From Tony Durkin
COMEBACK CHAMP: Apart from last year’s Pennant season, Adam Rydwanski has played scant regular competition golf for the past 18 months, but has still managed two superb opening rounds in the 2022 Headland Men’s Championship, sponsored by Tim Reed of Stilhaus. His two-over-par 146 (71,75) in extremely difficult conditions over the weekend has handed the 2016 Champion a five-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the prestigious event. An electrical engineer who generously collects cans and bottles from Headland and donates the proceeds to the club’s junior golf program, Adam says a combination of work and family commitments has meant golf has taken a back seat in recent years. But that was not evident, particularly on Saturday when his one-under 71 included a brilliant front nine of 34, with birdies at holes 4, 7 and 8. “Apart from leaking some oil coming home on Sunday, I was really happy with the way I played over the weekend. My putting, especially, was very good,” said the Headland member since 2010. Some regular golf Adam has been playing is nine holes after school every fortnight with his six-year-old son and junior member Blake, who he says is ‘showing some promise’. Adam leads defending Champion and namesake Adam Richards (76, 75) by five strokes, with Ash Reck (74, 79) a further two shots back. Dominic Geeves (79, 84 -163) leads the B Grade Championship while Tony McDonough (90, 86 – 176) is in front in the C Grade Championship.
BELL RINGS: Had it not been for a family wedding next Saturday, pharmacist Steve Bell would have been playing the third round of the 2022 Headland Club Championships, sponsored once again by Tim Reed of Stilhaus. And while his equal best-ever Headland round of 76, for 39 Stableford points in Saturday’s Medley event for the Championship Overflow may not have worried Championship leader Adam Rydwanski too much, it would have given Steve a second placing in the A Grade nett event. Steve joined Headland four years ago, has played little golf of late because of work commitments and has not won since a Sunday Medal victory early last year when he also scored 76, and also from the black tees. But taking into account his three three-putt greens on Saturday, Steve rates the round as his most satisfying, sitting alongside his recent 37 points at Lakelands on the Gold Coast. Peter Richardson (34 points) won Sunday’s Overflow Medley Single Stableford event.
PLEDGE FILLED: When her husband Col returned from the Sunshine Coast Amateur Championship over the Easter weekend with a host of prizes, Suzanne Pledge made a silent commitment to follow his lead. And while she candidly declared her teammates ‘carried me’, four days later the 2019 SWING graduate was in the winner’s circle herself. Suzanne, who requested an early-morning spot in Thursday’s Captains Ambrose event because she had an afternoon flight to catch, joined Kate Wilkie, Judy Farmer and Sue Briffa to score nett 60.5 and win the event. “I contributed minimally, didn’t overly embarrass myself and did manage to get away my two compulsory drives,” the rookie quipped. Sue did not take up golf until she retired from the banking industry four years ago, and while she acknowledges she will never be a great player, like so many other SWING graduates, she now loves the game. NOTE: In the Easter Amateur, Col Pledge won Saturday’s Division Three 18-hole gross, the NTP at the 14th (which he recently aced) on Sunday and was third overall in the 36-hole Division Three gross.
MITCH STARS: Barry Newton plays off an AGU handicap of six, has been a member of Headland for 22 years, plays at least two days a week and has seen some exceptionally talented golfers tackle the course. So, when he says he was in awe of the skill of playing partner Mitch Jacobson during Thursday’s Ambrose for men, it is a statement worth noting. “Mitch is as good, if not better, as any player I have seen here in my two decades as a member,” praised Barry. The team of Mick Kinnear, Matt Doyle, Mitch and Barry had 11 birdies and an eagle on their scorecard of 13 under 59, for a nett 57.25 to win the event, but only by a shot from the team of Greg McDonald, Steve Nash, Michael Phillips and John Sims (58.625). And while Barry was not prepared to concede Mitch did all the work, his cryptic description of the round was ‘Mitch was the driver, and we sat in the back seat’. Mitch, who is the Assistant to Head Pro Adam Norlander, formerly played on the Pro circuit before joining the Headland team in 2019. His official handicap is one, but in Thursday’s event he played off plus one.
