From Tony Durkin
SIMON SAYS: A Headland member for an astonishing 64 years, Club Patron Simon Whittle says he had plenty of incentive to fire in Saturday’s Single Stableford round. “I was back in B Grade for the first time in I reckon 54 years, so that was reasonable motivation for me to turn around my recent run of pretty poor form,” said the left hander who scored 43 points from his 12 handicap, in a round of 72. Headland Men’s Match Committee recently voted to better ‘balance’ gradings and, as a result, A Grade changed from the cut-off point of 13, to 11, with Saturday the first day the new rebalanced grades came into effect. This meant Simon was relegated to B Grade for the first time since he was a junior. However, his four birdies, seven pars, five bogeys and two double bogeys in his round has resulted in a handicap reduction and, at 11.4, he is back in A Grade. Andrew Stirling (also 43 points) won A Grade and Phil Thistlewood (41) topped the C Grade leaderboard. Simon revealed a lesson from head Pro Adam Norlander two weeks ago had helped refresh his game.
SEVEN-YEAR ITCH: Even though the current par at Headland is 67, Helen Fraser was still excited about scratching a scoring itch on Saturday that had lasted seven years. Scoring 38 points to win the Women’s Single Stableford event, Helen had 83 off the bat, equalling her best-ever round in 33 years as a member. “Back then the par was 72, but I am still very happy to have done it again despite the lower par,” explained Helen who has had a ‘very unproductive year’ on the golf course. “I won a Vets round a few months ago with 36 points, and even that was cause for celebration.” Helen was most pleased with the consistency of her Saturday round – five pars, 10 bogeys and three doubles, with no wipes of her card. “And we won the square,” she quipped, while also celebrating the fact her resultant handicap reduction has her back in A Grade.
STIRLING EFFORT: Nine months of golfing ‘rubbish’ ended on Saturday for 10-year member Andrew Stirling and, as a result, a bonus of $191 landed in his House Account. The University of Sunshine Coast engineering manager became one of the rare few golfers to par the revised layout, and scored 43 Stableford points from his seven handicap to snare the $105 first place in A Grade, thanks to the generosity of sponsor Alex Dwyer, of Dwyer Quality Homes. But that was not the sole result of his sterling effort. Andrew teamed with good mate Grant Martyn to win the associated Fourball event ($55 each), and also won nearest the pin at the 14th, for a $31 booty. “I had a lesson on Trackman about nine months ago, tried to change a few things, but my game just deteriorated,” explained, Andrew whose handicap blew out from five to nine. “After persevering for a while, I decided to go back to my old swing and that round is by far my best in a very long time.” Beaten on a countback by B Grade winner Simon Whittle for the best score of the day, Andrew streeted the A Grade field by six points with four birdies, 10 pars and four bogeys on his card.
MATES RATE: Scott Simpson and Andrew Ebb are mates, and play together regularly when FIFIO worker Andrew is back on the coast. And Wednesday was one of those days – and the pair hit the jackpot in more ways than one. Not only did Andrew (A) and Scott (B) win their respective grades in the Medley Single Stableford event, but partnered to snare victory in the associated Fourball, with each pocketing $135 for their day’s work. “And we also won the bet,” bragged 25-year member Scott, whose 43 points was the best score of the day by a clear three points. “Lately I have been hitting it reasonably well in general, but always seem to have those couple of poor holes that knock my score about. But on Wednesday my only major error was a double bogey at the fourth.” Scott’s winning card otherwise revealed two birdies, five pars and nine bogeys. He and Andrew logged 49 points to win the Fourball, while Andrew had 40 points for the A Grade victory, with Steve Browne (38) saluting in C Grade.
