From Tony Durkin
SHARON LEADS: Still searching for her first individual A Grade Headland Club Championship after 20 years as a member, Sharon Thomas will take a six-stroke lead in to Thursday’s final round. Sharon (82,85,83-250), who has won three Mixed Championships and five Women’s Championships, leads Fiona Munro (256) and Josie Ryan (258) in to what shapes as an intriguing final round of the Championship, sponsored again by B by Halcyon. Although the first two rounds of the Championship have been played in tough conditions, Sharon concedes her golf has not been the best despite her commanding lead. “But I have been hanging in there, and as a runner-up in the ‘big one’ heaps of times, it would be really nice to finally win,” she said. Gwen Nancarrow (266) has a 10-shot lead in B Grade, while C Grade looms as a shootout between Brenda Smith-Gittings (304) and Doreen Davidson (305).
CHAMP CHEERS: Glen Grimish never expected the Club Champion to applaud his second hole in one at Headland, but that was the case on Sunday when he aced the par-three 18th – which is temporarily the 16th. Early afternoon, before tribute band Sirocco started playing in front of a packed clubhouse and verandah, Glenn hit a pitching wedge which he saw disappear, but was unsure whether it was in the hole or over the back of the sloping green. But reigning Club Champion Adam Richards just happened to be standing on the verandah overlooking the green, saw the ball disappear, and indicated to Glen that he had aced the hole. It was his second hole in one at Headland – both have been at the 18th – and his fourth overall.
VICKI’S DAY: When she walked off the course mid Wednesday afternoon, Vicki Maynard was simply happy because she had ‘played quite well’. Three hours later Vicki was ecstatic when she discovered she had achieved a string of golfing firsts. Playing in the Wednesday Medley Single Stableford for the first time, Vicki won C Grade – for the first time – she also combined with three men (also the first time) to win the associated Irish Fourball, and collected her biggest ever prize purse of $120. “I never thought 36 points would win the comp, and I had no idea until after we finished our round that there was also a Fourball event played,” beamed Vicki, after her first win in at least 18 months. And although her husband Ken was a member of the winning Fourball quartet – along with Tony Coad and John Alsbury – Vicki was quick to point out that she and Tony had ‘won the money’ in the side bet.
HIP MOVES: New member Rod Habgood has complimented a YouTube video for his B Grade win in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford. The recently-retired newspaper executive scored 39 points to beat the ever-consistent Brian Richards on a countback, and says the YouTube advice, regarding turning the hip, had been his secret to keeping the ball in play. “Until I watched the video, I did not realise what I wasn’t doing. I’m now hitting it much straighter,” claimed Rod, who became a member of Headland in January after 12 months on the waitlist. The 20-year member of the esteemed Bonville Golf Club had seven pars, eight bogeys and three doubles on his winning card in what he said was his best round at one of the most ‘social’ clubs at which he has played in a career that took him to many parts of the country. Ty Picher (37 points) won A Grade and Vicki Maynard (36) won C Grade on a low scoring day.
DORA FOLLOWS: The day after her husband Rod (above) won his first event as a Headland member, Dora Habgood followed on Thursday with the equal best A Grade score in round two of the Women’s Club Championships. Dora joined Sharon Thomas and Lorraine Mazerolle to score 85 – her best gross since joining the club back in January – and also won the nett event (70) on a countback. Like her husband, Dora was a member at Bonville for two decades, where she learned the game, and played from her lowest handicap of nine. However recent illness and hospitalisation has restricted her golf, with her GA handicap now out to 15, three shots higher than when she won her first Headland event with a Stableford score of 41 points in February. Gwen Nancarrow (B Grade) and Ellen Bloxsome (C Grade) also completed the gross/nett double on Thursday.
NAVY WINS: Sue Jones (35 points) and Ray Besgrove (39) have won the Diggers Perpetual Trophy in a capacity Anzac Day field which honoured those who have served their country. Sue and Ray, who both served in the Navy, will have their names inscribed on Headland’s Servicemen’s Shield, gifted the club in 1959 by foundation members Bert and Dorothy Edwards. And ironically Sue, who has won the shield numerous times, served alongside their son, David, in the Australian Navy for more than three decades. Individual Service Divisions winners were Col Williamson (Navy, 37 points), Andrew Hempsall (Air Force, 33) and Tony Briffa (Army, 27). At the conclusion of golf many of the 120 players stayed for the Ode Ceremony, complete with the playing of The Last Post by guest bugler Tess Banner.
