From Tony Durkin
CHAMP CROWNED: Headland Women’s Champion, Ionna Muir, has won the Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Champion of Champions crown for 2022. Despite finishing runner-up to Kimberley Crawley of Maroochy River in the two-day Championship – sponsored by Stephen Blampied of Lifestyle Buyers Agency and played at Headland on Monday and Tuesday – the 14-year-old was the best performed of the five respective Club Champions in the field (from Headland, Maroochy River, Caloundra, Kingaroy and Maleny). The victory has capped an astounding first year as a Headland member for Ionna, who unseated 19-time Champion Josie Ryan in April, one month after partnering fellow 14-year-old Shae Coghlan to win Headland’s Mixed Foursomes Championship. The lowest handicapped player in the field of 78, scratchmarker Ionna had rounds of 79, 74, and was beaten for the Overall District title by two-handicapper Kimberley (71,77). But Kimberley was ineligible for the Champion of Champion title as she is not the reigning Maroochy River Champion.
MUGLESS CHAMP: He broke par at Headland on Saturday for the sixth time this year, started his round with three successive birdies for the first time in his 35 years and returned the best gross and net score of the day, but Adam Richards could still not win the Monthly Mug. Because of the number of withdrawals due to the morning weather conditions, and the subsequent field of just 81 players, the Mug was cancelled and the five-time Club Champion missed his chance at a rare victory. History says that unless a low marker shoots an exceptional round, they seldom win the nett event on Mug days, something to which Adam can attest. In the August Monthly Medal Adam shot 69 off, plus one, for nett 70, to come in fourth. Playing off scratch, he returned the same score on Saturday, won both the gross and nett, yet again went ‘mugless’. “It has actually been 11 years since I last won a Monthly Mug,” said the clearly disappointed Adam, who is Headland’s Deputy Men’s Director of Golf. His three-under 69 included birdies at holes one, two, three and eleven, with his eagle coming at the par-four 13th, a score equalled by playing partner Dave Rattray. Terry Grogan (73) won B Grade and Brett Beaumont won C Grade, while schoolgirl (77) was the best of the women.
SPARKLING ROUND: Fourteen-handicapper Gary Savill scorched around the back nine in one-over par 37 in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford on his way to 43 points, the best score of the day. Gary, who retired at 50 when he sold his Adelaide packaging business and travelled Australia for seven years, birdied the 10th hole then had five successive pars before bogeying 16 and 17, then finishing with a par at the 18th, for 24 points coming home. “It is my best nine at Headland in my seven years as a member,” said Gary, who is about to return to Adelaide for his annual two-month visit ‘back home’, where he will stock up on King George Whiting. But it isn’t just South Australian fish for which Gary has an affection. He is the only Headland member who drinks Sparkling Shiraz, a taste he gained many years ago when a member of a Rock’n’Roll Club. Alan Brooker (39 points) won A Grade and Graham Miller (41) topped the C Grade points ladder.
SUE’S BONANZA: Although she has won two Monthly Medals in 2022, Sue Jones is not sure how many she has collected during her 36 years as a Headland member. But she can confirm that she has never won a Pro Pin the size of the one she snared on Thursday. The former Club Champion, who ‘very occasionally’ of late has been producing some form reminiscent of her ‘glory’ days more than a decade ago, won the September A Grade Monthly Medal with a round of 82, for a nett 68. As well as the Medal, Sue collected $60 for the victory, another $15 for the best gross in A Grade and a massive $119.50 for the Pro Pin shot at the par-four third hole – a grand total of $194.50. “Not as much as Cameron Smith received for signing with LIV Golf, but it is up there with the most money I have won in a club event,” said Sue who revealed the Pro Pin cash had jackpotted from the previous week. Marg Howard (71) won B Grade, Norma Hobson (72) C Grade and Patricia O’Connor (68) D Grade.
LOCALS TRIUMPH: Headland members dominated results of the locally-hosted 2022 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Championship, with Kate Wilkie the standout performer. Kate (handicap 16) won the 36-hole nett (145), the Day Two Division One nett (72) and was named Senior Champion (73 points) of the two-day event. This outstanding result continued a stellar year for Kate, who has won – among other things – Headlands’ Matchplay Club Championship, three Monthly Medals and the Mixed Foursomes nett Championship, partnered by Andrew Hay. Narelle Hollowood was another multiple winner, taking out the Division Two gross (190), and the Day Two Division Two nett (72), while Di Stark won Division Three gross (69 points) and Day Two Division Three gross (38 points). Other Headland victors were Mary Young (runner-up Overall Nett, 147), Chris Parkinson (runner-up Division Two gross, 150) and Helen Fraser (Day One Division One nett 72), while Champion of Champions, Ionna Muir also won the Division One gross on Day two, with a one-over 74.
