From Tony Durkin
MARRIED GOLF: Not many golfers have an empathetic partner who consents to her husband’s round of golf while on their honeymoon, but the narrative around Joel Cooney’s loving relationship is somewhat atypical. Ten handicapper Joel won Wednesday’s A Grade Single Par event with plus two, scoring seven-over 78 on the shortened par 71 course to equal his previous best result. His ‘neat’ card revealed a birdie at the par-four 16th, nine pars and eight bogeys for his first individual victory since he won the B Grade Match Play Championship in October of 2018. And there is good reason for that – the Police Officer who has seven children, two of whom are stepchildren, has an extremely busy work and home schedule. But he and 6½-year partner Jessie found time recently to marry, and Joel grabbed a few hours on Wednesday – 10 days into his honeymoon – for a rare round of golf. A Headland member since 2003 with an all-time low handicap of nine, the fanatical Hawks AFL fan has maintained good form despite his lack of game time. Phil Humzy (plus 3) won B Grade and Peter Corney (plus 4) won C Grade.
VICKY’S BEST: Winning her fourth Monthly Medal in just 2½ years as a Headland member, Vicky Sheridan saved her equal best round of 87 for Thursday’s A Grade victory. The advertising account manager, who starts a new job this week with My Weekly Preview, carded a nett 72 to win by three strokes and returned the best score of the day from the four grades contested. And despite two double bogeys, Vicki was ‘quite pleased’ with her round which included two birdies, three pars and 10 bogeys. Because of her work, the 15-handicapper only plays Thursday golf in the Medal events, but is regular most Saturdays and Sundays, and bombed out in the recent February weekend Medal with quadruple-bogey eights at the 16th and 17th, surrendering her lead to good friend and regular playing partner, Cathy Roberts. Chris Parkinson (73 nett) won B Grade, Carol Sinclair (74) saluted in C Grade and Joy Murray (73) led in the D Grade field.
BROTHERS TRIUMPH: Mark Henricks (handicap 10) won the A Grade Single Stableford on Saturday, adding a healthy $75 to his Headland House Account. Yet his younger brother Paul (6), playing in the same group, scored two points less, yet pocketed a $142 bounty. Mark, who is on the mend following some recent health issues, had just the one blemish on his card – a double bogey at hole No.1 after starting from the tenth. Otherwise, he signed for a birdie (at the 11th), 11 pars and five bogeys for his 40 points and a first win since the Club Championships rounds, when he was runner-up in B Grade. And even though Paul finished two points in arrears on Saturday, his eagle at the sixth hole – from a running chip to a back pin from 70 metres out – and a spectacular birdie at the 12th from in the trees on the right, were the two highlights of the day, with both shots snaring him $61 in the Pro Pins. He also collected $15 for his eagle, plus $5 in the rundown. Paul has now scored seven eagles since he joined Headland in 2007, including twin aces at the par-three 18th.
ALL-NEW ADAM: Armed with new TaylorMade clubs, new enthusiasm and a new work timetable, Adam Robins experienced the ultimate in his 4½-year golf career with a win in Thursday’s Single Stableford for men. The owner of AR Coastal Scaffolding shot 88 from his 24 handicap for 43 points, his breakthrough win his five years as a member. With a busy work schedule, a house renovation, two new dogs and a small child, Adam played just four rounds of competition golf last year and was so focused on making sure he utilised his membership, he bought a new set of clubs from the Pro Shop and has had lessons from Head Pro Adam Norlander – and it has worked a treat. His Thursday round had just the one wipe, and on the back nine he scored 25 points with two four-point holes, three three-pointers and four two-pointers. “Wow, how good does it feel when the ball goes exactly where you want it to go,” enthused the virtual golf rookie who moved to the Sunshine Coast seven years ago and was encouraged by his father-in-law to take up his new sport. NOTE: So keen is Adam to make sure he plays at least once a week, he has taken a corporate membership and will sponsor his first event on Wednesday.
PAIR OF ACES: Recent first hole-in-one exponents, Roz Brandt and Ruth Broderick, are fortuitously teamed together – for the first time – in tomorrow’s (Tuesday) Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford. Roz scored her ace at the 14th two weeks ago and Ruth followed last Tuesday, holing out at the 18th. A Swing graduate from 2016 and winner of the inaugural Anne Alsbury Award in 2018 for most improved women golfer, Ruth knew her tee shot was on line, but because of the position of the hole neither she nor her playing partners saw where the ball landed on the green. “When we arrived at the green and couldn’t see my pink ball, I honestly thought it had rolled off the back,” she confessed. The group started on the back nine and Ruth penned 21 points but, not unexpectedly, things went little awry on the front nine with just 11 points. NOTE: Ruth’s son Tom is taking some credit for her ace – his Christmas gift to his mum was a dozen pink Bridgestone golf balls, one of which will now sit atop her HIO trophy.
