From Tony Durkin

NEW CHAMPIONS: Hot favourites Adam Richards and Dave Rattray have won the 2023 Headland Men’s Foursomes Championships, but not without a late scare. Following an opening 18-hole morning round of par 68 – three birdies and three bogies – for a three-shot lead, the star pairing faltered somewhat in the afternoon with a four-over 72 (four birdies, eight bogeys), while runners-up Adam Rydwanski and Sean McGill came home strongly, narrowing the final gap to two shots. In fact, scores were tied after 34 holes when Sean and Adam birdied the par three 18th hole (now the 16th on the temporary course), and Adam and Dave scored a bogey. But the new Champions hit back immediately, with Adam Richards sinking a five-metre birdie putt on the next (the par-four first), and the runners-up scored bogey. While it is the first Foursomes victory for the pair as a team – and the first time they had played together in the event – Adam has now won the Championship seven times, and Dave six. Bryan Haggarty and Mark Swift (131) won the 36-hole nett from Terry Grogan and Chris Klazema (135). The Foursomes Championship attracted a field of 110, and was sponsored by Mick Kinnear of Zero Termite and Pest for the fifth successive year.

BASHLESS GOLF: Doug Morgan reckons he had a bad habit of ‘bashing’ the golf ball, so made a conscious effort on Wednesday to play it ‘steady’. And the plan worked a treat, with Doug returning 40 points in the Medley Single Stableford, the best score of the day and a victory in C Grade. Doug, who played ‘about 20 games in 20 years’ during a career in Sales and Marketing, scored six successive three-pointers from holes six to 10, but was totally oblivious to his score during the round. “I went out with a new thought process, and didn’t even look at my scores,” confessed the 76-year-old, who joined Headland 3½ years ago and has now ‘tasted’ the top and the bottom rung of the ladder. “About two years ago, I came dead last,” he lamented. Brendan Southey (39) won A Grade and Drew Grant (also 39) won B Grade.

STILL KEAN: She is still as enthusiastic about the game as she was when graduating from SWING in 2016, and Thursday’s excellent score of plus six in the Single Par for Women has obviously not dimmed the passion of Dianne Kean. And while she says being out in the sunshine, exercising and mixing with her fellow members is just as important as the game, she could not help but be impressed by her excellent front nine on Thursday of six plusses – and that came after a wipe, and resultant minus, at the first hole.  Cathy Roberts, with plus four, won A Grade while Alison Bradshaw had plus two to win C Grade, and match bragging rights with her husband Mal who won the Men’s Fourball a day earlier.

THANKS GUYS: Following a couple of lean golfing years and scarce good scores, Dave Sims has turned in two special back-to-back performances – and has two fellow members to thank. “Assistant Pro Mitch Jacobson and five-time Club Champion Dave Rattray have turned my chipping game around,” explained Dave, who won Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men, and finished third in A Grade on Wednesday. “I had some lessons with Mitch and then played a couple of Sunday rounds with Dave, with his tips an extension of the professional advice.” Dave hit just five greens in regulation on Tuesday, yet scored 41 points from his seven handicap in a two-over round of 70.  He parred the front nine and carded two birdies, three pars and four bogeys coming home. Wednesday’s score of 38 points – 73 gross – was two birdies, nine pars and seven bogeys.

MATES RATE: Failing eyesight may prevent John Christmas from seeing where his golf ball finishes, but his mates have become his reliable spotters. And they were obviously very effective on Thursday, with John scoring plus six to win the Men’s Single Par event from his 23 handicap. A member since 1999, John suffers from Macular Dystrophy, and his vision is blurry. However his playing partners – usually Kev Howe, Dennis Taylor and Greg McDonald – are his eyes on the course and helped him immensely on Thursday, particularly as he traversed his final five holes with successive plusses. “I could not play golf if the guys did not watch where my ball finishes,” said the 69-year-old former Telstra employee who has recently switched from using a yellow ball, because his partners say they can see the white ball better. John’s last win was a Monthly Medal, early in 2022.

WYNDHAM’S WIN: Former Brisbane Norths rugby league player, Wyndham Tibbits, had his first victory as a Headland member when he scored 40 points to win Saturday’s Medley Single Stableford event. The ex-pat Kiwi, who crossed the Tasman in the early 80s with New Zealand great Mark Graham, started his second nine with four successive three-pointers and shot 23 points on the front after registering two wipes on his first nine, for 17 points. However, despite these two misses, the semi-retired four-year member boasted seven three-pointers and two four-pointers on his card, with the highlight a birdie at the par-three 16th, for four points.

