From Tony Durkin
SWIFT CHANGE: His handicap had blown out by three strokes in three months, but Mark Swift had a feeling during his past three rounds that his luck was about to change. And that is exactly what happened on Saturday, and in no uncertain terms. Playing off 15, Mark ripped the Headland course apart in his best round as an eight-year member, scoring 74 off the bat for 44 Stableford points, and a smashing win in B Grade by four points. “And I left a few out there,” said the Production Team Leader with Endeavour Foundation, who three-putted four greens. Although he and good mate Bryan Haggarty combined to win the 36-hole nett in the Men’s Foursomes Championships in May, Mark estimates it could well be 12 months since his last individual win. His impressive Saturday card revealed two birdies, eight pars, six bogeys and one double, and was the major contribution to the associated Fourball victory – 49 points – with partner Paul Lunn. Matt Pyman (39) won A Grade and former Police Superintendent Don Teague (38) won C Grade.
FRIENDLY PUTTER: Liz Dunford has continued her recent purple patch of form, and says a ‘friendly’ putter has been her best ally. Liz won Saturday’s Singled Stableford for Women with 36 points, beating regular playing partner Naomi Doyle by a point but – disappointedly for the 15-year Headland member – losing the square to her friend who saluted with a two-pointer at the final hole. The win – featuring a very consistent eight pars and six bogeys on her card – was the third victory for Liz within six weeks, which included her first Monthly Medal an A Grader. “I’m playing well and enjoying my golf more than ever,” quipped Liz, who had never played golf before moving to the Sunshine Coast 15 years ago.
COURSE PARRED: Popular greens staff member Jay Gourlay last week parred the course on which he works, albeit on two different nines over two rounds. On Wednesday Jay, playing from a handicap of nine, scored 39 points to win A Grade, parring the front nine with a birdie, bogey and seven pars on his card. Backing up on Sunday in the Medley Stableford and playing off seven, Jay scored 38 points to win the event and this time parred the back nine, with two birdies, two bogeys and five pars contributing to his 20 points. His respective rounds of 73, 72 – albeit on a par 67 course – are his lowest-ever rounds at Headland where he has worked for the past six years. And his new GA – 8.9 – is also his lowest handicap.
BLUE TOAD: John Hammond is a former Manly rugby league player who supports the ‘cockroaches’ at State of Origin time, yet he maintains a particularly close relationship with cane toads, the Queensland Origin moniker. And on the eve of Origin Three, the man nicknamed Ironhead pulled out his best impersonation of a winning blue when he scored a very impressive 43 points for victory in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford. A 26-year Headland member, John recalls that his best round at Headland was 77 on the par 72 course in a social round 15 years ago, but reckons his 79 on Wednesday is his best in a competition. He started with a double bogey at the tenth, then reeled off seven pars and 10 bogeys for eight three-pointers and nine two-pointers. John won B Grade, greens staff member Jay Gourlay (39) won A Grade and John Alsbury (38) won C Grade, while John partnered with Peter Norris to be beaten on a countback in the associated Fourball event, with 46 points. NOTE: To assist with on-going research conducted by the University of Queensland into the breeding of cane toads, John collects tadpoles from Headland dams.
PAIN-FREE PREMIER: Not only did former Queensland Premier Russell Cooper compile his highest score on Tuesday as a two-decade-plus Headland member, it was his first pain-free round of golf in almost as long. Russell has suffered from arthritis for 50 years, but – like many his age – has endured the pain, and enjoyed his twice-a-week golf as much as he could. Last week, however, he could suffer no longer, and two days before his breakout round of 80, which garnered 43 points from his 20 handicap, Russell’s GP suggested Panadeine Forte. “It worked a miracle,” said the 82-year-old, whose previous best score at Headland had been 41 points, but he suggests his average over his 21 years at Headland is closer to 30 points. And while the pain dissipated, and the stars aligned, Russell claimed the winning edge came from the encouragement of his playing companion, the effervescent Gwen Nancarrow who, incidentally, finished second in Women’s A Grade.
