From Tony Durkin
SKINNY WIN: Dave Cekulis may have won Saturday’s Single Stableford on a countback, but his margin of victory was not as skinny as his body has become. The manager of Star Scaffolding has lost a phenomenal 32kgs since, in November last year, his three-year-old daughter Harper inquired ‘are you growing a baby in your tummy daddy?’. Embarrassed by the innocent remark, the five-year Headland member joined a gym called 12 Round Fitness and determined to tackle his battle of the bulge, won the first two six-week challenges on his way to slimming from 124kgs to 92kgs. But losing the weight caused some issues with Dave’s golf – he has had to tweak his swing plane because a protruding ‘tummy’ no longer exists. And it has worked, with his 40 points in Saturday’s windy and soggy conditions the equal top score of the day and Dave’s best since his return of 39 points a week before the Club Championships back in May. Dave saluted in B Grade, while Andrew Fisher (38) won A Grade and Chris Byrnes (36) C Grade, with Naomi Doyle (33) best in the women’s field.
MASTERFUL SHOT: His playing partners believe Scott Masters’ second shot at the ninth hole on Wednesday was simply masterful, delivering him a birdie and ultimately the A Grade Monthly Medal. Virtually stymied behind a tree on the left, Scott elected to take a five iron to the back pin, with the intention of playing a somewhat-risky fade. But not only did the shot emulate the plan – albeit via a visit to the crest of the green between the two bunkers – the 2½ metre putt for birdie completed a round of two completely-different nines. Starting on the tenth, the GP did not get off to the best start with two double bogeys and five bogeys in his score of 45, two over his 14 handicap. But at the halfway house he obviously diagnosed the faults, fired two birdies, five pars and two bogeys on the front nine and returned his best round since a 78 in May last year earned him 44 Stableford points. And to add to his memorable day, he collected the Pro Pin at the sixth where he scored the first of his two birdies. Scott’s 67 nett was the best score in the big field of 218, while Josh Poole (68) won B Grade and Liberal Bonel (70) won C Grade.
MEDAL HUNTER: Carolyn Schwarz has been playing golf only since she graduated from SWING in 2018, and although she has two early-morning practise rounds twice a week, the retired teacher competes just on Thursdays. But she seemingly has a penchant for Monthly Medals, with her victory on Thursday her second this year following a runner-up prize back October. Carolyn won D Grade with the best score of the day – 65 nett – a whopping eight shots better than her handicap. And she also won the best gross in D Grade (103), giving her the lowest round of her short career, as well as her best-ever result. In the past nine months Carolyn ran second in the October Monthly Medal (69 nett) – her first foray into a stroke round – won the D Grade February Medal (74) and again on Thursday, as well as winning the first women’s C Grade event for 2021, Opening Day Single Stableford with 38 points. Pik Chong (74) returned to the winner’s list with victory in the A Grade July Medal, Carol Dwyer (90/71) took the B Grade double while in C Grade Helen Mulholland (108/74) joined Carol and Carolyn in winning both the gross and nett.
SAM’S FIRST: Headland’s youngest male playing member, 11-year-old Sam Fichera, has broken through the 100 barrier at his home club for the first time to win Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford with 42 points. The Year 6 Siena Catholic College student equalled his best gross score of 97 – first shot at Maroochy River during a Pennant match last month – with his lowest return a lone one point on a consistent card which revealed seven three-point holes and 10 two-pointers. Since February the Headland golf prodigy has reduced his handicap by seven strokes, and after Sunday’s win will be playing from 28.7. And it is not the first time this year Sam has scored 42 points – he set the mark back in February when partnering his dad Anthony to win a Fourball Aggregate Stableford event. As well as the $55 for winning on Sunday, Sam collected another $7 for his NTP shot at the fifth, one of three par threes he parred.
ANNUAL WIN: Sue Wake and Grahame Denovan have been partners for almost four decades and regular Headland golfing partners for 21 years, and on Tuesday teamed up to score their ‘annual’ win. Stunned that what they considered their meagre total of 69 points led the Fourball Stableford Aggregate field, neither Sue nor Grahame considered either had played particularly well but were nonetheless happy that $55 had been added to their respective House Accounts. Sue did point out, however, that she contributed most to the final tally – 35 points to Grahame’s 34. And she estimates that although the pair plays each Tuesday and combines for a fourball possibly once a month, one win a year in the team event is probably their average.
WOMEN’S MATCH PLAY: The last piece of the elongated 2021 Headland Women’s Match Play Championship puzzle will be put in place this coming Thursday when defending Champion Jenny Ingham meets Josie Ryan in the final. A combination of Covid restrictions, wet weather and sickness has delayed the play-offs, but Josie prevailed over Kate Wilkie (5&3) in the remaining semi-final last Tuesday and following the final on Thursday, representatives of Match Play sponsor Guide Financial will present trophies to the four grade winners. And Di Stark (C Grade) will join Robyn Boreham (B Grade) and Rhonda Parry (D Grade) on the podium after Di beat Joy Logan 8&6 in last Friday’s final.
