From Tony Durkin 

CLASSIC WIN: Two weeks after his wife Trish had thrown down the gauntlet with a victorious 42 Stableford points, former high-ranking Federal Public Servant Greg O’Connor has squared the ledger by winning the two-day Headland Vets’ Living Choice Classic. In an outstanding display of consistent golf from his 26 handicap, Greg tallied 51 points in the two-day eclectic, with just the single wipe on his 36-hole card. But even more impressive was the fact the 20-year Headland member returned the best individual score on both days – 42 points on Monday and 40 on Tuesday – in windy conditions and on slick greens. “I usually enjoy playing an eclectic event because there is the opportunity to cover the mistakes from the first day. But I must confess, I didn’t need to update too many,” claimed Greg, who had 14 three-point holes and three four-pointers on his card over the two days. Once a 16-marker at Headland, the 79-year-old doubts he has ever played better or more consistent golf, but says his spoils – a sizeable Pro Shop voucher – will more than likely be used by his wife. “Trish put the pressure on when she scored 42 points recently so, because of that challenge, I will have to ask if there is something she needs,” he quipped.

PRESSURE OFF: Just two weeks after stepping down from his onerous role of Men’s Director of Golf, Tony Kelleher was one of seven players to beat his handicap in Sunday’s Medley Wood Duck Challenge. And, ironically, he shared the generous spoils offered by sponsor Eko Financial, a business owned by James Kidd, the man he succeeded as Club Captain. Apart from a brilliant 64 nett to win the June Monthly Medal, Tony believes Sunday’s score – from the Championship tees – is possibly his best round in the two years he filled the role as Golf Director. Conceding he was much more relaxed on the course and feeling absolutely no pressure, he said the major factor was ‘as with any good round, the chips finished closer and the short putts dropped’. Tony scored 68 nett to finish second behind Shaun Sigley (67) and ahead of Gavin Terry (69), John Sims (69), Dane Partridge (69), Rod J Berger (71) and Adam Richards (71), with each collecting $54.50. 

PERFECT SECOND: Paul Henricks (handicap 3) and Tim Diedricks (7) have never played, or seen, a better round of club team golf, yet they finished second in Wednesday’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford event. The good mates, who first met when playing cricket for Maroochydore more than three decades ago and have since been business partners and Pennant bowls teammates, scored a masterful 50 points, yet were beaten on a countback. Paul and Tim produced an unblemished fourball card – an eagle, six birdies and 11 pars – for a gross score of 64. And it could have been ever better had Tim not lipped out for eagle at the par-five seventh. But despite the majestic score, and the $75 runner-up prize courtesy of magnanimous sponsor Jamie Hill of Property Today, the biggest thrill was winning the side bet against regular opponents Jim Aspinall and Chris Pace. 

SHOCK VICTORY: When Linda Hunter left Headland Golf Club on Tuesday after the three-day Living Choice Classic, she was simply happy that her golf had improved each day. But when the self-confessed hockey-aholic learned she had actually won the overall Eclectic event for women, Linda she was stunned. “There must be some mistake – on both days of the eclectic I didn’t score on holes 9 or 10,” she quizzed. There was, however, no mistake. With an eclectic score of 46 points – 34 on Monday and 38 on Tuesday – Linda led the field of 77 women, which included visitors from 11 Queensland clubs. The highlight of the event was a four-point par at the par-five second on Tuesday, which erased a wipe the previous day. A former Australian Women’s Hockey coach who currently serves on the boards of both the World and Australia Masters Hockey associations, Linda plays golf only sparingly, hence her shock reaction to the big win.

MATES FIRE: Long-time mates through business and family connections, Alan Reed and Chris Byrnes ‘fired’ as a golf partnership for the first time when winning Wednesday’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford with 50 points. Following urging from the Reed family, Chris joined Headland three years ago at 67 years of age and having never previously played any serious golf. He and Alan have been akin to conjoined twins ever since, playing together and sharing a cart Wednesdays, Saturdays and in Vets’ competitions, but despite winning quite a few individual events, have never had success as fourball partners. But that changed on Wednesday when the keen punters beat Paul Henricks and Tim Diedricks on a countback with a card that revealed an impressive 19 points from holes four to eight, which included three birdies.

‘EASY’ GOLF: Basking in the glory of her first win at Headland – and a $96 payday – stunned newcomer Wendy Mosley exclaimed ‘it just seemed so easy’. A former 25 handicapper when a member of the Prestbury Golf Club in Cheshire, Wendy had not played for two years until she joined in Headland in March, but has made up for lost time. Already she has figured among the prize winners four times, including a win in Thursday’s Single Par in C Grade with an excellent score of plus 7. As well, Wendy collected the NTPs at the fifth and 18th holes on a course she says is very similar to Prestbury. Excellent scores were the order of the day on Thursday, with Anita Boyle (+8) winning B Grade and Monica Knowles (+6) winning A Grade. 

