From Tony Durkin
SERIOUS FUN: Despite being a member of a passionate golfing family – and working part-time behind the Headland bar – Emmet Walsh confides he does not take the game seriously. However, after winning Saturday’s Single Stableford with a career-high 43 points from an equal-best round of 90, the 22-year-old trainee draftsman says he ‘might’ now become a little more focused on the game he plays just once a week. “I play golf for the fun of it. A few beers and a laugh with my mates is my idea of an enjoyable day at golf. If I have a good score, that’s a bonus,” he quips. Playing with his dad Justin, Emmet had five pars in his round on Saturday including a four at the difficult 15th hole, and won C Grade by two points despite a triple bogey six at the par-three 18th. And while the win was exciting, his proudest result was a handicap reduction to 23.9, putting him lower than his mum Coralie (24.6). Peter Francis (42 points) won A Grade while Ty Pilcher (42) finally found some form to win B Grade.
HAPPY JULIE: Following successful cancer surgery back in December, Julie Lewis is thankful just to be back playing golf. But to win – as she did in Saturday’s Single Stableford with her best-ever score of 42 points and beat her handicap by six shots – has made her ‘very, very happy’. Julie, who concedes she has been a ‘slow learner’ at golf, first started playing the game when she joined Headland in 2010 and after being back in the swing for a few months, is now trying to play twice a week – on Thursdays with the women and on Saturdays with a ‘patient’ band of men. “The usual group of guys I play with are very supportive, and I want to thank them for putting up with me,” she said after her round on Saturday which produced two four-point holes and six three-pointers. Julie beat Janelle Heaney (41 points) who wiped the 18th, where Julie scored a four-point par.
STRANGERS MEET: When Paul Henricks stepped on to the first tee at Headland on Wednesday to play in the Medley Two-Person Ambrose, he met Wagga visitor Ken Howell for the first time. Ken, who has been ‘marooned’ on the Sunshine Coast for six months because of Covid, was on the waitlist and joined Paul as his partner following a couple of late withdrawals. And not only did Paul and Ken combine superbly to win the event with an eight-under 64 nett, they both played off a four handicap and discovered a mutual support of the North Melbourne AFL Kangaroos. Paul described the performance as a ‘genuine team effort’ in which both played their part in the round that contained seven birdies, 10 pars and a lone bogey. But playing the front nine twice apparently took some adjusting. The winning pair was one under the first time round, but came home in a brilliant 31, five-under the card.
HANDY WIN: Five weeks after hand surgery, Kirsten Kaergaard would have been satisfied with any score more than 27 points in Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford. But the schoolteacher, recovering from Carpal Tunnel surgery on her left hand, stunned herself with 41 points and a nail-biting win in the event from Mal Bradshaw and Bernie Duncan, who both scored 40 points. Kirsten had returned to golf the previous day and despite scoring only 27 points, was still two points better than the realistic target she had set herself. And although hopeful of bettering that score, Kirsten had a ‘cracker’ of a front nine 24 hours later, setting up her winning round with 22 points.
GOLF CHEMISTRY: The field consisted of a mere 11 players and although he didn’t win, pharmacist Chris Risby produced the most interesting round in the men’s Single Stableford event on Thursday. And in doing so the Headland Hustler member crept closer to the top of the group’s Birdie Board competition with two birdies and an eagle in his round of 78. Playing the front nine twice because of course renovations, Chris started both nines sluggishly with a par, four bogeys and a double on the first three holes. But eight pars, two birdies and an eagle coming home gave him 36 points and third place behind fellow Hustler, Craig Firns (38). Chris had two opportunities at eagle, both times at the par-five seventh hole. His four-metre putt the first time fell short, but he nailed the second for his ninth eagle in his nine years as a Headland member.
JAMIE IN PINK: Headland A Grade Pennant team member Jamie Hill will be feeling the pressure when the Ambrose team containing Helen Fraser approaches the 18th tee on Thursday week (October 25), the occasion of the annual Pink Cindy Mackenzie Day. Jamie, a real estate consultant with Property Today, is one of the sponsors for the annual breast cancer fundraising event and, as an adjunct, hits tee shots for the groups at the par-three final hole. And the pressure he will be feeling when Helen’s group approaches is because for the past two years Jamie has aced the hole with her ball. Sponsored by the JUGS, the day raises funds for the Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Program which supports women on the Sunshine Coast – and their families, who are living with breast cancer. The event will be a Scrambled Four-Person Ambrose, with and 8am shotgun start, and $2 of the $15 entry fee will be donated to the Cindy McKenzie Breast Cancer Program.
ADAM’S ROLE: Four-time Club Champion and Headland’s No.1 A Grade Pennant player, Adam Richards, has made his initial venture into Headland Golf Administration by accepting the position of Men’s Vice-Captain and Convenor of Men’s Pennant. He joins his father Brian on the Men’s Match Committee which is headed by newly-elected Director of Golf, Peter O’Brien. Others, continuing on the Match Committee, are members Brian Richards (Course Rep and Week-to-Week Events Calendar), Brian Kesby (Major Events) and Tony Coad (Vets), while staff members Matt Lang (GM), Adam Norlander (Professional), Glenn Joyner and Russell Harris (Marshalls/Rules) and Golf Operations Manager, Tilly Poulsen are also part of the decision-making committee.
ZONE LOSS: Headland’s Division One Women’s Pennant team has finished runner-up in the North Coast Zone District Handicap Match Play, falling behind Noosa Springs (8.5 points) by 2.5 points, with Kingaroy (1.5) finishing third. The three teams played off under threatening skies at Noosa Golf Club on Friday and although an electrical storm suspended play for an hour, the event was finalised. Giving 10 shots to all Noosa Springs players proved too difficult for Headland, with the in-form Jenny Ingham the star by winning both her matches. Annabel Harris had a win and a square, Josie Ryan won one match and failed to square the other in pelting rain at the 18th, while Julie Halliday managed a square.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Medley Two-Person Ambrose (abandoned because of an electrical storm).
Wednesday, Medley Two-Person Ambrose (118 players) – Ken Howell and Paul Henricks (64 nett), Dave Sims and Gary Marr (64), Dean Smareglia and George Stoufis (64).
Thursday, Women, Three-Club plus putter event (abandoned because of an electrical storm). Men, Two-Person Ambrose (11 players) – Craig Firns (38 points), Geoff Sawyer (36), Chris Risby (36).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Women (30 players) – Julie Lewis (42 points), Janelle Heaney (41), Vicky Sheridan (37); Men (214 players) – A Grade, Peter Francis (42), Glen Grimish (41), Simon Richardson (39); B Grade, Ty Pilcher (42), Don Follent (40), Deon Breytenbach (40); C Grade, Emmet Walsh (43), Bob Lane (41), Steve Walters (39).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (53 players) – Kirsten Kaergaard (41 points), Mal Bradshaw (40), Bernie Duncan (40).