MARG INSPIRED: It may have taken her a week longer, but Marg Smith has followed husband David into the Headland winner’s list after being inspired during the couple’s visit to the LIV Golf event in Adelaide in April. Marg scored 37 points – with eight three-point holes on her card – to win A Grade in Tuesday’s Single Stableford, and freely admitted to being stimulated by the phenomenal quality of the golf, and the enormity of the event. “I have been extremely lucky to attend a few big sporting events in my life, such as Cadel Evans winning the Tour De France and the brilliant 2015 Cowboys-Broncos NRL grand final, but the LIV Golf event was something else,” she said. Marg also quipped that not having her husband ‘in her ear’ on Tuesday – the couple usually plays together on Saturdays and in Vets – had aided her golf. NOTE: David won Vets A Grade a week earlier, scoring 39 points, and was also motivated by the LIV Golf tournament.
WOMEN’S OPEN: Entries close at 5pm on Wednesday (July 19) for Headland’s 2023 Women’s Open Day, to be played on Thursday week, July 27. The 18-hole event, once again sponsored by Jodie McDonell from Century 21 on Duporth, will be played as a Single Stableford in three grades, with an 8am shotgun start. Prizes will also be awarded for scratch Stableford scores. Entry fee is $35, which includes lunch and a donation towards SunnyKids, a charity supporting at-risk children on the Sunshine Coast. A raffle will be held in conjunction, and donations of raffle items can be left in the basket in the ladies’ locker room, or at the Headland front office.
MEN’S PENNANT: A brilliant closing hole from Headland’s No.1 Ben Duncombe has rescued a dramatic draw for the A Grade Pennant team on Sunday. Needing to win the hole for Headland to square the 2023 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse Pennant match against Peregian at Peregian Golf Club, Ben hit driver, three wood to within six metres of the pin on the par-five 468-metre par five, then drained the eagle putt to square his match and give Headland a valuable draw – 3½-3½. Earlier the experienced duo of Adam Richards and Dave Rattray also took their matches to the final hole before being beaten one-down, while No.7 player Wayne West was well beaten, 6&5. However, Brad Butler fought back from two down with two to play to square his match, and Adam Rydwanski (4&3) and Sean McGill (5&4) were big winners. After five rounds with four wins and a draw, Headland leads the competition with four matches remaining, and will host the tough Caloundra team at home on Sunday. The news, however, was not as encouraging for Headland’s B Grade and Masters teams, which were both rattled by Mt Coolum, at Tin Cay Bay. Masters lost 5-2, with the two winners Terry Grogan (4&3) and Col Pledge (2&1), while B Grade lost 6-1, with Steve Bell (4&3) the lone victor.
Tuesday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Headland Veterans – Women (50 players) – A Grade, Marg Smith (37 points), Gwen Nancarrow (34), Helen Venter (34); B Grade, Joy Murray (36), Louise Armstrong (35), Sue Wake (35). Men (71 players) – Russell Cooper (43), Sergio Nogarotto (38), Ted Banaszczyk (38).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor – Justin Walsh, Walsh Consulting Engineers – (220 players) – A Grade, Jay Gourlay (39 points), Tony Pattinson (38), Clint Adams (37); B Grade, John Hammond (43), Peter Corney (42), Brett Beaumont (36); C Grade, John Alsbury (38), Peter Birt (38), Dave Walker (38). Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Brett Beaumont and Erik Larsen (46 points).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women and Men – both events abandoned because of weather/course condition.
Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Headland Senior Women’s Golfers – (31 players) – Liz Dunford (36 points), Naomi Doyle (35), Vicky Sheridan (35).
Men – sponsor, Drew Grant, Safe T Electrical Services – (214 players) – A Grade, Matt Pyman (39), Tristan Scott (38), Don Harris (38); B Grade, Mark Swift (44), John Kamm (40), Drew Grant (39); C Grade, Don Teague (38), Peter Keane (35), Craig Stevens (35). Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Mark Swift and Paull Lunn (49 points).
Juniors – Six-hole Stroke, Gurmantar Gill (orange line, 30), Dominic Manning (orange, 30), Benjamin Cox (pink, 30), Noah Sergeant (green, 31), Finn Darlison (orange, 31).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (58 players) – Jay Gourlay (38), Sylvia Wood (37), Chris Hollowood (37).