FAMILY DOUBLE: Patricia and Greg O’Connor have won a few fourball events together over the years but, until Thursday, never has the couple completed the ‘double’ – winning single events on the same day. Patricia scored nett 68 in D Grade to win her first Monthly Medal in 18 years of trying, while Greg returned his best-ever score of 44 points to win the Men’s Single Stableford. Both declared their rounds as ‘one of those days’ when all fell into place, and praised the course and the ground staff for the excellent condition of the golf course. “I seem to play my best golf around this time of the year, and I think it has a lot to do with the speed of the greens,” said Greg, whose best recent rounds were in the Headland Vets’ Living Choice Classic last September with an eclectic score of 51 points. Recently turned 80, Greg had just the one slip-up in his extremely consistent round – a one-pointer at the par-four 12th. Greg joined Headland when the couple retired to the Sunshine Coast in 2001, while Patricia decided to take up golf three years later.
MEN’S FOURSOMES: Reigning Men’s Foursomes Champion, Ben Duncombe, will have a new partner when he tees it up on Saturday, September 17, to defend his title. Ben and fellow teenager Josh Holbrook won last year’s title when they beat 2014 Champions, Sean McGill and Adam Rydwanski, on the first play-off hole. But Josh is now a Trainee Professional at Caloundra Golf Club and ineligible to contest the 36-hole event, and Ben will be partnered this year by Brendan Duncan. Other pairings expected to again feature prominently include four-time Champions Ash Reck and Wayne West as well as Adam Richards and Scott Walker, who won in 2016. Entries close on Wednesday (September 5) at 5pm. The Foursomes Championship is once again sponsored by Mick Kinnear’s company, Zero Termite and Pest.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday and Tuesday, 2022 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Championship – sponsor Stephen Blampied, Lifestyle Buyers Agency (78 players) – Champion, Kimberley Crawley (148); runner-up, Ionna Muir (153); nett, Kate Wilkie (145), Mary Young (147); Champion of Champions, Ionna Muir (153); Senior Champion, Kate Wilkie (73 points). Division Two, Narelle Hollowood (190), Chris Parkinson (150); Division Three, Di Stark (69 points). Day One – Division One, Kimberley Crawley (71); nett, Helen Fraser (72). Division Two, Kate Sawrey (95); nett, Christine Michael (72). Division Three, Narelle Thomas (33 points). Day Two – Division One, Ionna Muir (74); nett, Kate Wilkie (72); Division Two, Bettina Thomas (94); nett, Narelle Hollowood (72); Division Three (Di Stark (38).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Jamie Hill, Property Today – (227 players) – A Grade, Alan Brooker (39 points), Dave Mayes (39), Shane Muller (39); B Grade, Gary Savill (42), Burgess Stephenson (40), Bruce Reid (40); C Grade, Graham Miller (41), Russell Dowling (40), Ross Thompson (39).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsors BY HALCYON BUDERIM and Ken and Vicki Maynard – (105 players) – A Grade, Sue Jones (68 nett), Kate Wilkie (70), Vicky Sheridan (73), gross – Sue Jones (85); B Grade, Marg Howard (71), Marg White (72), Jodie McDonell (72), gross – Gwen Nancarrow (94); C Grade, Norma Hobson (72), Tracey O’Connor (72), Chris Hall (72), gross – Norma Hobson (103); D Grade, Patricia O’Connor (68), Mary Gibberd (70), Coralie Snowball (70), gross – Coralie Snowball (110).
Men, Single Stableford (86 players) – Greg O’Connor (44 points), Brad Reddan (43), Mark Garcia (41).
Saturday, Medley Single Stroke (81 players) – A Grade, Adam Richards (69 nett), Tim Diedricks (71), Ciaran Fenton (71); B Grade, Terry Grogan (73), Denis Orr (73), Nick Bolton (74); C Grade, Brett Beaumont (70), Bradley Bacon (73), Steve Walters (74).