DOC RETIRES: It is too early for Rob Ingham to say retirement agrees with him, but three weeks after hanging up his stethoscope the popular 35-year Cotton Tree GP has registered his two best scores in ‘at least two years’. In a field of 221 on Wednesday ‘Dr Rob’ – as he has been affectionately known in his 33 years as a Headland member – returned 39 points, the best score of the day and a win in B Grade. It was his first win since snaring a Mid-Week Medal back in March of 2019, although he did score 39 three weeks ago to finish third. With six three-point holes, nine two-pointers and three singles on his card – but no wipes – Rob said he was surprised 39 points was enough to win, but was pleased with the $100 prizemoney from sponsor Jamie Hill of Property Today. Although Rob and wife Jenny – both keen golfers – are planning some travelling and golf holidays, members can expect to see more of the good doctor at Headland, maybe even in the Vets competitions. Former Headland Trainee Professional, Mackenzie Wright, carded a three-under 69 on Wednesday for 38 points, and a win in A Grade, while Alan Reed (37) won C Grade. Mackenzie’s 69 followed his 70 the previous day, for 37 points.
BUSY JOE WINS: He may be on leave from his day job of 50-plus years, but Joe Stotscheck still has a busy life which includes golf two days a week. A popular teacher at Maroochydore High where he has spent the past 43 years, Joe has taken leave to care for his aged mum, but is also working his local avocado, custard apple and mango farm, produce which he sells at Fishermen’s Road and Yandina weekend markets. That, however, has seemingly not hampered Joe’s golf, with successive scores of 43 and 42 Stableford points – the latter giving him victory in Tuesday’s competition. His 42 points came from eight bogeys and nine pars, with the only blemish a wipe at the tenth. Once a nine-handicapper ‘in his prime’, Joe plays early in the morning and said that no bunkers and no dew was a contributing factor in his winning score on a card that revealed an impressive 23 points on the first nine.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (47 players) – Pik Chong (38 points), Jill Nixey (38), Monica Antony (37). Men (75 players) – Joe Stotschek (42), Nigel Morrison (38), McKenzie Wright (37).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor Jamie Hill, Property Today (221 players) – A Grade, Mackenzie Wright (38 points), Mal Bradshaw (38), Ross Roberts (38); B Grade, Rob Ingham (39), Mark Beswick (37), David Hawes (37); C Grade, Allan Reed (37), Dion Southey (36), Chris Byrnes (35).
Thursday, Women, Captains Ambrose (102 players) – sponsor Jane Boaler – Suzanne Pledge, Kate Wilkie, Sue Briffa and Judy Farmer (60.5), Helen Fraser, Robyn Boreham, Julie O’Neill and Jane Boaler (61.125), Margie White, Mary Gibberd, Lesley O’Leary and Julie Halliday (61.5). Men, Ambrose (96 players) – Barry Newton, Mick Kinnear, Mitch Jacobson and Matt Doyle (57.25), Greg McDonald, Steve Nash, Michael Phillips and John Sims (58.625), Geoff Sawyer, Ken Scanlan and Darrell Pettingill (59.5).
Saturday, Men’s Club Championships, Round One – sponsor Tim Reed, Stilhaus (141 players) – A Grade, gross, Adam Rydwanksi (71), Jamie Holbrook (74), Ash Reck (74); nett, Jamie Holbrook (68), Adam Rydwanski (69), Ash Reck (70). B Grade, gross, Dominic Geeves (79), Geoff Bland (80), Chris McArdle (80); nett, Geoff Bland (66), Dominic Geeves (68), Glen Grimish (69). C Grade, gross, Ivan Fortmann (86), Lachie Moffat (88), Steve Blampied )89); nett, Ivan Fortmann (68), Nick Donovan (70), John Welch (71); Senior, gross – Chris McArdle (80), Bob Trevor (82), Barry Newton (82). Junior, gross – Ben Duncombe (75), Alexander Procopis (82), Shae Coghlan (82).
Overflow, Medley Single Stableford (48 players) – Steve Bell (39 points), Dennis Taylor (39), Lawrence Hiremi (36).
Sunday, Men’s Club Championships, Round Two – sponsor Tim Reed, Stilhaus (202 players) – A Grade, gross, Adam Rydwanski (75), Adam Richards (75), Chris Goundrey (76); nett, Jeff Davis (66), Chris Goundrey (69), Anthony Fichera (70). B Grade, gross, Dennis Mikolic
(82), Mark Henricks (82), Ian Farrington (82); nett, Dennis Mikolic (72), Mark Henricks (72), Ian Farrington (72). C Grade, gross, Anthony Larchin (86), Tony McDonough (86), Nick Donovan (91) nett, Antony Larchin (66), Gary Martin (68), Tony McDonough (69). Senior – Jeff Davis (163), Darren McLeod (164), Barry Newton (165). Junior – Ben Duncombe (154), Alexander Procopis (160), Shae Coghlan (168). Overflow, Medley Single Stableford (15 players) – Peter Richardson (34 points), Dave Mansley (33).
