From Tony Durkin

CHAMPS BEATEN: Two record-breaking Headland Club Champions, Josie Ryan and Adam Richards, have been beaten in nail-biting semi-finals of the 2022 Match Play Championship. Last year Josie and Adam created Headland golfing history when they both won their respective Club Championship over a four-decade period, and both also won their respective Match Play titles. But that will not be the case when the 2022 Match Play Championships will be decided this coming Saturday. Both semi-finals went to the 18th hole, with Kate Wilkie chipping in for birdie from the back of the green to beat Josie 1-up, and Scott Walker chipping in for birdie from four metres, to beat Adam, also one-up. The men’s semi-final was an outstanding tussle with 10 birdies scored between the combatants. Scott will meet Adam Rydwanski in the final, while Kate plays Sue Jones. In Men’s B Grade Joel Cooney meets Geoff Bland, while in C Grade Deon Breytenbach plays John Cleary. Kirsten Kaergaard will play Helen Fraser in the Women’s B Grade final, with the C Grade title already decided – Sue Harris beat Susie Meade 3&1. 

GILL’S BEST: A self-proclaimed fitness fanatic who took a decade-long break from golf to run marathons, has had her best-ever round of golf at Headland. Gill (pronounced Jill) Thomas scored 43 points in Thursday’s Single Stableford to win B Grade by a whopping six points in a round from the 31-handicapper without a single blemish. Her 23 points on the front nine included a run of six consecutive three-pointers, and on the back nine Gill’s four-point par at the 13th was followed by another three successive three-point holes. Retiring to the Sunshine Coast from St George, Gill joined Headland in 2009 then gave golf away two years later while she concentrated on her running and trekking, culminating in the New York Marathon. Although still heavily involved in a health and fitness regime, Gill became a playing member again last year and described her excellent round on Thursday as ‘one of those days when everything gelled’. Good scores were the order of the day, with Leanne Ptak (39 points) winning A Grade and Colleen Sarquis (40) C Grade. 

HOME AGAIN: Although he was a member of Headland’s winning Junior Pennant team in 2016, Patrick Walsh has played little golf since. But since the third year Computer Science student moved back home to live with his parents – fellow members Justin and Coralie – four months ago, he has played more regularly and the cream again rose to the top on Saturday with 39 Stableford points, and a win in B Grade. And the 21-year-old lefthander, who had a year playing right-handed when he was 15, left plenty out there with two wipes and two one-pointers on a card that also revealed nine three-point holes. University studies and work took Patrick away from the game when he left school at the end of 2018, but now that he is back home with a family entrenched in Headland’s golf culture, he is keen to play more golf, especially after Saturday’s excellent score. Neven Daniel (38) won A Grade and Ed Hoey (39) won C Grade. 

SOMETHING FOUND: Since he retired 3½ years ago, John Harris has struggled with his golf game, conceding he has been in a form slump. And while he knew what was causing the issue – failing to keep the clubhead behind his hands at impact – it was not until a session on the driving range on Tuesday that he ‘found something’. And find ‘it’ he certainly did, with his 41 points from a handicap of eight easily winning Wednesday’s Single Stableford. “I was on five or six handicap when I moved to Queensland in 2005 and joined Headland, and have slowly crept out to eight or nine. I reckon it’s possibly three years since I last won,” said the motor bike enthusiast who evenly shares his passion for his two sporting pursuits. There was only the one blemish on his scorecard on Wednesday – a double-bogey wipe at the par-four sixth from a drive that was just 85 metres from the pin. John has been a Headland member since 2005, and his lowest handicap has been four. A visitor, Nathan Starr, won C Grade with 43 points while John Henry (35) saluted in B Grade. 

SECOND BEST: Twelve months ago – almost to the day – rookie 81-year-old golfer Trevor Simpson scored 41 points in a Single Stableford event and was beaten. It was his best-ever round at Headland, the first golf club he had ever joined, back in 2016. On Tuesday Trevor experienced the vast vagaries of golf when his 38 points, from a handicap of 18, won the Men’s Single Stableford. “After being beaten with 41, I never expected to win with 38, but that’s golf I suppose,” said the former Mercedes Benz sales executive who has worked in London as well as Sydney, before moving from the NSW Central Coast to retire at 75 years of age, and deciding to take up the game ‘seriously’ for the first time. He believed he had ‘peaked’ with his outstanding round last year from his 15 handicap, but hopes Tuesday’s score, which included a birdie at the par-three 14th, might be a sign of further good times to come. Janette Ritchie won Tuesday’s women’s event, also with 38 points. 