WINS POOLED: Popular Headland member Josh Poole loves his golf, and plays at least three times a week. And this past week golf has returned serve, repaying Josh for his devotion. Josh and regular partner and good mate Kevin George were runners-up, by one point, in Tuesday’s Fourball Aggregate Stableford, and the following day he scored a double in the Mid-Week Medal, winning B Grade with nett 68 and taking out the best gross, 86. The on Saturday, playing off a reduced handicap of 17, Josh finished third in the Single Stableford with 38 points. His pooled winnings for the week were $160.
MEN’S PENNANT: With results falling their way in the third round the 2021 Sunshine Coast Men’s Golf Zone Pennant competition on Sunday, Headland’s A Grade team must win against Noosa No.1 team at home next Sunday to play finals. Despite a narrow opening-round loss, a round two 7-nil whipping and a drawn result in last weekend’s washout round, Headland has bounced back with an impressive 4½-2½ win over Caloundra. And 2020 Club Champion Scott Walker led the comeback charge with an 8&7 thrashing of his opponent, being two-under the card at Mt Coolum when the match finished at the 11th hole. The three other victors – Sean McGill, Adam Rydwanski and Josh Holbrook – each won 4&3, Dave Rattray squared his match and Ben Duncombe (3&2) and Adam Richards (2&1) were beaten. With a similar situation for the Masters team – a good win and the top-two teams being beaten – a victory against Tin Can Bay at Nambour next Sunday will maintain its spot at the top of the points table. Conceding shots, Scott Bromfield (7&6), Peter Perrett (5&3) and Warren Sorby (2&1) had strong wins against Noosa at Caloundra, while Brett Stephenson (6&4) and Graham Newlove (5&3) also impressed in their wins. Neil Oxley squared his match and, despite being beaten 4&2, skipper Warren Selvage was ecstatic with the team result. But the B Grade team will most likely miss the finals following its 5-2 loss at the hands of Noosa, again at Caloundra. Blake Thomas (1-up) and Brendan Duncan (3&2) kept their unbeaten season records intact, while captain Matt Hetherington was beaten 6&4 and was joined by Matt Macaulay (6&4), Michael Thomas (3&2) and Tom Burnett (3&1) on that side of the ledger.
FOURSOMES CHAMPS: Nominations for Headland’s next Honour Board events, the Men’s and Women’s 2021 Men’s Foursomes Championship, are now open. The men’s event, sponsored by Mick Kinnear of Zero Termite and Pest, will be played over 36 holes on Saturday August 14. Guide Financial will again sponsor the Women’s Foursomes, played over 27 holes on Thursday August 12. Nominations close on August 4 (men) and August 2 (women) respectively, with defending champions Ash Reck and Wayne West and Sharon Thomas and Dominique Paice.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford (sponsor Perry and Oster Funerals), Women (31 players) – Helen Martyn (36 points), Robyn Boreham (34), Mandy Webb (33); Men (72 players) – A Grade, Mick Cox (34), David W Smith (33), Ted Banaszczyk (32); B Grade, Barry Mapes (34), David Parker (33), Colin Williamson (33); C Grade – Peter Birt (34), David Rennie (33), John Visser (32).
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford (69 players) – Sue Wake and Grahame Denovan (69 points), Kevin George and Josh Poole (68), Christina Claxton and Bob Trevor (68).
Wednesday, Medley Mid-Week Medal (218 players) – A Grade, Scott Masters (67 nett), Michael Phillips (69), Tony Pattinson (70), gross – Ben Duncombe (74); B Grade, Josh Poole (68), Kevin George (72), Tim Nunan (73), gross – Josh Poole (86); C Grade, Liberal Bonel (70), Doug Morgan (72), John Jamieson (73), gross – Liberal Bonel (93).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal (105 players) – A Grade, Pik Chong (74 nett), Lisa Ramen (76), Karen Wilson (78), gross – Lisa Ramen (85); B Grade, Carol Dwyer (71), Jill Nixey (71), Wil Sprake (74), gross – Carol Dwyer (90); C Grade, Helen Mulholland (74), Penny Cooper (74), Wendy Mosley (77), gross – Helen Mulholland (108); D Grade, Carolyn Schwarz (65), Barb Marrington (659), Diane Schultz (74), gross – Carolyn Schwarz (103).
Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford 86 players) – Kevin Howe and Frank Coleborn (49 points), Marek Garcia and Len Dawson (45), Andrew Gerrard and Rick Popik (44).
Saturday, Single Stableford, women (29 players) – Naomi Doyle (33 points), Liz Dunford (33), Sandee Brimblecombe (32); Men (206 players) – A Grade, Andrew Fisher (38), Paul Garth (38), Blake Thomas (36); B Grade, Dave Cekulis (40), Josh Vickers (40), Josh Poole (38); C Grade, Chris Byrnes (36), Syd Shilling (35), Bernie Duncan (35).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (55 players) – Sam Fichera (42 points), Wayne Cassidy (40), Clint Adams (39).
