From Tony Durkin
PATRON’S BLITZ: Wayne Bridgman (handicap seven) heaped praise on his partner Pik Chong (13) after the pair combined superbly in the Mixed American Foursomes event to win the annual Patron’s Day on Sunday. With their combined handicap of 8.25, the pair blitzed the field of 116 players to return nett 67.75 – a four-over 76 – and win the event by two strokes from the husband-and-wife team of Leeanne and Henryk Ptak. “She never missed a putt under a metre,” enthused Wayne, who said his partner often under-estimates her golfing ability. “We have played together quite a lot over the past four years and I hope my encouragement has helped her believe in herself a little more.” A birdie at the par-three eighth hole was the highlight of their superb round, which also included 12 pars and just five bogeys. And they were well rewarded for their effort – $125 each from magnanimous sponsor, Club Patron Simon Whittle. Wayne added that apart from the golf, the most enjoyable part of the day was seeing a packed and buzzing clubhouse afterwards, the result of a shotgun start. Col Pledge was another star, scoring his third ace – his second for the year – each at the par-three 14th hole.
COAD RED: Headland Vets’ President Tony Coad has issued a warning to his fellow ‘oldies’ that anything is still possible when he shot his age in Wednesday’s Single Stableford. Despite a triple bogey and a double in his round which reaped 43 points, the 80-year-old still managed to card 80 in what he reckons was one of his most memorable rounds of golf. “It’s probably more exciting than scoring a hole in one,” said Tony, who joined Headland when he moved north from Melbourne in 1994. Starting on the tenth on Wednesday, Tony didn’t envisage anything special was on the cards after 43 strokes gave him 18 points from his first nine. But after bogeys at holes one and two, the octogenarian kicked into gear with six pars and a birdie for a gross 37, and 25 points from his 15 handicap. And while the round was an absolute thrill, there had been a hint two days earlier that something special may have been pending. “I played a Vets’ match play event on Monday and had 81,” he revealed. Despite his great round, Tony was beaten for B Grade honours by Ross Itzstien, while Brett Stephenson (41) won A Grade and John Siddons (40) C Grade.
AND BOB TOO: Tony Coad wasn’t the only Headland golfer to shoot his age this past week. In Tuesday’s Single Stableford, 77-year-old Bob Trevor equalled his age and in doing so carded 38 points. It was the 14th time the 34-year member – whose current AGU handicap is 8.9 – has either equalled or bettered his age and he is closing in on the remarkable effort of fellow member Ken Anderson, who has achieved the feat 16 times. Starting on the back nine, Bob had two birdies and two bogeys for a par 36 and 21 points, but was five over on the front which included an uncharacteristic double bogey at the par-five second hole. Back in June Bob last broke his age, shooting 75 which yielded 40 points.
REE HOOKED: Even before her first win – and best-ever round – in Monday’s Vets event, Ree Condon was hooked on golf. But 100 strokes, 40 Stableford points, a $55 winner’s purse plus the $50 raffle prize has the 2019 SWING graduate affirming that taking up golf is one of the best things she has ever done. “I just love it,” says Ree, who thanks friend Jackie Thinee for firstly encouraging her to join SWING, but for also being a ‘wonderful mentor’. The retired hairdresser had five three-point holes and a four-point birdie on her winning card which – also importantly for Ree – revealed no pick-ups. While the neat 100 strokes is her lowest round, her new goal is to break through the century mark and she hopes to do that with plenty of upcoming golf – mostly three competition events and one or two practise rounds a week.
FIRST WIN: Retired Public Servant Ian Harris waited 15 months for his full membership of Headland, and within two weeks he has won his first competition. The 73-year-old, who has a home in Melbourne as well as Mountain Creek and shares his time between both, moved from Jervis Bay to the Sunshine Coast in June last year, immediately applied for membership and played the course often while he was on the wait list. His first win came on Saturday in the Single Stableford event sponsored Gary Martin of Directline Timbers, when he topped the B Grade table with 41 points, which included birdies at holes four, seven and 14. Once a seven-handicapper at Jervis Bay, septuagenarian Ian is happy to be playing off 15 on a course that has taken him ‘a very long time’ to adjust. “I hit every fairway on Saturday,” he proudly announced. Scott Bromfield (also 41 points) won A Grade, Kevin Howe (38) won C grade and Roz Brandt (38) won the Women’s event.
SHORT PUTTER: The sudden realisation that his putter might be too long has helped Jeff Jones to his first round under 80 in three years. Head Pro Adam Norlander reduced the length of Jeff’s trusty putter by 2½ centimetres and the three-decade Headland member won the Vets’ Single Stableford in A Grade on Monday with 42 points, his best score since 45 points from 77 strokes won him a hand-made coffee table back in the mid-90s. “But apart from more control with the shorter putter, I must admit we played from the white tees and because of the recent dry weather, there was a lot more run on the course which helps us old blokes,” quipped the 72-year-old. Ironically, Jeff’s only double bogey on an impressive card that showed three birdies, six pars and eight bogeys, was a three-putt at the par-four, 15th. Steve Wikman (41 points) won B grade.