GOOD OLE GIRL: She believes she holds the label of Headland’s oldest current female A Grader, and Monica Knowles could not be prouder. And to add lustre to her standing, the 78-year-old won Monday’s Vets Single Stableford for Women with 40 points, and a very respectable gross score of 88 which she says should have been less. “I squandered at least five shots, including a three putt at the last,” said Monica who has been a Headland member for 42 years. But she still managed seven three-pointers and a four-point birdie at the 15th, a hole she once eagled. Monica’s AGU handicap sits at 17.7, with her lowest mark 10 – for one day only – just on two decades ago. And while she has been playing consistently of late, the two-day-a-week regular concedes she sorely missed her golf during the recent three-week shutdown because of consistent wet weather. “My first game back I scored only 14 points,” she lamented. 

JACK’S BACK: He may have ‘waited’ more than a quarter of a century, but Justin (aka Jack) Nicholson has scored his second hole-in-one at Headland. The ace came at the 18th – his ninth hole – but no member of the quartet was aware at the time. While they thought his eight iron was close, when there was no reaction from the morning finishers sitting on the verandah and enjoying a beverage, they dismissed the chance of an ace. And then, when Aaron Shaw hit his tee shot to two meters and received a resounding reception, they were convinced it must have finished at the back of the green. But when a search for the ‘errant’ ball came up empty, Justin looked in the hole and there it was. “After almost four decades of playing golf, it is still a thrill to score a hole-in-one,” said Justin, whose first ace was more than 25 years ago, at the 14th. A second eagle was scored on Saturday, by Andrew Stirling, at the par-five second hole. 

TIPS FOR GUS: Golfing tips from his brother-in-law, who plays off a handicap of one, has helped Gus Walker win his first event at Headland in almost three years. The ex-Police Officer, who joined the club five years ago when he moved south from Burrum Heads, won Monday’s Vets Single Stableford with 41 points from his 16 handicap. His ‘steady golf’ card of eight pars and nine bogeys was scarred only by a three-putt double bogey at the par-three eighth, but Gus was very happy with his round. “I recently played with my brother-in-law who was visiting from Perth, and he gave me a couple of tips which have certainly helped my game,” he revealed. But apart from being pleased with his golf, Gus was also elated that a lingering back injury, which at one stage had threatened his future in the game, is on the improve as a result of a regular swimming and gym program at the nearby Goodlife Community Gym.

ANNUAL WIN: Former Headland Men’s Captain, Tony Kelleher, says his win in Thursday’s Single Stableford was a sign of ‘that time of the year’. “It seems, in my later years, I only win once annually, and Thursday’s victory was my first since June 2021 when I won the Monthly Medal,” said the recently-retired teacher. And Tony concedes age has ‘shortened’ his game, with par fours becoming virtual par fives, and par five becoming par sixers. “So, my chipping and putting have been more vital, and on Thursday I had only 27 putts and, as a result, scored seven pars,” he reported. Spending two years as Men’s Director of Golf, Tony is well aware of the support needed to run an operation as successful as Headland Golf Club, and he expressed the thanks of all regular Thursday golfers to Mal Galletly of AJ Steel who has sponsored three successive events.

BEN’S OPEN: Former Headland Club Champion Ben Wedmaeir, who now lives in England with his wife and baby boy and is a teaching Professional, is 36 holes away from qualifying for a stunning start in the famed British Open. On Monday he won the regional qualifier at Burhill Golf Club in Surry, shooting four-under par 68. Tomorrow (Tuesday) he plays 36 holes at St Anne’s Old Links Golf Club in Lancashire, with the best four scores to gain a start in the historic 150th Open, to be played from July 11-17 at the home of golf, St Andrews in Scotland. Ben was Headland Club Champion in 2008, while still at school, and a year later teamed with Josie Ryan to win the Mixed Foursomes.