NOT FUNNY: When Kaye Simmons fractured the humerus in her left arm in a golfing accident 16 months ago, she wondered whether she would play golf again. But after changing states and golf clubs, and following a shoulder reconstruction, not only is she back on the golf course but she has won her first event since that ‘unamusing’ event during the final round of the Club Championships at Newcastle’s Shortland Waters Golf Club in November 2021. “My electric buggy got away from me, took off towards a dam, and I – stupidly now, I realise – raced after it and grabbed the handle,” she recalled after her win in Tuesday’s Medley Single Stableford on Anzac Day. Kaye and her husband David moved north in January last year, joined Headland, and Kaye’s round of 40 points on Tuesday – which featured seven three-point holes – was just her eighth competition round since her accident. “I was beside myself with excitement,” she beamed. On a rare occasion at Headland, all placings in the Medley event were filled by women.
PAR HELPS: With the par for Headland in Wednesday’s Single Stableford reduced from 72 to 68 because of the reconfigured course, both ‘age shooters’ – Ken Anderson and Bob Trevor – took full advantage of the anomaly. Bob, aged 78, shot 76 (37-39) and 82-year-old Ken had 78 (38-40), bringing the total number of times they have either equalled or beaten their age at Headland to 26 (Ken) and 25 (Bob). And then Ken did it again on Saturday – shooting 80 (39-41) – to take a further lead (26-14). Members who closely follow this fascinating race can expect more of the same during the coming months as the par will vary as bunker development continues. NOTE: While HH will continue to keep tabs on the ‘age-shooting’ contest during the current redevelopment of the course, updated scores will not be published again until Headland is back to its par of 72.
BUNKERS PLEASE: Despite winning his first event at Headland in at least 12 months, Mal Bradshaw cannot wait for the bunkers to be back in play. Mal – handicap 13 – scored 40 points to win Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford and said his good score was primarily a result of his putting. “I had plenty of opportunities but scored only one birdie, but my putting was good,” said Mal, who had seven three-pointers and a four-point birdie on his card. But, like many members, he misses the bunkers. “I love the challenge of playing out of bunkers, and from what I’m hearing the news ones will be pretty spectacular,” he added.
JUNIOR UPDATE: Leon Faulkner, whose Golf Rocks Kids Academy conducts Headland Junior Golf competitions on Saturdays, has announced a change to the structure of those events. Rather than staging competitions in different age groups – as has been the case in the past – just one event will now be held with the different age groups teeing off from various coloured lines, according to their age groups. A pink line will be closest to the green, with boys and girls seven years and under teeing off from that tee block, the orange line designates the starting point for 8–10 year-old players, and the green line will be from where the 11-13 year-olds will tee off. “The ultimate objective of the coloured-tee system is to provide a course length that is suitable to any player, regardless of gender, ability or age. This provides a more realistic opportunity to make a genuine par or birdie, helps boost development and makes play faster for overall enjoyment,” Leon said.
LIV LOVER: He did not claim his attendance at the LIV Golf event in Adelaide had helped, but Dennis Schloss shot his best round ‘in yonks’ four days after returning from the event he described as ‘absolutely fantastic’. Now retired after 30 years as a fly-in, fly-out gas and oil worker, Dennis scored 39 points to win Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men, but conceded his round – which included two four-point holes, four three-pointers and two wipes – was ‘a mixed bag’. Having played little competition golf since he retired back in August last year, Dennis has been traveling in his van – with his golf clubs in tow – and his GA handicap has ballooned out to 21.
TWO-BALL JUG: Entries will open on Saturday for Headland’s version of the Claret Jug – the Two-Ball Jug – which carries a list of prizes to the value of $2000. Sponsored for the fifth time by Grant Martyn Constructions (Grant Martyn) and Hometree (Graeme and Jack Nicholas), the Medley event is played as a Two-Person Ambrose, and will be held on Saturday week (May 13) with the theme for the day footy dress (any code). Prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed team, as well as gross and nett scores, NTPs and long drives. And those who hit the 18th green will go into a draw for $100, but must be at the presentations to be eligible for the prize. Usual competition fees will apply.