HOT SNOWBALL: She may have had three wipes on her card, but Coralie Snowball still ‘fired’ in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women with a winning 42 points. Starting on the tenth, Coralie amassed 22 points despite a wipe at the par-five 13th, then started the front nine in the worst-possible way by hitting the wrong ball. “Thinking my day was probably over, I then seemed to relax and played really well despite another wipe at the ninth,” explained Coralie who had three four-point holes and six three-pointers on her roller-coaster card. The 19-year member, who lives at the nearby Crest Apartments with her husband and fellow-member James, said she can’t recall her last win but thinks it could have been in a Vets’ tournament ‘many years ago’. Coralie needed her exceptional back-nine score of 22 points to beat fellow 42-point gatherers Denise Lawson and Lesley Wilson on a countback.
WORTH THE WAIT: Tuesday Men’s Single Stableford winner Charlie Worthy had no doubt whatsoever how long it had been since his best round of golf at Headland. “It was back in 2012. I had eight pars and three birdies,” recalled the ex-Sydney cab driver who has been a member since 1997. Eighteen-handicapper Charlie vividly recalls his special round because a week later he fell two metres from a ladder, damaged his shoulder, hip and ribs, and did not play for more than 12 months. But Tuesday’s round – 85 off the bat for 41 points – and another win for 38 points just on 12 months ago, is just the medicine the 77-year-old need to keep his momentum going, and his interest keen. Charlie had eight pars, five bogeys and four doubles in his round which included nine three-point holes, but conceded he did have some ‘outside assistance’ from the odd tree or two.
WHOOPS: Former Club Champion Ryley Martin had a round to remember, but four holes to forget, when he returned to Headland for a rare visit on Wednesday. Playing off plus three and a now a member at Noosa Springs, the 2015 Champion shot four-under 68 for 37 Stableford points, with six birdies and an eagle on his card. But it could have been an absolute ripper of a round had he not bogeyed four successive holes on the back nine – 14, 15, 16 and 17.
VALE PHIL LOVETT: Popular Headland member Phil Lovett has passed away, at age 74. The well-known electrician had been a member for almost four decades and had many very satisfied members among his list of regular customers. Phil passed peacefully following an elongated illness and was cremated at a private service. “But we actually lost him years ago,” said his daughter Danielle. “He loved the golf club and it became his great interest”. While no public service is planned by the family, Danielle has requested his Headland mates to celebrate her dad’s life in the manner Phil would have expected – ‘having a beer’. Phil was possibly best known for organising and helping run the now-defunct Saturday morning Punters Club.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (27 players) – Ree Condon (40 points), Trish Arden (38), Pam Andrews (37); Men (49 players) – Jeff Jones (43), Wayne Nixey (41), Bill Barford (40); B Grade, Steve Wikman (41), Ian McRaild (36), Geoffrey Hole (23).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (54 players) – Coralie Snowball (42 points), Denise Lawson (42), Lesley Wilson (42). Men (66 players) – Charlie Worthy (41), Brett Beaumont (41), Ken Scanlan (40).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (208 players) – A Grade, Brett Stephenson (41 points), Col Thomas (40), Spencer Ives (39); B Grade, Ross Itzstien (43), Tony Coad (43), Malcolm McColm (41); C Grade, John Siddons (40), Roly Hoy (39), Geoff Montgomery (38).
Thursday, American Foursomes, Women, Teacher’s Day – sponsors, Kirsten Kaergaard Norma Hobson, Wil Sprake, Robyn Homans, Pam Vincent and Lyn Nicholson – competition abandoned because of rain.
Men, Single Stableford (21 players) – Nick Bolton (38 points), Steven Bell (38), Dave Wippell (37).
Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor Gary Martin, Directline Timbers – Women (17 players) – Roz Brandt (38 points), Bev Barnes (37), Gwen Nancarrow (35).
Men (205 players) – A Grade, Scott Bromfield (41), Ian Michel (41), Glenn Kelly (41); B Grade, Ian Harris (41), Chris Klazema (40), Graham Clarke (39); C Grade, Kevin Howe (38), John Waterworth (36), Barry Mapes (36).
Sunday, Patron’s Day – Mixed American Foursomes – sponsor Simon Whittle – (116 players) – Pik Chong and Wayne Bridgman (67.75), Leeanne and Henryk Ptak (69.75), Beverley Suckling and Shaun O’Toole (69.75), Allison and Mal Bradshaw (71.25), Vicky Sheridan and Brendan Duncan (71.75).
