From Tony Durkin
MASTERS CHAMP: Headland’s Ben Duncombe has been crowned the Invincibles Junior Masters Champion for 2021 after winning a play-off at Noosa Springs on Wednesday to clinch the prestigious title. Competing against the cream of south-east Queensland’s junior golfers over four days in the Sunshine Coast Invincibles Golf Tour event, Ben returned rounds of 72 at Peregian, 70 at Twin Waters and 69-72 at Noosa Springs for a four-round total of five-under 283, equalling overnight leader Manato Nakatani of Surfers Paradise and forcing a play-off. The pair squared the first play-off hole with par, then Ben sank an uphill three-metre putt at the par-four second to clinch the victory. He twice trailed by two shots coming home on the final day, but fought back both times and had the chance to seal the win at the 18th, but his birdie putt just missed on the low side. Ben and Headland’s reigning Junior Champion, Josh Holbrook, will contest the Keperra Bowl in Brisbane next week.
JENENE’S NEWS: Jenene Nicholson, Headland’s long-serving Bar Supervisor (29 years) has received news which is better than winning Lotto. Following recent blood tests, MRI’s and various other scans, she has been given the ‘all clear’ ticket in relation to bowel and brain surgery in the Christmas months of 2017 and 2018 respectively. “I only have to visit my bowel surgeon once more next year and my brain surgeon once more in 2023, and then this chapter of my adventure will be done,” reports an overjoyed Jenene. And to celebrate her good news, Jenene has vowed to support The Black Dog Institute and participate in their annual fundraiser, and walk 100km in October. “Walking really helped me to be as physically and mentally strong as I could be during my journey, so it just seemed right to walk to raise money to help others who are struggling with their own mental health,” she said. After sharing her difficult journey so openly with Headland members – who she describes as fabulously supportive – Jenene wants give them the opportunity to be involved in her venture. The link to donate is: https://www.onefootforward.org.au/fundraiser/jenenenicholson
KEN AGAIN: The ageless Ken Anderson has lost count of the Monthly Mugs/Medals he has won in his 21 years as a Headland member, but he does know Saturday’s victory was his first in 2021. Restricted to little more than a dozen competition games because of a string of ailments since late last year, 79-year-old Ken has recently returned to his favourite haunt and won Saturday’s A Grade Monthly Medal with 69 nett, beating Barry Newton and Dennis Taylor on a countback. And not only did he win, but – yet again- he shot less than his age for a remarkable 16th time, with a six-over 78. By Ken’s high standard, his round did not start well with a double bogey six at the first hole. But he recovered and fired par 36 on the back nine to pocket $105 courtesy of his good mate Roger Van Ginkel of Turbeq Australasia Pty Ltd. Chris Klazema (68) won the B Grade Medal and Neville Schultz (also 68) broke a long drought to win C Grade.
SAM SCORES: Headland’s youngest playing member, 11-year-old Sam Fichera, overcame a nervous start and finish to win the boy’s nett event in the Schweppes Headland Junior Classic on Sunday. Despite quadruple bogeys at the first and 18th holes, Sam scored 92 from his 27 handicap for an outstanding 65 nett, the best score of the day by nine shots. It was the first 18-hole competition in the Sunshine Coast Invincibles Golf Tour for the Year 6 Siena Catholic College, and he saved both his best gross and nett scores for the big occasion. The Headland Junior Classic was won by Pacific Golf Club member Fahim Hilmi, who shot par 72, five shots better than Girl’s winner Maddison Kelly of Noosa. And Headland’s smallest member, diminutive eight-year-old Chase Lear who is often seen at the practise area under the watchful eye of his dad Adam, was beaten on a countback in the nine-hole competition. Chase, who is yet to play competition golf at Headland, scored 44 from the yellow tees – just eight over par – with three pars, four bogeys and two doubles on his card. He missed a one-metre putt on the ninth hole to win the event.
MATE SALUTED: Five weeks ago, when Jeff Lovell returned his best score (44 points) in three decades as a Headland member, he was distraught because Covid restrictions had caused the cancellation of the planned Dalby Day that very Wednesday. Jeff, and 15 close friends of former Headland Golf Manger Brent Dalby who passed away 12 months ago, finally had the chance to salute their mate on Wednesday with a substantial sponsorship purse, and Jeff again rose to the occasion. Despite two wipes on his card, the Sunshine Coast boss of Stegbar scored 40 points to win B Grade in the Medley Single Stableford event, and take the inaugural Dalby Day Trophy which was contested between the group of sponsors. Other Dalby Day sponsors to share in the spoils were Roscoe King (39 points), a long-time business partner of Brent in the Sunshine Coast restaurant/nightclub industry, and Syd Shilling (also 39 points). Fittingly, another sponsor, Headland Vice-President Peter Raymond, made the presentations. Each grade winner received $110, with $85, $55 and $35 distributed for each the placings, and $35 for NTPs.
TRIPLE TREAT: Leeanne Ptak won her third Headland Monthly Medal on Saturday, but not before she wrestled with an unexpected case of nerves. Playing with a group of three men she had never previously met, the 2016 SWING graduate scored an underwhelming 50 on the front nine and was looking equally as shaky after starting the back nine with two double bogeys and a bogey. But after one of her playing partners ran over her ball with his buggy on the 12th hole, Leeanne said her game – for some inexplicable reason – suddenly jumped into top gear. She played the final six holes one-over par – with a birdie at the 14th – for a back nine of 43 and the resultant Medal victory by one shot from A Grader Vicky Sheridan. The 23-handicapper has made remarkable progress in her short golfing career, and credits her first season of Pennant golf in 2021 as an indelible mark in her enjoyable journey.
