From Tony Durkin
PATRON’S DAY: It was a case of third time lucky when Peter Dunn and Julie Welsh combined brilliantly to win the annual Headland Patron’s Day on Sunday. They scored 81 from their combined handicap of 13.5 (Peter 10, Julie 23) to finish with a nett 67.5 in the Mixed American Foursomes event, winning by the skinniest of margins from the mother-and-son team of Kathy and Scott Walker (67.625). One of the biggest mixed fields in recent years lined up for Sunday’s shotgun start, with 58 teams teeing off in the event sponsored by magnanimous Patron Simon Whittle and his wife Sandy. Victors Peter and Julie, who had never met until friends arranged for them to team up in the Patron’s event three years ago, returned a disaster-free card of nine pars and nine bogeys. And, as is usually the case in such an event, when one played a poor shot the other made the correction. In what was something of a family affair, husband-and-wife teams of Josie Ryan and Ron McMahon (67.625), Kathy and John Atkins (68.625) and Sylvia and Peter Wood (69.625) joined Kathy and Scott Walker to fill the minor placings in the popular event. Club Captain Peter O’Brien and his wife Valerie were voted best-dressed couple, with Justin and Coralie Walsh ‘socking’ it into second place.
WINNING TRIFECTA: A fan of both the Panthers (NRL) and the Demons (AFL), Brad Reddan described himself as a ‘bit dusty’ on Sunday morning following the celebrations for those wins, plus his own victory in Saturday’s Single Stableford event. Brad, a 30-year Headland member, scored 40 points from his 12 handicap to scrape in on a countback in A Grade, while Nick Reed (39 points) and Laurie Corless (40) won B and C grades respectively. Added to that success was the nail-biting side bet between Brad and his partner Wayne Harriott, which went to the 18th hole before they ‘closed the deal’ against Tony Dunford and Wayne Hutchison. The owner of Window Revival, which was involved in recent renovation work at the Headland Clubhouse, Brad only plays golf spasmodically despite living adjacent to the 14th tee but says Saturday’s good round had re-enforced the importance of finding the fairway. That was emphasised by two wipes on his card which also included two birdies, nine pars and five bogeys. Coralie Walsh (37 points) won the women’s Single Stableford event.
FERRET WINS: Margie White and Yvonne Henry won Thursday’s American Foursomes for women, and while they were justifiably proud of their victory and happy that, as a result, $65 swelled their respective House Accounts, both were jubilant at winning the side bet. Margie, a 20-year Headland member, described the match against Gwen Nancarrow and Bev Barnes as ‘very exciting’. Margie and Yvonne led by three after 15 holes, but Gwen and Bev fought back to be one down teeing off the par-three 18th. When Gwen landed on the green at the last and both Margie and Yvonne missed, the match was effectively squared by Gwen’s NTP shot. However, Yvonne sank her putt from off the green, giving her team two points for a ferret birdie, which negated the birdie putt which Bev subsequently sank in the Foursomes event. Margie and Yvonne scored 68.75 to win, while Gwen and Bev finished third with 70.5. NOTE: For the uninitiated, a ‘ferret’ is a putt sunk from off the green.
ROOKIE SLAUGHTERED: When 65-year-old Tony Mitchell joined Headland late last year with the express aim of playing competition golf for the first time, his goal was to one day play off single figures. And that has come to fruition after just one round following his slashing win in Wednesday’s Medley Single Par event. The semi-retired business owner has played golf for five decades, and had previously scored two par rounds, but until Wednesday he had never played in a competition. And after submitting the obligatory three cards for his handicap, he was duly given 18. But after Wednesday’s round, in which he scored plus seven with a birdie, six pars and 11 bogeys on his card after an impressively-consistent round of 82, that handicap has been slashed to 8.8. Tony recently moved from southern NSW to Tanawha to be near his grandchildren and while obviously shocked at the magnitude of his handicap reduction, has accepted the challenge of again ‘beating the course’. Tony won B Grade, Ross Roberts (+3) won A Grade and Andrew Hempsall (+5) won C Grade.
‘BIZARE’ BIRDIE: Ali Lamond has not previously scored 41 points – as she did when winning Tuesday’s Single Stableford for women – and has never scored five points on a hole – a feat she also achieved in her best-ever round. The five pointer came at the par-four fourth when Ali thought her chip had finished at the back, or over, the green. But when the two balls she thought may have been hers proved otherwise, she decided to look in the hole and there it was. “It was all very bizarre – firstly to find my ball in the hole, and then to learn my birdie was worth five points,” she recalled. A Headland member since 2001 but only a regular player for the past dozen years, Ali believes playing Pennant golf for Headland this year has helped her game immensely, and also her confidence. As well as the five-point birdie on her splendid Tuesday card, Ali added six three-pointers and a four-point par at the par-five 13th hole.
BACK HOME: John Edwards is Headland member 345, started playing golf at the club when he was 10, joined when he was eligible – at age 14 – and has just won his first event in a ‘very, very long time’. The former banker scored 39 points to salute in Thursday’s Single Stableford event, playing from a handicap of 23 – a long way from his lowest mark of three when he was in his golfing prime. And despite virtually touring Queensland in his career with the Commonwealth Bank – and joining clubs in Brisbane, Goondiwindi, Cunnamulla and Rockhampton – so strong was his attachment to Headland that John never allowed his membership to lapse. Now back living on the Sunshine Coast and playing golf on a regular Thursday basis for the past year, John was happy with his winning round, the highlight of which was a birdie at the par-four 12th hole on a back nine that yielded an impressive 22 points from his 44 strokes.