BEWILDERED: Former Canberra Public Servant Stephen Woolcott is enjoying his retirement so much, he often plays golf three times a week ‘because he can’. But after winning Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford with 40 points, he remains bewildered why the game seemingly, and suddenly, becomes a little easier. “In my case, my scores are always better when my putting is on, and that was the case on Sunday,” said Stephen, who shot his lowest-ever round – 81 – despite a double bogey at the new par-four 10th hole (12th). Stephen, a seven-year Headland member, penned seven-three-pointers and eight twos on his card, to beat Peter Wood (39) by a point.

WOMEN’S PENNANT: Headland’s No.1 team, the Diamonds, has kicked off the 2023 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Pennant season with a draw against the combined Noosa-Cooroy-Maleny team at Noosa Springs on Sunday. With all players competing off the stick, Headland stars Josie Ryan and Sharon Thomas lost 5&4 and 6&4 respectively, to a scratch marker and a three marker, and Vicki Sheridan was beaten 2&1. But Kate Wilkie (5&4) and Karen Wilson (6&5) scored resounding victories, while Annabel Harris, back for just two days following a two-year caravanning sojourn, sealed the draw with a 1-up win. Also on Sunday, Emeralds played Caloundra at Caloundra and the home-course advantage proved lethal, Caloundra winning 5/1. Cathy Roberts (5&3) was Headland’s only winner, while Narelle Hollowood, Angela Pearson and Jodi McDonell were each pipped at the post, beaten 1-down. Wil Sprake lost 2-down, and the consistent Monica Antony was bitterly disappointed, losing 8&7. Rubies had a similar tale of woe, again against Caloundra at Caloundra, going under 5/1. Colleen Sarquis (2-up) was Headland’s only winner, while Jenny Stokes (2-down), Sue Harris (4&3), Susie Meade (2-down), Ellen Bloxsome (4&3) and Sue Hadenham (7&6) each finished on the negative side of the ledger. Opals also lost on Monday, beaten 5/1 by a composite Beerwah team, with Jan Langdon (2&1) Headland’s lone victor. News was much better for the Sapphires however, which played Cooroy, at Twin Waters, on Monday, and scored a very impressive clean sweep. Led by captain Jenny Ingham (4&2), other winners in the 6-nil victory were Robyn Boreham (6&4, Carol Quin (3&1), Gail Young (5&4), Leeanne Ptak (7&5) and Sue Briffa (2-up).

 JUNIOR PENNANT: Headland’s Junior Pennant team had another tough day at the office, going down 3/1 against Mt Coolum at Woodford on Sunday. Rian Mitchell was again the standout, winning his match 3&2. Charlotte Ridley lost 8&7, Sam Fichera lost one down and Flynn Lambalk was beaten 6&5.

WEEKLY RESULTS:

Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (22 players) – Elizabeth Goodhew (41 points), Cathy Roberts (34), Joy Murray (33). Men (43 players) – Dave Sims (41), Robert Pixley (38), Brett Beaumont (38).

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, David Mayes, U Blinds Australia – (196 players) – A Grade, Brendan Southey (39 points), Mal Bradshaw (39), Dave Sims (38); B Grade, Drew Grant (39), Peter Raymond (37), Tony Coad (36); C Grade, Doug Morgan (40), Dennis Farmer (38), David Parker (35). Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Mal Bradshaw and Ian Moore (47 points).

Thursday, Single Par, Women (105 players) – A Grade, Cathy Roberts (plus 3), Helen Fraser (+2), Josie Ryan (square); B Grade, Dianne Kean (+4), Penny Cooper (-1), Lesley Pinn (-2); C Grade, Alison Bradshaw (+2), Prue Byrnes (+1), Helen Sedgman (+1).

Men (87 players) – John Christmas (plus 6), Todd Petrie (+4), Phil Thistlewood (+2).

Saturday, Men’s Foursomes Championship – sponsor, Mick Kinnear, Zero Termite and Pest – (110 players) – Champions, Adam Richards and Dave Rattray (68,72-140); Runners-up, Sean McGill and Adam Rydwanski (71,71-142); 36-hole nett, Bryan Haggarty and Mark Swift (131); Runners-up, Terry Grogan and Chris Klazema (135); 18-hole gross, morning – Stephen Hudson and Aaron Shaw (73); afternoon – Earl Hicks and Daniel Hurst (74); 18-hole nett, morning – Rhett Charlton and Jai Straney (65); afternoon – Damian Moelands and Andrew Stirling (66.5).

Medley Single Stableford (57 players) – Wyndham Tibbits (40 points), Tony McDonough (39), Bernie Duncan (37).

Juniors – Seven-hole stroke, Benjamin Cox (Orange tee line, 33), Max Faulkner (Orange 34), Finn Darlison (Orange, 36), Keaton Fox (Orange, 38), Dominic Manning (Orange, 39).

Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (62 players) – Stephen Woolcott (40 points), Peter Wood (39), Ivan Fortmann (38).