HOOKED AGAIN: Douwe Hoeksema has been a Headland member for 16 years and although his enjoyment for the game has never waned, until Wednesday he not only wondered whether he would win another competition, he simply craved a round when he played to his handicap. And that he did, returning the best score of the day, winning C Grade and having $110 added to his House Account. “That will help with the annual subs,” said the retired business owner who spent much of the past two years renovating a house in Victoria, yet continued to maintain his membership. Douwe estimates it is ‘easily’ four years since he played to his handicap, but he rectified that in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford with 90 off the bat for 42 points – eight three-point holes and a four-point par at the 14th. A member of the OLD GOATS fraternity, he reeled off 18 points on the first six holes on the back nine and credited the encouragement from his playing partners – and good putting – for his excellent round. Bevan Horsnell won A Grade, also with 42 points.
BELIEF BOOSTED: Jill McAndrew reckons she will now play more competition golf following her victory in Monday’s Single Stableford for Vets. Lacking confidence in her game, the 2014 SWING graduate has been playing mainly social golf but that may well change after her winning 42 points – the best score among the women and men by three points – gave her just the second victory in the past six years. And Jill is in no doubt the sudden dose of positivity has come from her new clubs, a set of Tour Edge woods with a higher loft. While her day started poorly with a wipe at the 12th hole following a shotgun start, the remainder of her round was both enjoyable and exciting – nine three-point holes and seven two-pointers for her best-ever score. Robert Rowan, with 39 points, was the best among the men.
CAPTAIN’S CALL: Being the lowest handicapped player in her group, 27-marker Del Whittaker concedes she doubted her team could win Thursday’s Captain’s Ambrose for Women. “I looked over to an adjacent tee during the round and saw a group of four A Graders and thought ‘we are no chance’,” she confessed post-match. But not only were Del, Ellen Bloxsome, Sue Wake and Marie Flegler a chance, they actually won the event, albeit by the skinniest of margins. Less than a point separated the first three placings in an event where Women’s Captain Jane Boaler selected the teams, with Del noting birdies at the eighth and 14th holes as the highlight. And despite conceding a few ‘lip outs’ were disappointing, she admitted putting had ‘saved the day’.
DOGS BARK: Rod Hamilton reckons it was about time he and regular playing partner Ray Dempsey finally found some form, as they did in winning Tuesday’s Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford. “We have been playing like dogs for years,” quipped Rod who said he and good mate Ray have been sharing a cart on Tuesdays and Thursdays for ‘as long I can remember – possibly for around 17 years’. And what a comeback it was – 50 points on a card that revealed 11 three-point holes and two four-pointers. Rod, who served overseas for many years as a Government Advisor, paid tribute to former pilot Ray who he said ‘played great for an 85-year-old’. Ray backed up his good form on Thursday to partner Charlie Worthy for a win in the rarely-played Split Sixes event for pairs.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (29 players) – Jill McAndrew (42 points), Diane Kean (38), Lyn Keogh (38). Men (72 players) – A Grade, Michael Phillips (39), David W Smith (38), Ross Itzstein (38); B Grade, David Parker (34), Peter Birt (33), Ken Maynard (33); C Grade, Robert Rowan (39), Malcolm Woods (35), Steve Wikman (35).
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (114 players) – Rod Hamilton and Ray Dempsey (50 points), Penny Cooper and Liz Halyday (49), Lesley and Rod O’Leary (48).
Wednesday, Dalby Day, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor friends of the late Headland Golf Manager, Brent Dalby (232 players) – A Grade, Bevan Horsnell (42 points), Terry Grogan (39), Barry Newton (38), Wayne West (38); B Grade, Jeff Lovell (40), Wayne Phair (39), Toby Zaremba (37), Ivan Fortmann (37); C Grade, Douwe Hoeksema (42), Vince O’Neill (40), Roscoe King (39), Syd Shilling (39).
Thursday, Women, Captain’s Scrambled Ambrose – sponsor Jane Boaler – (121 players) – Del Whittaker, Ellen Bloxsome, Sue Wake and Marie Flegler (64.5 nett), Mary Young, Yvonne Henry, Di Stark and Margot Easton (64.625), Tove Larsen, Louise Harriott, Linda Cannon and Jackie Thinee (64.870). Men, Pairs Split Sixes (81 players) – Charlie Worthy and Ray Dempsey (69 points), Kevin George and Ray Stonehouse (65), John Jamieson and Bruce Germon (63).
Saturday, Monthly Medal – Sponsor Roger Van Ginkel, Turbeq Australasia Pty Ltd – Women (32 players) – Leeanne Ptak (70 nett), Vicky Sheridan (71), Naomi Doyle (72) – gross, Josie Ryan (84). Men (214 players) – A Grade, Ken Anderson (69), Barry Newton (69), Dennis Taylor (69) – gross, Adam Richards (73); B Grade, Chris Klazema (68), Ray Stonehouse (69), Rohan Albury (70) – gross Justin Walsh (84); C Grade, Neville Schultz (68), Jeff Lovell (69), Mick Morris (70) – gross, Mick Morris (91).
Sunday, Schweppes Headland Junior Classic – Winner, Fahim Hilmi (Pacific) 72; Boys, gross – Jack Jones (Keperra) 78, nett – Sam Fichera (Headland) 65; Girls, gross – Maddison Kelly (Noosa) 77, nett – Jade Escriva (Ayr) 76. Medley Monthly Medal (48 players) – Chris Eccles (68 nett), McKenzie Wright (69), Vicky Sheridan (70).
