From Tony Durkin
CHAMPION JARED: With rounds of 67-73, former Headland Champion Jared Whittal has easily won the Walsh Consulting Engineers Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open played at Headland over the Easter weekend. The 38-year-old tiler, who won both the Senior and Junior Championships at Headland as a 15-year-old in 2000, is now the No.1 Pennant player for Maroochy River Golf Club and shot a brilliant first-round five-under 67 on Saturday to set up his seven-stroke win over five-time Headland Champion Dave Rattray and Kingaroy’s Peter Hourn, both scoring three-over 147. Although feeling unwell on Sunday, Jared still shot one-over 73 and claimed he had ‘probably played better’ in the second round. “I missed a couple of putts on Sunday and didn’t have a lot of luck, but generally I was pleased with the way I played,” he said. A Headland junior from the age of 10, Jared explained he had wanted to re-join the club two years ago but, after being on the waitlist for 12 months, elected to join Maroochy River when that opportunity arose. During the 36-hole Easter tournament the 2023 Champion scored 11 birdies, 19 pars and five bogeys, with his only major blemish a double-bogey as the result of finding a tree root at the par-four 11th hole on Sunday. On a GA handicap of plus three, Jared has played the event just once previously, and was runner-up to Will Florimo last year. Headland’s Barry Newton (158) was Senior Champion and Matthys Visser of Redcliffe (164) Junior Champion.
NO KIDDING: Sponsor James Kidd has turned back the clock eight years by winning Headland’s annual Masters Monday, and the accompanying green jacket, which he donated in 2015. The former Headland Club Captain was responsible for kicking off the event, which is played following the completion of the final round of the US Masters, when he was in the role in 2015. And, as he did in its inaugural year, James won the event on Monday, again as event sponsor, which his company – EKO Financial – also was back in 2015, and has been each year since. James (handicap eight) scored 40 Stableford points from the black tees to beat Tim Diedricks on a countback, but directed the victor’s purse of $110 go to the runner-up. Rebecca Masters, with 39 points, won B Grade, while the EKO Financial team of James Kidd, Adam Richards, Simon Mitchell, and Andrew Thompson won the team’s event. “I did not think 40 points would win the event,” said James, who revealed he had not played below his handicap for at least his past 20 rounds.
STARK REALITY: When she graduated from SWING in 2015, Di Stark was given the highest-possible handicap of 45 and never believed she would become a competent golfer. But eight years later Di has won her second Monthly Medal, breaking 100 from the Championship tees on one of her very rare occasions, and quinellered the Medal victory with the best gross score in C Grade. “I am so excited,” quipped Di who, after graduating from SWING, took on the role of SWING Co-Ordinator for three years before Covid hit. But she was disappointed to be in C Grade on Thursday, although she concedes she has been playing poorly of late. However, her round – which won her a total of $75 – has her now back in B Grade (26.8) where she intends to stay. Kate Wilkie (73) won A Grade, Odette Day (69) won B Grade and Louise Mason-Baierl (69) returned the best score in D Grade.
LOVELL LUCK: When Jeff Lovell had 89 nett – 113 off the bat – in the February Monthly Medal, the 25-year Headland member vowed he would never play a stroke event again. But like many ‘average’ golfers, Jeff – who looks forward to his couple of rounds of golf each week – had a change of heart, and lined up in Wednesday’s Mid Week Medal for yet another crack. And despite having an eight on his first hole – the par-five 10th – the Sunshine Coast Manager of Stegbar (which is an almost two-decade sponsor of Headland’s Pennant Teams) held his game together to win his first Medal since 2004. “I’m usually an ordinary putter, but I had some Lovell luck on the greens, which were pretty slick, and I drove the ball well,” said the 24-marker who won C Grade with 68 nett. Glen Grimish (also 68 nett) and a 30-year Headland member, won his first Mid-Week Medal in B Grade, while popular Pro Shop attendant Peter Perrett (71) saluted in A Grade. Ben Duncombe warmed up for the Sunshine Coast Amateur Open with a one-under 71 to return the best nett of the day.
BIRDIE DOUBLE: Scoring one birdie in Tuesday’s round was exciting, but for Jill Nixey snaring the second was ‘just unbelievable’. The two four-point birdies – at holes eight and 18 – helped Jill to 39 points, and a win over Mary Dowling and Joy Bullock in the Single Stableford for Women, by one point. And the score further reduced the 33 handicap from which she started when she re-joined Headland in 2020, to a current GA of 17.6. Jill and her husband Wayne have been long-term members, but had 16 years away running a business – E Bikes R US – before returning to the Sunshine Coast to retire in 2020, and becoming full-playing members again. “I am really loving being back and playing twice a week,” said Jill, whose card showed three three-point holes as well as her four-point birdies, and just the single wipe. A visitor, Jackson Knowles, also scored 39 points to win the Men’s event.
NEW FOCUS: Steve Walters admits to playing very embarrassing golf of late, and not even enjoying the game. In fact, such has been Steve’s tale of woe that his GA handicap has ballooned from 18 to 25. But a new focus – concentrating on stance and swing, and hitting a good clean shot rather than worrying about the end score – which has been giving him more satisfaction. And finally, it seems, things have come together and resulted in a round of 41 points to win Thursday’s Stableford for Men, with a four-point birdie and eight three-pointers on his impressive card. “I’ve tried to manufacture a new half swing, with a new stance, and it all worked,” beamed Steve, after collecting an extremely-generous $105 for his two-point victory.
