From Tony Durkin
TEN-UNDER JUG: Club Champion Adam Richards and Pro Shop assistant Shane Muller have shot 10 birdies and an eagle in a phenomenal round to easily win Saturday’s Two-Ball Ambrose Jug. Playing from a miniscule handicap of 0.5, Adam (scratch) and Shane (2) ripped the par 68 course to shreds, scoring 57.5 nett. They shot 10-under 58, to also win the gross event. But despite their superb chipping and putting, they blotted their copybook somewhat with two bogeys in a round where both played some outstanding shots. “It was great – terrific fun actually,” said Adam, whose form in 2023 has been up there with the best of his impressive career. But while Adam celebrated yet another win for the year, Shane had a real day out. Both scored $200 from generous sponsors Graeme and Jack Nicholas, of Hometree, and of Grant Martyn Constructions, for their double win – $120 for the nett, and $80 for the gross – while Shane pocketed an additional $69.50 for snaring one of the two Pro Pins.
BEST SQUASHED: Former squash player Jan Langdon has beaten her previous best round at Headland by a massive five shots, to win her second Monthly Medal in just her third year of competition golf. Jan played squash for 45 years before a recurring rotator cuff injury – and the urging of husband John – prompted a move to SWING in the winter of 2020. She won her first Medal in D Grade the next year, skipped C Grade, and captured the B Grade double on Thursday – gross (87) and nett (62), for a booty of $75. “My previous best round was 92 a few weeks ago in the third round of the Championships, so I’m pretty chuffed with this result,” she beamed. Things were somewhat shaky from the start however – three sevens on the front nine – but Jan roared home with five-over on the back nine, a birdie on the tenth hole kick starting her lowest-ever nine at Headland. Jenny Ingham (66 nett), won A Grade, Lee Heseltine (65) took C Grade and Kay Campbell (66) won the D Grade Medal.
PACE SETTER: While beating his best-ever score by five shots – albeit on a shortened course – was exciting for Chris Pace, taking $115 in prizemoney from fellow Buderim realtors Brenden Southey and Bevan Horsnell was also tasty. Chris, principal of McGrath Estate Agents, scored 41 Stableford points from his two-over round of 70 at Headland on Wednesday to win the A Grade Medley Single Stableford event, generously sponsored by Brendan and Bevan of Prime Property. “It was my best round ever, beating my 75 at Headland four years ago. But while that was great, I must admit I also enjoyed taking the money from the opposition, who are good blokes,” he quipped. Chris ‘topped’ his first drive of the day, but steadied immediately to score a birdie, 14 pars and three bogeys in his memorable round – the first time he had scored 40 or more points since that previous best 75. Justin Scattini (39 points) won B Grade, Darryl Chapman (40) found long-lost form to win C Grade and Barry Euston and Noel Cassels won the associated Fourball event, with 48 points.
LEE RESPONDS: Not to be outdone by husband Bruce who last week finished third in the Handiskins National Championship final at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, Lee Heseltine scored her second victory of the year in Thursday’s Monthly Medal for Women. Lee – 101 for 65 nett – won the C Grade Medal, her first since she graduated from SWING in 2019. And while she enjoys her golf but does not want to take the game ‘too seriously’, Lee is more than happy to have had her Thursday handicap of 36 reduced to 33.9 as a result of her winning round. And, to add additional lustre to the win – and family bragging rights – she revealed seven-year Headland member Bruce is yet to snare a Medal.
BRENDAN SHAFTED: New shafts in his irons, fitted by Assistant Pro Mitch Jacobson on Saturday morning, has gifted Brendan Duncan his best weekend of golf this year. The Pat Perez lookalike broke 70 at Headland for the first time to score 39 points and win Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford, the day after he and former Champion Sean McGill finished ninth in the Two-Ball Ambrose Jug field of 242, in which he collected a cash bonus of $69.50 for a Pro Pin shot. Playing off a handicap of four, Brendan had four birdies, 10 pars, three bogeys and a double on his card and was delighted to shoot 69 on the reconstituted par-68 course. “I really like the layout. It is challenging, and certainly the best we can expect while the bunker work is being caried out,” praised Brendan, whose previous best round at Headland was one-under 71 last year.
