From Tony Durkin
RECOVERED REED: Although he was beaten on a countback for C Grade honours in Saturday’s Single Stableford, Alan Reed’s 38 points was in fact a massive victory. Returning to the game in March after almost six months sidelined following four bouts of surgery to combat bowel and bladder cancer, Alan – now 40 kilos lighter – penned his best score since ‘I can’t really remember’. “I’m not out the woods, but I intend to enjoy my golf while I can still play,” quipped Alan, who retired two years ago from the land development business. He had five three-point holes, a four-point par, seven two pointers and five singles on his card on Saturday, but was pipped on a countback for top honours by former Headland President, John Alsbury. Michael Zeckomske (39 points) won A Grade, Huki Matenga (40) won B Grade, Gwen Nancarrow (37) prevailed in the Women’s competition while Andrew Sterling and Daniel Crabtree (48 points) won the Medley Fourball Stableford event.
AUSSIE GOLFER: Annabel Harris (handicap 11) has recently returned from a 2½-year trip around Australia playing some of the best golf of her life, and carded 75 in Thursday’s Single Par for Women to win A Grade with plus four. And while conceding Headland’s reduced par of 68 had obviously contributed, Annabel was still delighted with her lowest-ever round, beating her previous best of 78 at Maroochy River when playing off a handicap of seven. “We (she and husband Noel) played as much golf as possible on our trip, maybe as many as 50 different courses, so I have certainly been honing my skills,” quipped Headland’s Diamond Pennant team member. Annabel penned a birdie, nine pars and eight bogeys on her impressive card, to record the equal best score of the day alongside C Grade winner Joy Logan. Del Whittaker (plus one) was the B Grade victor.
CAM’S MAN: Patrick Carmody may not be of the same golfing ilk as reigning British Open Champion Cameron Smith, but he can at least claim to have once had an association with the Wantima junior. And he can also claim a recent victory – a win in Thursday’s Single Par for Men with plus four, despite three wipes creeping on to his card. The 20-handicapper, who was Junior Golf Co-Ordinator at Brisbane’s Wantima Golf Club when the ‘Mullet’ started what has progressed into a brilliant career, had six pars and nine bogeys on his winning card, and collected a handy bounty of $120. Patrick joined Headland when he retired from business six years ago, having had a long break from the game after membership stints at Wantima and then Caloundra. “My son Michael was a junior at Wantima around the same time as Cam, and he kept telling me what a brilliant little player he was,” Patrick reminisced.
AGE SHOOTER: He may not have regarded it as any major achievement, but shooting 75 in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford event has enabled 79-year-old Burgess Stephenson entry to the prestigious club where golfers have shot less than their age. And in doing so, the retired Queensland Public Servant returned the top score of the day – 42 points – to win A Grade. It was the best round by Burgess since he won Division Three gross and nett events at the 2023 Walsh Consulting Engineers Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open, staged at Headland over Easter. “Since then, I have been playing poorly,” quipped Burgess, who had two birdies, seven pars and eight bogeys on a card spoiled only by a double at the par-four 15th. The recently-consistent Ken Maynard (39) won B Grade and David Parker (37) saluted in C Grade.
STUPID GAME: Ex-tennis player Margot Easton started in Headland’s SWING program in 2017, and her initial thoughts were ‘why am I playing this stupid game’. But following two wins within five months this year, not only is Margot thinking otherwise, but she is now loving the game – and the camaraderie it offers – and playing as often as three days a week. Margot won her first Monthly Medal in February, and backed up on Monday to win the Vets Single Stableford, with 39 points. And while she thoroughly enjoyed the victory and the fact she had two four-point holes and two three-pointers, the most satisfying outcome was no wipes on her card. “The previous week I had five wipes,” lamented Margot, who plays competition rounds in Vets and on Thursdays, as well as a social nine holes on Fridays with a group called the Chardys.