LAST TO FIRST: Bec Francis fronted up to Headland on Thursday content in the knowledge that, if necessary, she could ‘pick up’ during her Single Stableford round. The 2015 SWING graduate, born and raised in Texas, harboured abysmal memories of her round two weeks earlier, when she penned 121 on her card and finished dead last in the July Monthly Medal. “I knew that if things went bad again, I could at least pick up and avoid similar humiliation,” quipped the retired University of New England Lab Assistant. But, to her surprise and delight, Bec had no wipes on her card on Thursday with her 39 points the best on the day for a victory in C Grade. In fact, her score on the back nine – 46 shots for 22 points – is her best-ever nine holes at Headland, with five three-pointers recorded, and seven overall. Club Champion Sharon Thomas (37 points) won A Grade while Sue Harris (36) carried over her good form from the Senior Eclectic earlier in the week, winning B Grade. NOTE: Each Thursday grade winner collected $100, and Bec thanked the Headland Senior Women’s Golfers for their sponsorship, and generous prizemoney.
RELAXED STEVE: Minus the added stress of organising Headland’s annual two-day Senior Eclectic – sponsored once again by Regis Aged Care – Steve Eggins teed off on Monday relaxed and, obviously, in good form. Steve had done much of the leg work for the past six events, but this year Headland’s Golf Manager Ian Hepburn assumed the organisational responsibility. Scoring an eclectic Stableford total of 47 points, Steve won the event with a number he did not believe would be enough. “Having been closely associated with the event for so long, I assumed at least 50 points would be needed,” said Steve, who scored a day-high 38 points on Monday despite two wipes on his card. But, notwithstanding his meagre 30 points on Tuesday, he upped his eclectic ante with an additional nine points on his six poor holes the previous day. His only dilemma now is what to do with the golf bag he won, as he upgraded just three months, ago. Gary Savill (44 points) won Men’s Division One and Bob Hayward (43) survived a countback to win Division Two.
FLOORED WINNER: Former teacher Patrice Jenkins is living proof that even on the golf course, ignorance can be bliss. Believing that Headland’s Senior Eclectic event on Monday was in fact a Fourball, and not wanting to disappoint her partner, Patrice turned up despite the rain, scored 33 points with four wipes and two one-pointers on her card, and finished second in Division Two. When sunny Tuesday dawned, Patrice was more buoyant, again had 33 points, again finished second, but again her card was scarred by two wipes and five one-point holes. “I had no idea, until the results were announced, that I was in the running for any prizes,” said Patrice, whose eclectic score for the two days was a superb 46 points, just one behind overall winner Steve Eggins. “I was floored when my name was read out as the winner of Division Two.” Since she last won at Headland – almost two years ago – 25-year member Patrice has had her second hip replacement, is now able to ‘walk properly’, and as a result her GA handicap has been reduced from 38 to 33. Carmel Visser (42 points) won Women’s Division One.
CLUB CHAMPS: Adam Richards says he will be ‘ready, as usual’ to defend his Headland Men’s Club Championship, to he played over 72 holes on successive weekends, from Saturday and Sunday, August 19 and 20. Adam has won the Championship five times, with four victories spanning a remarkable four decades. But the reigning Champion concedes he will once again have some stiff opposition, mainly from members of his A Grade Pennant team. Former Champions Dave Rattray and Adam Rydwanski will again challenge, while Sean McGill, Shane Muller and Brad Butler are expected to also be in the picture when the final round is played on Sunday, August 27. But the biggest danger to the defending Champion appears to be teenager Ben Duncombe, who is Headland’s No.1 Pennant player. The former Junior Champion is the lowest handicapped player at the club, off plus one, and says winning the Club Championship has been a long-term goal. Entries are now open for the Club Championships, to be played in three grades, and is being sponsored by Tim Reed from the NewBau Group.
WARREN FAMED: Headland’s Warren Selvage has been honoured with admission to Queensland Football (AFL) Hall of Fame. Described as ‘an uncompromising, team-first centre half back’, Warren won seven flags as a player for Sherwood in the QAFL competition and was captain-coach of the 1981-82 SQAFA sides that elevated Sherwood into the QAFL in 1983. ‘Warren Selvage is the Queensland football equivalent of Hawthorn’s AFL premiership record-holder Michael Tuck, plus two. He played in an extraordinary nine senior premierships with Sherwood in 1973 and from 1975-82 in a career that spanned more than 50 years’ clarified the Hall of Fame script. And he is still closely involved in the game, currently coaching the North Shore Jets Women’s team in the Sunshine Coast competition. A Headland member for almost three decades, Warren is former Captain of Headland’s Masters Pennant, plays at least twice a week and, at 70 years of age, carries a GA handicap of 11.3.