HAPPY DAYS: Joy Murray had three reactions to her winning round at Headland on Tuesday – ‘a fluke’, ‘it felt good’ and ‘a happy day’. Having started playing golf five years ago to accompany a friend who was terminally ill, Joy decided to join Headland’s innovative SWING program in 2019. “Playing socially with my friend whet my appetite, and when I saw SWING advertised I thought I would learn to play the game properly,” she said. And it seems her plan worked, with her 41 points on Tuesday including a front nine of seven three-pointers and two two-point holes, for a superb return of 24 points. And although she plays down her ability, Joy hits the course three times a week and has won two Monthly Medals in her four years as a member.
DRIVER ACE: At 83, Ken Scanlan is not too proud to admit that he hits driver at most of Headland’s par threes. And the process of ‘best use of the right club’ paid its greatest dividend on Tuesday when Ken, a former Queensland cop, aced the par three 18th (now playing as the 16th) hole at Headland, for his first-ever hole-in-one. “I didn’t see it go in, but a couple of the blokes I was playing with did, and they were just as excited as me,” revealed 30-handicapper Ken, who played off of low of 18 when stationed at the Gold Coast many years ago. A Headland member for 24 years, Ken scored 31 points in Tuesday’s Single Stableford – a score nicely boosted by his five-point ace.
BEST ROUND: Conceding the abridged course had helped, John Prosser was still more than satisfied with his lowest-ever golf round to win Tuesday’s Single Stableford event for Men. The General Manager for Sea To Summit (Government, Military and Industrial division) John shot 76 on the par 68 course for 40 points from his 12 handicap. “I have been playing a little more regularly of late, and playing okay,” said John, who joined Headland three years ago after a 12-month stint at Peregian Springs, and previously Riverside Oaks in Sydney. “I travel quite a lot, and take my clubs with me, when I can. Two weeks ago, I shot 80 at Eastlake in Sydney, so I have been in pretty good form,” he said. John penned a birdie, 10 pars, five bogeys and two doubles on his winning card.
KATE’S FOURTH: One of the few women who regularly play in Wednesday’s Medley events, Kate Wilkie celebrated in style last week with her fourth hole in one – her second at the par-three fifth hole. And she did it immediately after hearing playing partner Ashleigh Matheson describe his ace, on the same hole, back in 2019. Hitting her three-hybrid club, Kate said the ball landed just short of the bunker on the left, rolled onto the green, struck the pin ‘with a thud we could hear from the tee’, and finished in the hole. Kate’s other two aces have been on the eighth and 18th, leaving her now with only the 14th to conquer.
DON’S PARTY: Don Kitson, a 76-year-old retired boat builder from Hervey Bay, won Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men, with 39 points. And while Don was pleased with his round – despite a triple-bogey seven at the par four 14th (which is the 16th) – he was not as excited as his wife Cheryl, who finished seventh in the C Grade Women’s Medal, also on Thursday. Don reckoned he played ‘pretty well’, having eight three-pointers on his card, but said missed putts cost him at least three or four points. Don and Cheryl once lived on a catamaran (which Don had built) for five years, sailing the east coast of Australia, but now call the Sunshine Coast home.
HOMELESS WIN: They may not currently have an operational golf course, but a group from Pelican Waters has won Headland’s Vets Team Challenge. More than 100 players representing 11 golf clubs contested the annual Team Challenge at Headland on Monday, with the best six individual scores from each club totalled. In a nail-biting finish, Pelican Waters scored 198 points, Nambour 197, and Headland 195 to fill the top three placings, followed by Tin Can Bay (185), Caloundra (183), Maroochy River (182), Gympie (181), Peregian (178), Cooroy (174), Noosa (173), and Mt Coolum (170). Caloundra’s Gary Lawson (39 points) won A Grade from John Halbert (Pelican, 38) and Steve Campbell (Nambour, 38), while Headland’s Andrew Hempsall (33) won B Grade, from Ron Blount (Cooroy) and John Senior (Caloundra), both on 30 points. Tony Coad (37) was the best performed Headland member. NOTE: The redeveloped Pelican Waters Golf Club is timed to reopen on July 1.