GOATS COMBINE: A group of Old Goats (Order of Late Developing Golfers Approaching Terminal Senility), who play together every Wednesday morning, have combined to win Wednesday’s Follies Foursomes at Headland. Led by Tex Teixeira (handicap 10), the group of John Miller (handicap 29), Bill Bradley (36) and Peter Andrews (33) scored 89 points in the fourball competition, in which the best three scores on each hole contributed. And while Tex scored 36 individua points, with four three-pointers on his card, he was overshadowed by his mates – John had six three-point holes; Bill scored two four-pointers and two three-pointers; while GOATS co-founder Peter added six three-pointers. The winning foursome had three holes where they scored seven points, two holes for six and six where they added five points, with their lowest contribution two points at the demanding parr-four 15th hole.
DAVE AGAIN: Keen golfer Dave Sims has turned a long period of average scores into a winning sequence, with victory in Monday’s Vets Single Stableford his third win within a month. Dave, who often plays three competition rounds each week alongside some social golf, scored 39 points to win A Grade, and shot three-over 70 on the par 67 layout. Last month, following some chipping lessons from Assistant Pro Mitch Jacobson and five-time Club Champion Dave Rattray, Dave scored wins on successive days with scores of 41 and 38. On Monday his notable card revealed two birdies, 11 pars and five bogeys. John Jones and Peter McMillan scored 38 points to win B and C Grade, respectively.
DAVE LOBBED: Having struggled with his chipping for more than 12 months and reverting to nine and seven irons around the greens, Dave Mansley finally decided to man up, and bring his trusty 60-degree lob wedge out of retirement. And after a couple of ‘re-acquainting’ rounds, the principal of Mooney’s Insurance – a generous Headland sponsor – on Sunday carded his first under-par nine after 33 years of trying. “I have been struggling big time in that department of the game, but bit the bullet and brought my once much-loved wedge back into my bag. It is the oldest club I have,” he said. Dave won the Medley Single Stableford event with 39 points, but it was his 22 points on the back nine, from a one-under 33, that gave him the greatest satisfaction.
PENNANT PAYDAY: When former Australian Masters Hockey player Jenny Stokes was enticed to play Pennant golf for Headland Rubies this year, she was told the experience would improve her golf. And that is exactly what has resulted, with the Coastal IVF business owner firing in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for women with 40 points – a masterful 23 on the back nine. “Not only did playing Pennants improve my game, it increased my appreciation for golf, and my liking for the game,” said Jenny, who won three of her six Pennant matches and drew one. A SWING graduate from four years ago, Jenny penned a four-pointer, three three-pointers and five two-pointers on her Tuesday back nine, but that pales when compared to her best nine at Headland – a staggering 27 points back in November when she carded her best-ever score of 44 points.
WHOOPS: The vagaries of golf could not have been better exemplified than the swing in form suffered by Sunshine Coast nurse Gary Marr during the past week. On Tuesday Gary, playing off an eight handicap, scorched the course with a one-over 68 for 43 Stableford points and a decisive win in the Men’s Single Stableford event. He penned two birdies, 12 pars and three bogeys on his card, and came home in one under 33. But 24 hours later, in the Medley Single Stableford event and playing off a clipped handicap of seven, Gary could muster just 22 points, with an uncharacteristic four wipes.
MEN’S PENNANT: Headland’s A Grade team continued its outstanding start to the 2023 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse Pennant season with a second-round 5½-1½ win over Woodford at Bribie Island on Sunday. Adam Rydwanski (6&5), Sean McGill (3&1), Brad Butler (7&6) and Shane Muller (2&1) made it two wins from two starts, while Ben Duncombe (4&3) returned from an Open tournament commitment last week to win 4&2. Dave Rattray squared his match and Adam Richards lost 1-down. After last week’s forfeit, Headland’s B Grade team played Nambour at Noosa Springs and squared the match, 3½-3½. Captain Michael Thomas won 3&2 and was joined in the winner’s circle by Chris Schultz (2&1) and Anthony Mesic (1-up), while Damien Moelands squared his match. However, Brendan Duncan (4&2), Steve Bell (3&1) and Matt Hetherington (3&2) were beaten. And after tasting defeat in the first round, the Masters team hit back in the best possible way, beating Nambour 4½-2½, also at Noosa Springs. Chris Pace scored an impressive 5&4 victory, team Captain Mark Henricks won 3&2, Ian Moore prevailed 1-up and Terry Grogan hit back from last week’s big loss, to win 5&4. Andy Whitmore squared his match, while Bryan Haggarty (2-down) and Col Pledge (1-down) were beaten.