MEN’S PENNANT: A nail-biting 4-3 victory over Caloundra at home on Sunday has kept Headland on top of the 2023 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse Pennant competition, and in the box seat to again win the Pennant. Although beaten after taking his match to the 18th, teenager and No.1 player Ben Duncombe was the toast of the team performing so well against Queensland’s top-rated amateur golfer, Pelican Waters-based Blaike Perkins. But it was the unbeaten 2023 pair of Adam Rydwanski and Shane Muller, who both claimed victory 1-up, which kept Headland in the contest. Sean McGill was an impressive 6&4 winner, Adam Richards won 3&2 and then left to attend his daughter’s wedding, while Brad Butler (1-down) and Aaron Shaw (2&1) were beaten. Headland’s next opponent is Caboolture, at Caloundra. NOTE: Headland’s Masters and B Grade Pennant teams finished their respective competitions the previous week, and both missed the finals.
Monday, Headland Senior Eclectic, Single Stableford – sponsor Regis Aged Care – Women (72 players) – Division One, Vicky Sheridan (36 points), Carmel Visser (32), Sue Harris (31); Division Two, Judy Farmer (35), Patrice Jenkins (33), Anne Hayward (31).
Men (60 players) – Division One, Steve Eggins (38), Barry Mapes (36), Erik Larsen (35); Division Two, Bob Hayward (36), Leigh Mansfield (35), Sergio Nogarotto (34).
Tuesday, Headland Senior Eclectic, Single Stableford – sponsor Regis Aged Care – Women (66 players) – Division One, Carmel Visser (35), Sue Harris (34), Kathy Atkins (33); Division Two, Leigh Derigo (34), Patrice Jenkins (33), Raewyn Andersen (31).
Men (54 players) – Division One, Gary Savil (37), Ian Scobie (36), Greg Patrick (36); Division Two, Bob Hayward (40), Rob Ingham (36), Leigh Mansfield (35).
Overall Eclectic winner – Steve Eggins (47 points); Women – Division One, Carmel Visser (42), Linda Cannen (41), Sue Harris (41); Division Two, Patrice Jenkins (46), Joy Bullock (41), Judy Farmer (40). Men – Division One, Gary Savil (44), Tony Mitchell (41), Bill Bolland (40); Division Two, Bob Hayward (43), Erik Larsen (43), Sergio Nogarotto (42).
Super Six – Women, Bev Barnes (16 points); Men, Steve Eggins (17 points).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – (213 players) – A Grade, Andrew Ebb (40 points), Denis Orr (38), Bevan Horsnell (38); B Grade, Scott Simpson (43), Mark Davis (39), John Jones (36); C Grade, Seve Browne (38), Steven Makin (36), Bob Lane (36).
Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Scott Simpson and Andrew Ebb (49 points).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsor, Headland Senior Women golfers – (110 players) – A Grade, Sharon Thomas (37 points), Robyn Muir (34), Monica Antony (34); B Grade, Sue Harris (36), Julie Lewis (34), Diane Gilmour (34); C Grade, Bec Francis (39), Barbara Parkinson (34), Louise Armstrong (33).
Men (83 players) – Robert Jones (38), Tony Kelleher (37), Andrew Fisher (36).
Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Alex Dwyer, Dwyer Quality Homes – Women (28 players) – Helen Fraser (38 points), Patrice Jenkins (37), Carol Quin (36).
Men – (216 players) – A Grade, Andrew Stirling (43), Noel Reid (37), Steven bell (37); B Grade, Simon Whittle (43), Paul Garth (37), Lachie Keenan (36); C Grade, Phil Thistlewood (41), John Miller (36), Wayne Grainger (36). Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Andrew Stirling and Grant Martyn (46 points).
Juniors, Six-hole Two Ball Team competition – Finn Darlison and Keaton Fox (orange, 22 strokes), Benjamin Cox and Mitchell McFarland (green, 29), Dylan Manning and Dominic Manning (pink and orange, 29).