SENIOR’S ECLECTIC: Entries are now being accepted for Headland’s 2022 Regis Aged Care Seniors Eclectic Tournament, to be played on Monday and Tuesday, July 18 and 19. The cost of playing in the two-day Single Stableford event is $60 for members and $70 for non-members, with competition fees and a sandwich/roll on both days included. Entries close at 5pm on Friday, July 8. The annual event is extremely popular and the field is expected to fill quickly, so Headland members should book now. And, if any members miss out, they are advised to add their name to the wait list and every effort will be made to get them in the field. 

WOMEN’S PENNANT: It was not the best day for Headland Women’s Pennant teams on Sunday, with both the Diamonds and Emeralds well beaten in the 2022 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Pennant season. The Diamonds lost 4-1 to Maroochy River at Beerwah, with Julie Halliday the only winner, 1-up. Josie Ryan was beaten 1-down, and Sharon Thomas (6&4), Christina Claxton (7&5) and Kate Wilkie (3&2) also lost. The Emeralds fared a little better, losing 3-2 to Noosa at Mount Coolum, with Vicky Sheridan continuing her recent streak of good form with a 3&1 win to follow her victory in the Women’s Single Stableford (38 points) the previous day. Will Sprake (2-up) also won, but Kirsten Kaergaard (8&7), Cathy Roberts (3&2) and Narelle Hollowood (4&3) were on the deficit side of the ledger. On Monday, Sapphires squared their match with Caboolture at Noosa Springs. Robyn Boreham was again the standout, winning 4&3, while Mouna Humzy won 1-up and Chris Parkinson squared her match. However, Leanne Ptak could not carry over her outstanding form from last Thursday and lost 8&6, and Carol Dwyer also lost, down 4&3.

WEEKLY RESULTS:

Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (35 players) – A Grade, Monica Knowles (40 points), Yvonne Henry (37), Marg Smith (37); Men (105 players) – A Grade, Gus Walker (41), Jock McLaughlin (39), Allan Smee (38); B Grade, Brian Garnett (38), John Christmas (37), Jim Saunderson (36); C Grade, Neil Dougherty (39), Alan Reed (36), Stuart Dykstra (35).

Tuesday, Single Stableford – Women (44 players) – Janette Ritchie (38 points), Tini McKim (37), Althea McLean (37). Men (62 players) – Trevor Simpson (38), Glen Weekes (38), Rob Cunningham (38).

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor David Mayes, U-Blinds Australia – (212 players) – A Grade, John Harris (41 points), Rhett Charlton (38), John Langdon (38); B Grade, John Henry (37), Burgess Stephenson (36), Ivan Fortmann (35); C Grade, Nathan Starr (43), Daniel Crabtree (40), Skip Antony (38).

Thursday, Single Stableford, Women, sponsors Di Stark, Leigh Dorigo, Linda Cannon and Bev Barnes (100 players) – A Grade, Leanne Ptak (39 points), Kate Wilkie (39), Sharon Thomas (36); B Grade, Gill Thomas (43), Tracey O’Connor (37), Deborah Thomas (35); C Grade, Colleen Sarquis (40), Marie Flegler (38), Joy Logan (35).

Men, sponsor Mal Galletly, AJ Steel (77 players) – Tony Kelleher (40), Ken Wedmaeir (38), David Carmichael (37).

Saturday, Medley Single Stableford sponsor Stephen Blampied, Lifestyle Buyers Agency – Women (32 players) – Vicky Sheridan (38 points), Sue Harris (36), Kate Wilkie (36).

Men (203 players) – A Grade, Neven Daniel (38), Andrew Stirling (38), Anthony Mesic (37); B Grade, Patrick Walsh (39), Brian Richards (38), Dennis Taylor (38); C Grade, Ed Hoey (39), Bob Lane (37), Barry Mapes (36).

Sunday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (58 players) – Rohan Albury and Gary Marr (49 points), Dave Sims and Robyn Muir (46), Steve and Charlotte (Ridley (45