WOMEN’S PENNANT: Captain Josie Ryan was up front and honest when she described Maroochy River’s victorious 2023 Sunshine Coast-Burnett Diamonds Women’s Pennant team as ‘much stronger, and far too good for us’ in Sunday’s final. However, the veteran match play exponent was full of praise for Headland’s beaten finalists, saying every team member gave great commitment on the day, and throughout the season. After Headland had been beaten in the first four matches at Gympie, the final two games were abandoned. Both Josie and Sharon Thomas, Headland’s one and two ranked players, took their matches to the 17th hole before falling 3&1 to Maroochy young guns, Ionna Muir and Samara Dryden, respectively. Annabel Harris was beaten 3&1 and Karen Wilson lost 5&4, while Kate Wilkie and Vicky Sheridan were awarded draws, although not required to complete their matches.
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford – sponsor, Perry and Oster Funerals -Women (31 players) – Margot Easton (39 points), Sue Briffa (38), Julianne Hosking-Potts (35). Men (90 players) – A Grade, Dave Sims (39), Joe Quang (38), Bruce Reid (36); B Grade, John Jones (38), Brian Garnett (35), Bruce Heseltine (35); C Grade, Peter McMillan (38), Malcolm Woods (35), Paul Crane (34).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (47 players) – sponsor, Headland Vets – A Grade, Robyn Muir (39 points), Ruth Broderick (37), Wendy Burnie (36); B Grade, Jenny Stokes (40), Margaret Moran (37), Dianne Kean (36). Men (66 players) – Gary Marr (43), Les Hanslo (41), Steve Woolcott (41).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (216 players) – A Grade, Burgess Stephenson (42 points), Chris Goundrey (39), Scott Masters (38); B Grade, Ken Maynard (39), Drew Grant (38), Malcolm Webster (37); C Grade, David Parker (37), Doug Morgan (37), Ashleigh Matheson (37). Medley Follies Fourball – Tex Teixeira, John Miller, Bill Bradley and Peter Andrews (89 points).
Thursday, Single Par, Women (101 players) – A Grade, Annabel Harris (plus 4), Sue Jones (+3), Leanne Ptak (+3); B Grade, Del Whittaker (+1), Kim Mason (+1), Kaye Simmons (+1); C Grade, Joy Logan (+4), Kay Campbell (+3), Cheryl Kitson (+3).
Men (90 players) – Patrick Carmody (+4), Rick Bronson (+3), Wayne West (+2).
Saturday, Single Stableford, sponsor Bryan Haggarty, R2G Communications – Women (21 players) – Gwen Nancarrow (37 points), Margie White (34), Kathy Atkins (31).
Men (211 players) – A Grade, Michael Zeckomske (39), Mike McQuarrie (39), Dan Diachkoff (39); B Grade, Huki Matenga (40), Bernie Duncan (39), Max Pasterfield (37); C Grade, John Alsbury (38), Alan Reed (38), John Christmas (37). Medley Fourball best Ball Stableford, Andrew Sterling and Daniel Crabtree (48 points).
Juniors – Parent and Child, six-hole Stroke, Benjamin and Stephen Cox (green line, 22), Freddy and Michael Lambert (green, 23), Dominic and Amber Manning (orange, 24), Liam and Aaron Kerley (pink, 24), Finn and Chris Darlison (green, 24).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (57 players) – Dave Mansley (39 points), Graham Smith (39), Graham New (38).