WORTHY WINNER: It may not have been a brilliant score, but 38 points from Charlie Worthy – in extremely windy conditions – made him a deserved winner in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for men. An ex-Sydney cabbie who joined Headland 25 years ago, Charlie has not won for more than two years despite playing three rounds a week. And the 76-year-old reckons part of his success is because he is now using irons at the par threes, instead of his nine, seven and five woods. Charlie parred three of the par threes on Tuesday, two of them on his notable back nine of 22 points. According to Charlie (handicap 18) it was a day when ‘things just fell into place’, and he ‘felt good’ about his game.
WELCOME MAISIE: With the average age of Headland members being in the early 60s, the rather rare event of a birth among our membership occurred during the past week. Amanda Ingham, the daughter of popular long-time members Dr Rob (34 years) and Jenny (26 years) Ingham, welcomed daughter Maisie Kate last Wednesday (September 22). Amanda joined Headland as a 13-year-old, represented the club in Pennants and even worked behind the bar before forfeiting her membership at 18 when she kicked off her University studies. She re-joined the club 18 months ago on her return to the Sunshine Coast, started playing Pennants again and quickly regained her good form to play from an 18 handicap.
RARE EAGLE: With shortened tees in recent months, eagles on the course have been almost a dime a dozen at Headland. But no-one this year has scored one of the rarest of eagles – at the difficult par-four 17th hole – until Brendan Duncan holed a gap wedge from 100 metres on Saturday. Well aware he had hit the ball ‘sweetly’ but also conscious that more often than not shots aimed at back pins finish over the back, six-marker Brendan was disappointed when he saw a ball in that exact position when he arrived at the green. To his delight however, that ball belonged to playing partner Rhett Charlton and Brendan’s TaylorMade TP5 was resting snugly in the hole. It was his first eagle in a competition round since he joined Headland in 2016, the same year he won the C Grade Club Championship. Graham Smith, fresh from an ace at the 18th back in June, was another eagle catcher on Saturday, scoring his at the par-five second.
JUNIOR CLASSIC: Entries are now open for the 2021 Schweppes Junior Classic, to be held at Headland Golf Club this coming Sunday (October 3). The Championship event, and single stroke, is open to boys and girls under 18 years of age who hold a current AGU handicap. However, those aspiring golfers who do not hold an official handicap, will be eligible to play in the associated nine-hole event. Sponsored by Schweppes, the tournament is an Invincibles Tour qualifying event, with $1,000 worth of prizes on offer. Nominations close at 5pm tomorrow (Tuesday September 28).
LEGEND GLENN: Headland course marshal Glenn Joyner has continued his excellent form on the PGA Legends Tour Queensland swing, notching four wins from the past 10 events. With the tour now in recess for the next 10 weeks, Glenn is in second place behind Andre Stolz with his recent victories coming at Bribie Island, Townsville and Meadowbrook (Logan City) twice. Glenn has scored six wins for the year and is looking forward to the resumption of the tour, which will include Headland hosting its first ever Legends event, on Tuesday December 14. Golfing names such as Peter Senior, Peter Lonard, Peter O’Malley, Peter Fowler, Mike Harwood, Andre Stolz, Michael Long, David McKenzie, Brad Burns, Richard Backwell and Craig Warren will be among the field, as well as our ‘own’ Glenn. And while the Headland event will attract the biggest names among our former greats, sponsors are needed to ensure the success and continuation of the tournament. Sponsors keen to be associated should contact Head Professional Adam Norlander at the club, or Glenn Joyner on 0418 342 105.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (59 players) – Ali Lamond (41 points), Trish Marsden (38), Yvonne Henry (38); Men (65 players) – Charlie Worthy (38), Colin Cross (37), Josh Poole (35).
Wednesday, Medley Single Par (227 players) – A Grade, Ross Roberts (plus 3), Bill Oster (+3), Tom McMaster (+2): B Grade, Tony Mitchell (+7), Barry Mapes (+4), Jeff Jones (+4); C Grade, Andrew Hempsall (+5), Daryl Jones (+4), Peter Elsworth (+3).
Thursday, Women, American Foursomes – Teachers Day – Kirsten Kaergaard, Norma Hobson, Wil Sprake, Robyn Homans, Pam Vincent and Lyn Nicholson – (124 players) – Margie White and Yvonne Henry (68.75 nett), Sharon Thomas and Sue Jones (69.75), Gwen Nancarrow and Bev Barnes (70.5). Men, Single Stableford (97 players) – John Edwards (39 points), John Sims (38), Ian Dundas (38).
Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor BCP Strata Pty Ltd, Scott Simpson – Women (24 players) – Coralie Walsh (37 points), Leeanne Ptak (36), Monica Knowles (36). Men (224 players) – A Grade, Brad Reddan (40 points), Neven Daniel (40), Matt Prince (38); B Grade, Nick Reed (39), George Stoufis (37), Joe Stotschek (37); C Grade, Laurie Corless (40), Lindsay Parchert (40), David Parker (38).
Sunday, Patron’s Day, Mixed American Foursomes – sponsor Simon Whittle – (116 players) – Julie Welsh and Peter Dunn (67.5 nett), Kathy and Scott Walker (67.625), Josie Ryan and Ron McMahon (67.625), Kathy and John Atkins (68.625), Janette Ritchie and Daniel Lane (69.25), Sylvia and Peter Wood (69.625).
