, Kate Wilkie and Vicky Sheridan in Thursday’s Monthly Medal. And not only did she birdie the final hole to ‘square the match’, Dr Chris shot her lowest-ever score of 93, had a nett 68 to win the B Grade Medal and return the best nett of the day by a whopping six shots. A SWING graduate from 2014, Chris has endured some injuries of late which has stifled the progress she had made during last year’s COVID lockdown which enabled her to play more golf. But recent lessons and a self-imposed edict to ‘slow it down’ has been the ingredient for recent success and the second Medal since her initial win in 2019. Sharon Thomas (74 nett) won A Grade, Joy Logan (79) won C Grade and Susie Meade (75) collected the D Grade Medal.

SELVAGE CUP: Headland’s Masters Pennant team captain, Warren Selvage, has been saluted with an Aussie Rules cup named in his honour. As an integral part of a long-running rivalry between Brisbane QAFL teams Sherwood and Mt Gravatt, Warren’s name has been inscribed on the Selvage-Pelly Cup, to be contested each time the teams meet – starting this coming Saturday (April 10). Warren had a 20-year stint with Sherwood, playing more than 200 senior premiership matches, and was captain-coach of the club when it won back-to-back premierships in 1981-82. And in contests with Mt Gravatt over the years his team rarely failed on the big occasions, winning all six of their grand final clashes. On Saturday Warren will present the cup to the winning team captain.

STEVE’S DAY: Two members bearing the same moniker combined to win Tuesday’s Fourball Stableford Aggregate, but it was former Canberra Public Servant Stephen Woolcott who shone. Teaming with Steve Walters, 16-marker Stephen scorched around the back nine in three-over 39 for 23 points, his best gross score on either nine in his five years as a Headland member. With Steve’s contribution the Fourball team had 48 Stableford points, to win by three points, and Stephen’s 40 points enabled him to win the individual Medley Stableford played in conjunction. But it was a long way short of his best score at Headland. That came just on two years ago in a Modified Stableford event when he signed for 51 points, ironically a week after he had eagled the tough fourth hole. Steve Walters may have played second fiddle to his partner on the day, but came to the rescue with a three-point par at the fifth, the only hole Stephen wiped. 

VETS’ MEDALIST: For Tony Foster, who returned the best score in Monday’s Vets hosting day at Headland, winning is nothing new. Headland hosted Cooroy Vets and Tony scored 43 Stableford points from his 23 handicap, won B Grade and collected a $70 booty for his efforts. But it is by no means his best result in Vets’ days, which the Cooroy member attends regularly. Tony has previously scored 47 points to win and Tin Can Bay and 45 points to win at Nambour, although 43 is by far his best at Headland. And the retired Marine Engineer has a stunning record in Monthly Medal events – he has won 18 during his two decades as a Cooroy member. Headland winners on Monday were Huki Matenga (A Grade, 39 points), Phil Lovett (C Grade, 38) and Sue Jones (Women, 35). 

MASTERS MONDAY: Headland Junior and 2013 US Masters Champion, Adam Scott, has sent a message to Headland members encouraging them to play in Masters Monday next week (April 12). Adam, who created history in 2013 when he became the first Australian golfer to win the famed Green Jacket, suggested playing in Masters Monday after having watched the final round of the event would be the next best thing to being at Augusta National. The Headland Masters is an 18-hole Single Stableford with a shotgun start from the Championship tees, and cost is $30 for members and $40 for non-members and includes breakfast and coffee (served from 7am), as well as golf. The event is again being sponsored by James Kidd of EKO Financial, but hole sponsor spots are still available at a cost of $220. Entries close at 5pm on Wednesday (April 7), with the entry form on the Headland website. 

WHOOPS: Headland members who have accumulated big scores on certain holes at their home course of late can stop feeling sheepish following the Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open over the Easter weekend. And while the most popular hole for eagles at Headland last year was the par-five 13th, a couple of low-handicapped visitors did not find the hole any cinch in round one. Michael Cook (3) of Redcliffe scored an 11 on the hole on Saturday while Bradley Graham (4) of Noosa amassed eight shots. Bradley also found strife on the par-five 10th, adding a quadruple nine to his card. 

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (34 players) – Sue Jones (35 points), Yvonne Henry (35), Trish Marsden (32); Men (109 players) – A Grade, Huki Matenga (39), Gary Savill (38), David W. Smith (36); B Grade, Tony Foster (43), Greg Flanagan (37), Michael Nicholls (36); C Grade, Phil Lovett (38), Michael Smith (35), Roly Hoy (34).

Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (104 players) – Steve Walters and Stephen Woolcott (48 points), Brett Beaumont and Jock McLaughlin (45), Richard Franklin and Errol Greiner (45); Single Stableford – Stephen Woolcott (40 points), Tim Rees (39), Joy Logan (39).

Wednesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Aggregate Stableford (201 players) – Ian Scobie and Dave Mayes (78), Lindsay Parchert and Gavin Tuck (73), Bruce Heseltine and Ian Harper (73), Warren Selvage and Brett Stephenson (71), Michael Fenton and Steve Phillips (70).

Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal B BY HALCYON BUDERIM Monthly Medal, medal provided by Ken and Vicki Maynard KVM Traffic Services (66 players) – A Grade, Sharon Thomas (74 nett), Josie Ryan (75), Christina Claxton (77), gross –  Josie Ryan (82); B Grade, Chris Parkinson (68), Jill Nixey (75), Helen Fraser (76), gross – Chris Parkinson (93); C Grade, Joy Logan (79), Chrissy Hall (80), Kerrie Tibbits (84), gross – Joy Logan (113); D Grade (maximum hole score 10), Susie Meade (75), Susanne Harris (82, Ellen Bloxsome (83).

Men, Single Stableford (59 players) – Josh Vearing (41 points), Mick Kinnear (41), Neville Kenzler (38).

Saturday, Sunday, Men’s Walsh Consulting Engineers Sunshine Coast Amateur Championship (209 players) – 36-hole gross, Joel Stahlhut (73,70 – 143), Will Florimo (71,74 – 145), Adam Hawkins (76,70 – 146); Division Two, Peter Walker (82,80 – 162), Darryl Kong (80,83 – 163), Glenn Kelly (84,80 -164); Division Three, Simon Whittle (86,88 – 174), Richard Franklin (97,90 – 177), Scott Lindsay (89,91 – 180); Junior – Manato Nakatani (76,73 – 149), Billy Dowling (78,73 -151), Ben Duncombe (74,77 – 151); Senior – Marc Bright (79,75 -154), Keith Horne (77,78 – 155), Anthony Baker (80,77 – 157). 36-hole nett, Division One, Marc Bright (74,70 – 144), Matty Kirk (78,68 – 146), Jack Day (75,71 – 146); Division Two, Peter Walker (75,73 -148), Chris Pace (79,70 -149), Andrew Ebb (72,77 -149); Division Three, Ron McMahon (75,76 – 151), Taylor Moffat (79,75 -154), Dennis Mikolic (78,77 -155).