JUNIOR PENNANT: With only three players available – 14-handicapper Sam Fichera was absent – Headland had to forfeit one match in the opening round of the Sunshine Coast District Junior Pennant on Sunday, and lost 3-1 against Glasshouse, which is a combined Woodford and Beerwah team. Rian Mitchell (24 handicap) won 2-up against a 13 marker, Charlotte Ridley (13) lost 6&5 to a five-handicapped player and new recruit Flynn Lambalk (28), who only started playing golf mid-last year, lost one down to a 14 marker. Headland meets Gympie at Gympie next Sunday.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Medley Anzac Day Single Stableford – sponsor, the Edwards Family – (120 players) – Kaye Simmons (40 points), Leeanne Ptak (40), Bec Francis (37). Servicemen’s Shield – Navy, Ray Besgrove (39), Col Williamson (37), Alan Jones (36); Air Force, Andrew Hempsall (33), Ross Kelly (32), Kathy Atkins (32); Army, Tony Briffa (27); Diggers Perpetual Trophy – Sue Jones (35) and Ray Besgrove (39).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor Jamie Hill, Property Today – (184 players) – A Grade, Ty Pilcher (37 points), Bill Bolland (36), Nick Cox (36); B Grade, Rod Habgood (39), Brian Richards (39), Graham Clarke (38); C Grade, Vicki Maynard (36), Ken Maynard (35), John Jackson (34). Irish Fourball Stableford – Tony Coad, Vicki Maynard, Ken Maynard and John Alsbury (109 points).
Thursday, Women, Club Championships, Round Two – sponsor, B by Halcyon – (56 players) – A Grade, gross, Sharon Thomas (85), Lorraine Mazerolle (85), Dora Habgood (85); nett, Dora Habgood (70), Lorraine Mazerolle (70), Jenny Ingham (71); B Grade, gross, Gwen Nancarrow (89), Mouna Humzy (93), Anita Boyle (96); nett, Gwen Nancarrow (69), Anita Boyle (70), Jan Langdon (72); C Grade, gross, Ellen Bloxsome (101), Doreen Davidson (107), Sue Keays (107); nett, Ellen Bloxsome (70), Julianne Hosking-Potts (75), Doreen Davidson (77).
Women’s Overflow, Single Stableford (10 players) – Barb Marrington (29 points), Linda Cannon (28). Men, Single Stableford (48 players) – Dennis Schloss (39), Stewart Douglas (36), Sandy Jamieson (36).
Saturday, Women, Club Championships, Round Three – sponsor, B by Halcyon – (54 players) – A Grade, gross, Fiona Munro (83), Sharon Thomas (83), Karen Wilson (85); nett, Karen Wilson (71), Gwen Nancarrow (71), Anne Callahan (72); B Grade, gross, Mouna Humzy (89), Naomi Doyle (92), Jan Langdon (92); nett, Rhonda Parry (67), Di Stark (67), Jan Langdon (68); C Grade, gross, Doreen Davidson (100), Trish Arden (106); nett, Doreen Davidson (70), Maureen Cartledge (74), Kay Campbell (74).
Standings after 54 holes – A Grade, Sharon Thomas (250), Fiona Munro (256), Josie Ryan (258); B Grade, Gwen Nancarrow (266), Anne Callanan (272), Mouna Humzy (276); C Grade, Brenda Smith-Gittings (304), Doreen Davidson (305), Wendy Burnie (309).
Medley Single Stableford (168 players) – A Grade, Garry Marr (40 points), Ian Farrington (38), Brad Downes (38); B Grade, Wayne Cassidy (39), Josh Poole (38), Doc Fleming (38); C Grade, Phil Thistlewood (37), Stu Ennever (37), Michael Jedynak (36).
Juniors – Parent Child, nine holes – Max and Leon Faulkner (36 strokes), Braxton and Matt Duggan (36), Dominic and Amber Manning (39), Blake and John Rydwanski (39); seven holes – Freddie and Michael Lambert (27), Xavier and James Dutton (30), Hurley and Paul Johnston (31), Matthew and Clinton Bothma (31).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (60 players) – Mal Bradshaw (40 points), Nick Reed (39), Ben Brown (39).