WOMEN’S PENNANT: Headland struggled in the opening match of the 2023 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Pennant season, with the Emeralds team beaten 5½ -½ by Mt Coolum at Maroochy River on Sunday. Tracey O’Connor and Monica Antony took their matches to the 18th before being beaten, while Angela Pearson halved her match for Headland’s only points of the day. However, despite the weather conditions on Monday, Rubies A were able to play at Bribie Island, and beat Maroochy River 3½ to 2½, Jenny Stokes prevailed 2-up, Sue Harris had a huge win, 6&5, Colleen Sarquis won 1-up, Sue Hadenham lost her match, one down, and Jane Boaler was also beaten, 2-down. Sapphires travelled to Tin Can Bay to play Noosa, and Opals were due to play Maroochy River at Noosa, but both matches were cancelled because of the weather, and resultant course conditions.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Sunshine Coast Team Challenge (11 teams) – Pelican Waters (198 points), Nambour (197), Headland (195), Tin Can Bay (185), Caloundra (183). Medley Single Stableford (108 players) – A Grade, Gary Lawson (39 points), John Halbert (38), Steve Campbell (38); B Grade, Andrew Hempsall (33), Ron Blount (30), John Senior (30).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (53 players) – Joy Murray (41 points), Denise Carmichael (38), Tove Larsen (38). Men (65 players) – John Prosser (40), Roy Peterson (39), George Stoufis (38).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsors, Brendan Southey and Bevan Horsnell, Prime Property – (216 players) – A Grade, Chris Pace (41 points), Rob Van Delft (40), Glen Grimish (39); B Grade, Justin Scattini (39), Ross Itzstein (39), Gordon Russell (39); C Grade, Darryl Chapman (40), Jarrod Hooson (38), Graham Pitt (38). Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Barry Euston and Noel Cassels (48 points).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsors B BY Halcyon and Jenny McDonnel, Century 21 – (101 players) – A Grade, Jenny Ingham (66 nett), Lisa Ramen (67), Gwen Nancarrow (69) – gross, Lisa Ramen (75); B Grade, Jan Langdon (62), Liz Dunford (68), Rhonda Parry (68) – gross, Jan Langdon (87); C Grade, Lee Haseltine (65), Bec Francis (66), Alison Bradshaw (67) – gross Alison Bradshaw (99); D Grade, Kay Campbell (66), Julianne Hosking-Potts (67), Helen Siddins (70) – gross, Julianne Hosking-Potts (104).
Men, Single Stableford (80 players) – Don Kitson (39 points), Ian Moore (38), Justin Carroll (37).
Saturday, Medley Two-Ball (Ambrose) Jug – sponsors, Graeme and Jack Nicholas, Hometree, and Grant Martyn Constructions – (242 players) – Adam Richards and Shane Muller (57.5 nett), Mark Johnson and Druce Fielding (59.25), Grant Martyn and Darren Macleod (59.25), Wayne West and Chris Klazema (59.25), Leigh Mansfield and Dean Smareglia (60), Peter Gablonski and Ivan Fortmann (60.25).; gross – Adam Richards and Shane Muller (58).
Juniors – Seven-hole stroke, Benjamin Cox (Orange, 31), Dominic Manning (Orange, 34), Braxton Duggan (Orange, 34), Ty Swartz (Pink, 38), Paige Prosser (Orange, 39).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (16 players) – Brendan Duncan (39 points), Sam Turner (39), Tony Mitchell (34).