NEAR MISS: Despite winning Tuesday’s Single Stableford for men playing six under his handicap of 12, Nev Kenzler still walked off the course somewhat disappointed. Nev, a Headland member since 2017, was miffed that a poor chip and a lipped-out putt had cost him his first-ever par round on the tough back nine. Starting on the tenth, he dropped some ‘ridiculously long’ putts and standing on the 18th tee was square with the card, with six pars, a birdie at 13 and a bogey at 15. After bogeying the 18th as consistent rain started falling, Nev was confident if he played to his handicap on the front nine, he would more than likely win – which he ultimately did, with 42 points. And that score is his recent victory benchmark, winning at Headland back in December and at Maroochy River in October, also with 42 points. Barbara Schultz (37 points) won the women’s event.
BONUS FOR ROZ: Naturally chuffed at scoring her first hole-in-one – and the first at Headland for 2022 – Roz Brandt has received an extremely rare, but generous bonus, from her insurance company. Still ruminating on her success a few days after acing the par three 14th hole on February 8, Roz recalled reading a clause in her house and contents insurance policy with YOUI covering holes-in-one, and offering a $200 payment. Feeling there had to be a catch, Roz checked with the company, confirmed her ace was in an official club competition at a registered Australian Golf Club and summarily lodged a claim, which was accepted. A member since 1990, Roz reckons a HIO trophy, $30 for the ace, $5 for the NTP and $200 from YUOI is a fair and reasonable recompense for her long wait.
EAGLE AGENT: Seven handicapper Chris Pace had one bright moment in Wednesday’s Medley Single Par round – an eagle at the par-five 13th hole. But apart than that result, the principal of McGrath Estate Agents at Buderim and Mooloolaba confessed his golf was ‘absolutely terrible’, and his enjoyment almost zilch. A former TV sport presenter with Channel 7, Chris chipped in from 15 metres in front of the 13th green for his second eagle at Headland, and his second at the same hole. It was his ninth eagle in a golf career that has taken him from his hometown of Mackay to Maryborough, Headland and Pelican Waters, where he scored two eagles in the one round 12 years ago, yet still had 80 off the bat. Wednesday’s round was similar – his score was minus 10, with his only plus for the day at his eagle hole.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (54 players) – A Grade, Barbara Schultz (37 points), Leeanne Ptak (37), Jill Nixey (35); B Grade. Men (65 players) – Nev Kenzler (42), Malcolm Woods (38), Mark Garcia (38).
Wednesday, Medley Single Par (170 players) – A Grade, Joel Cooney (plus 2), Graham Smith (+2), Tony Pattinson (+2); B Grade, Phil Humzy (+3), Graham Clarke (+2), Glenn Williams (+1); C Grade, Peter Corney (+4), Andrew Murray (square), Daniel Crabtree (square).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsor BY HALCYON BUDERIM and Ken and Vicki Maynard (111 players) – A Grade, Vicky Sheridan (72 nett), Carol Dwyer (75), Lisa Ramen (76), gross – Lisa Ramen (85); B Grade, Chris Parkinson (73), Mouna Humzy (73), Julia Cramer (73), gross – Julia Cramer (92); C Grade, Carol Sinclair (74), Sue Wake (76), Pam Vincent (76), gross – Carol Sinclair (105); D Grade, Joy Murray (73), Cathy Haimes (74), Helen Siddons (79) – gross, Joy Murray (110).
Men, Single Stableford (84 players) – Adam Robins (43 points), Nigel Morrison (36), John Marrington (36).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Women (25 players) – Anita Boyle (37 points), Monica Antony (36), Kirsten Kaergaard (35). Men (218 players) – A Grade, Mark Henricks (40), Brett Hardner (39), Darren McLeod (39); B Grade, Jock McLaughlin (39), Gary Savill (38), Geoff Bland (37); C Grade, Mark Glassop (41), Gary Jamieson (40), Trevor Gourlay (39).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (59 players) – Garry Marr (42 points), Don Caldwell (41), Dave Wickham (40).