VISITORS RULE: They may not have an operative golf course at the moment, but Pelican Waters players found Headland very much to their liking during the Vets’ Single Stableford event on Monday. Visitors Gaye Small (42 points) and Warwick Moody (40) were the star turns when Headland hosted their Pelican Waters guests, winning Women’s B Grade and Men’s C Grade respectively. And while Headland members Robyn Boreham (Women’s A Grade), Col Pledge (Men’s A Grade) and Wayne Chugg (Men’s B Grade) each scored 36 points to win their particular divisions, the visitors stole the show. Pelican Waters Golf Course has been closed for almost 18 months for renovations, and is expected to re-open in July.
JACK QUALIFIES: Jack Trent, whose parents moved from Buderim to the US just on a decade ago for their talented son to follow his golfing dreams, has qualified to play the upcoming PGA Tour of Canada, which tees off in June. Jack, 21 and a former Headland junior, played superbly last week to finish eighth in the Canada Tour’s fourth qualifying tournament on The Wigwam course at Litchfield Park in Arizona. The first 10 placings secured cards to play the Canada Tour, which provides direct access to the Korn Ferry Tour and is a vital pathway to the rich US PGA Tour. As a 12-year-old at Headland Jack was a seven marker and moved to Las Vegas with his family in 2014 to attend Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas, where he twice won Nevada State titles. He shot to international prominence when he earned a start in the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children US PGA tournament at Las Vegas as an amateur, and had rounds of 67, 69, 66 and 68 for a top 30 finish. Two months later he made the cut at the Australian Open and, after turning pro in 2021, shot rounds of 67, 71 and 64 to win the McCormick Open at Scottsdale, Arizona, on the Outlaw Tour.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets Single Stableford, Women (36 players) – A Grade, Robyn Boreham (36 points), Linda Cannon (36), Rhonda Parry (35); B Grade, Gaye Small (42), Julieanne Coull (35), Lynn Keogh (33).
Men (103 players) – A Grade, Col Pledge (38), Jock McLaughlin (37), David W Smith (37); B Grade, Wayne Chugg (36), Col Williamson (36), Geoff Robinson (34); C Grade, Warwick Moody (40), Alan Reed (36), Peter Norris (34)
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (57 players) – Jill Nixey (39 points), Mary Dowling (38), Joy Bullock (38). Men (61 players) – Jackson Knowles (39), Aaron Baker (38), Geoff Sawyer (37).
Wednesday, Medley Monthly Medal Single Stableford – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 – (218 players) – A Grade, Peter Perrett (71 nett), Josh Vearing (71), Shane Muller (72); B Grade, Glen Grimish (68), Col Pledge (69), John Jones (69); C Grade, Jeff Lovell (68), Wayne Harriott (70), Malcolm McColm (71). Overall gross – sponsor Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australasia – Ben Duncombe (71).
Thursday, Women – Monthly Medal (100 players) – A Grade, Kate Wilkie (73 nett), Louise Harriott (73), Mary Young (73) – gross, Louise Harriott (83); B Grade, Odette Day (69), Liz Dunford (69), Gwen Nancarrow (71), gross – Liz Dunford (89); C Grade, Di Stark (69), Jackie Walkington (76), Marion Dennis (76), gross – Di Stark (99); D Grade, Louise Mason-Baierl (69), Barb Marrington (74), Kay Campbell (78), gross – Louise Mason-Baieri (110).
Men – Single Stableford (90 players) – Steve Walters (41 points), Alf Gloster (39), Gary Martin (39).
Saturday and Sunday, Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open – sponsor, Justin Walsh, Walsh Consulting Engineers – (185 players) – Division One, Champion, Jared Whittal (67,73-140); Runner-up, Dave Rattray (74,73–147), third Peter Hourn (73,74-147); nett, Mark Draper (77,73-150), Tyler Glavocih (74,76-150), Sean McGill (72,78-150); Division Two – gross, Jayden Scurry (72,84 -156), Barry Newton (79,79-158), Andrew Hay (88,75-163); nett, Ian Moore (70,75 -145), Zac Coombes (75,71-146), Rob van Delft (73,75-148); Division Three – gross, Burgess Stephenson (82,85-167), Ken Wedmaier (90,82-172), Glen Grimish (87,85-172); nett, Steve Rose (70, 76-146), Scott McLennon (76,73-149), Joe Stotschek (78,72-150); Senior Champion, Anthony Baker (77,80-157); Junior Champion Matthys Visser (84,80-(164).
Saturday, Division One, gross, Jared Whittal (67), Ben Duncombe (73); nett, Aaron Shaw (70), Peter Hourn (71); Division Two, Jayden Scurrey (72), Anthony Fichera (78); nett, Ian Moore (70), Barry Newton (72); Division Three, gross, Burgess Stephenson (82), Alex Dwyer (83); nett, Steve Rose (70), Paul Jenkins (72).
Sunday, Division One, gross, Mitchell Vesper (73), Dave Rattray (73); nett, Peter Hourn (72), Mark Draper (73); Division Two, gross, Andrew Hay (75), Barry Newton (79); nett, Zac Coombes (71), Matthys Visser (73); Division Three, gross, Ken Wedmaier (82), Burgess Stephenson (85); nett, Glen Grimish (72), Scott McLennon (73).
Monday, Masters Monday – sponsor James Kidd, EKO Financial – (138 players) – A Grade, James Kidd (40 points), Tim Diedricks (40), Jay Gourlay (39); B Grade, Rebecca Masters (39), John Burnie (36), Phil Maron (35). Teams – James Kidd, Adam Richards, Simon Mitchell and Andrew Thompson (149 points).