TERRY RETURNS: Back in 2019, while his Spanish wife Sabina awaited her Australian passport, self-employed carpenter Gavin Terry played copious rounds of golf, resulting in a 12-stroke handicap reduction to four, and victory in the Men’s B Grade Match Play Championship. And while his golf has not exactly gone downhill since, that was his last win until 38 points in Saturday’s Single Stableford event gave him victory in A Grade. Starting on the back nine, Gavin shot an even-par 36 – with three birdies – but double-bogey at the ninth cost him a really good round. And apart from celebrating the end of his long golfing drought, the other pleasure was winning a sleeve of golf balls from regular Saturday morning player partner Mick Kinnear. “I think it’s been about six months since I haven’t had to pay up,” Gavin admitted. His winning total of 38 points was popular on Saturday – both Denis Clifford (B Grade) and Mark Glassop (C Grade) saluted with the same score. NOTE: Gavin was one of seven players to beat their handicap in Sunday’s Wood Duck Challenge, scoring nett 69 from his eight handicap.

PURPLE PATCH: Following a run of consistent scores and a day-high 39 points on Saturday to win the Women’s Single Stableford event, Sue Briffa has declared herself in a purple patch. A plus four on Thursday – equivalent to 40 points – and a spate of recent scores in the mid-30s has Sue delighted with her game, and ‘honoured’ that her 39 points on Saturday was the best score returned among the 240 golfers who competed. Recently returned from the Tropic of Capricorn Vets Carnival where she and husband Tony played six events in nine days, Sue concedes she is ‘playing well’ and enjoying the challenge of becoming more consistent with her golf. 

EAGLE MANIA: Headland history does not record the number of eagles scored by members, but it is doubtful whether Wednesday’s tally of eight has been bettered on one day. And even allowing for the fact that the par-five seventh hole has been shortened considerably because of tee restoration work, the probable ‘record’ remains very impressive. Peter Gablonski, Tex Teixeira, Brenden Southey, Ben Thomson and Mark Bown were those who eagled the seventh, Mal Bradshaw and David Richards had threes at the par-five second while Tim Diedricks, who searched over the back of the par-four fourth for his ball, eventually found it in the hole for two. For Brendan Southey, it is his third eagle this year.

BASKET CASE: Event sponsor Jamie Hill of real estate company Property Today, and company principal Jamie Holbrook, did not take it personally but they were almost wiped out by an errant shot on Wednesday. A guest of the sponsor, Eric Hepburn, was about to play his second shot to the 16th green when a ball whistled by his ear. An embarrassed Nick Cox, wearing a bright yellow shirt, was most apologetic when he fished his yellow ball from the basket of the cart shared by Eric and Jamie Holbrook. Nick, who conceded his call of ‘fore’ was slightly delayed, subsequently scored a double bogey at the 15th hole – as did a shaken Eric at the 16th. 

WEEKLY RESULTS:

Monday and Tuesday, Vets, Living Choice Classic (166 players) – Eclectic winner, Women, Linda Hunter (46 points), Men, Greg O’Connor (51); Division winners, Women, Division 1, Chris Parkinson (44), Division 2, Carmel Visser (46), Division 3, Margot Easton (45); Men, Division 1, Tim Marrinan (46), Division 2, Bruce Reid (44), Division 3, Robert Pixley (46). Monday winners, Women, Division 1, Sandy Whittle (36), Division 2, Ginette Hemlett (35), Division 3, Suzanne Pledge (37); Men, Division 1, Rob Cunningham (38), Division 2, Rob Hayward (39), Division 3, Errol Greiner (39); Tuesday, Women, Division 1, Monica Knowles (35), Division 2, Bev Kelly (37), Division 3, Ree Condon (37); Men, Division 1, Tony McDonough (36), Division 2, Michael Nicholls (36), Division 3, Des McNee (37).

Wednesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford – sponsor Jamie Hill, Property Today – (224 players) – Alan Reed and Chris Byrnes (50 points), Tim Diedricks and Paul Henricks (50), David Munns and Jeff Jones (47), Lindsay Parchert and Barry Potter (47), Barry Euston and Ty Pilcher (47).

Thursday, Women, Single Par – sponsor Crest Ladies, Coralie Snowball, Marg Smith, Julie Lewis and Lesley O’Leary – (108 players) – A Grade, Monica Knowles (plus 6), Mandy Oster (+2), Marg Smith (+1); B Grade, Anita Boyle (+8), Libby Hall (+5), Susan Wake (+4); C Grade, Wendy Mosley (+7), Trish Arden (+6), Liz Halyday (+5). Men, Single Stableford (87 players) – Len Dawson (41), Ian Moore (39), Bob Hunter (39).

Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor Australian Leak Detection – Women (31 players) – Sue Briffa (39 points), Kathy Atkins (37), Liz Dunford (37). Men (219 players) – A Grade, Gavin Terry (38), Druce Fielding (38), Jack Nicholas (37); B Grade, Denis Clifford (38), Karl Aldrich (38), Glen Grimish (38); C Grade, Mark Glassop (38), Roly Hoy (36), John Kingston (36).

Sunday, Medley Wood Duck Challenge – sponsor Eko Financial – (70 players) – Shaun Sigley (67 nett), Tony Kelleher (68), Gavin Terry (69), John Sims (69), Dane Partridge (69), Rod J Berger (71), Adam Richards (71).20-9-21