From Tony Durkin
FINAL HURRAH: Playing his second last Monthly Medal as Headland Club President, Jon Welch has achieved a rare first. President for eight years over two separate terms, Jon won Saturday’s August Monthly Medal with 64 nett, the best score in the big field of 212. And, it was his first win as a C Grader, after the club’s Match Committee recently reduced the cut-off for B Grade – in which Jon has almost exclusively played during his 19 years as a member – from 19 to 17. On Saturday, with eight pars, eight bogeys and two doubles on his card, he played off 18. Ironically, it was four years to the month since Jon won the last of his five Monthly Medals/Mugs – he knew that because he was wearing his winning shirt from August 2019. Jon’s highest handicap during his membership term at Headland has been 19, his lowest 12. James Daniel (67) won the A Grade Medal, Nick Cox (67) won C Grade and Shane Muller (74) returned the best gross.
OLD FAITHFULS: When Robyn Boreham won the Women’s A Grade nett Championship back in May, she thought she would ‘shout’ herself some new clubs. But after experimenting with many different styles and brands and having scant success, on Saturday Robyn returned to her old faithfuls and won the August Monthly Medal with nett 71. “It has been so frustrating,” said Robyn, whose handicap has drifted from 15 to 18 since the Club Championships. But on Saturday she found some form, albeit far from her best round with two triples and four doubles sitting beside her four pars and eight bogeys. Robyn, who had never previously played golf, joined Headland in 2007 and has now won eight Monthly Medals.
MYSTERY ROUND: Retired house painter Vince O’Neil described his phenomenal round of golf on Wednesday – his best-ever – as his mystery round. “I honestly can’t believe what happened,” said Vince who shot 82 from his 24 handicap for 58 nett, and the lowest score of the day by three strokes. But because Vince surrendered his 21-year Headland membership in October and joined Social Golf Australia (SGA) to maintain his handicap, he is ineligible for the August Mid-Week Medal. “We have a daughter and grandchildren living in Perth, have recently bought an apartment over there, and spend six months in the west, and six months on the Sunshine Coast,” he explained. “After 21 years as a member I did not want to relinquish my Headland membership, but it just wasn’t economical.” Justin Scattini, who finished second behind Vince with a superb 61 nett, was the winner of the C Grade Medal, while runner-up Robert McCann (66) collected the B Grade Medal, as winner Gifford Harper (65) is a social member, and also ineligible, while Gary Marr (65) won A Grade.
DEB’S DOUBLE: Coming out of a recent form slump with a gross/nett winning double in Thursday’s Monthly Medal has been one of the highlights of a six-year golfing career for Deborah Thomas. When ankle issues thwarted participation in her long-time sport of tennis, Deborah decided to take up golf, and graduated from Headland’s SWING program in 2019 with such fervour and success, she won a Monthly Medal the same year and was C Grade Champion in 2021. Although still loving golf, in particular stroke play, and focusing on the game rather than the score, Deborah conceded her success rate has slumped recently. “I have been visiting the driving range lately, and that has helped,” said Deborah whose 65 nett not only won C Grade, but was the best score of the Medal round. Matching her gross/nett winning double was Lisa Ramen in A Grade (78/69), while Sandi Whittle (68) won B Grade and Louise Armstrong (76) won D Grade.
PHYSIO PERFECT: Apart from one minor slip-up, Simon Burley completed the first 13 holes in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men with the same rhythmic perfection he uses in his daily workplace. The well-known Sunshine Coast Sports Physio won the event with 39 points, and barring a double bogey at his seventh hole, his card read a recurring par, bogey, par bogey for the first 13 holes. And although he finished with a wipe, two bogeys and two pars, his score was still good enough to win the event, his fourth this year since a change in work arrangements has enabled him to play more golf. “I was very pleased with my consistency,” said Simon, who collected a handy $120 for his afternoon respite.
HAPPY DORA: After Dora Habgood and her husband Rod had moved from the North Coast of New South Wales to the Sunshine Coast late last year, they played ‘quite a few’ courses before selecting Headland as their new golfing home. And Dora is so glad they did. “At Bonville there were only 20 ladies, so I love playing with so many different girls here at Headland,” she beamed after scoring 41 points to win Tuesday A Grade Single Stableford. Dora has already shaved three strokes from the 16 handicap with which she arrived in January, winning four events, finishing runner-up in the July Monthly Medal and playing Pennant for the club. And like most members, she can’t wait to enjoy the course even more when the bunker reconstruction program is completed. Dora’s special Tuesday card of 77 gross for 41 points revealed a birdie, eight pars and nine bogeys. Patrice Jenkins (39 points) continued her recent winning streak to win B Grade while former Headland Finance Director, Sergio Nogarotto (38) won the Men’s event.
SECOND BEST: Shooting nine better than the previous day, Max Pasterfield was happy with his second-best round as a 2½-year Headland member, which won Sunday’s Medley Single Stroke event. Max, a TV Broadcast Technician with Channel 7, says he usually struggles with consistency during stroke rounds, but his 83, for 69 nett, was scarred only by one triple and two doubles, while two birdies, five pars and eight bogeys – and the $80 prizemoney – was a reason to smile. Max moved to Headland from Pelican Waters when the Pelican course was closed for redevelopment, and plays regularly on Sundays with a group of former members, one of whom is burgeoning teenage talent Charlotte Ridley, runner-up on Sunday with 70 nett.
PRO ACTIVE: Former crack Headland Junior Champion Josh Holbrook lived up to his status as a Caloundra Golf Club Associate Professional when he collected the spoils for one of the Pro Pins at Headland on Wednesday. But despite returning the best gross score of the day in the August Mid-Week Medal with a one-under 68, eagling the par-four 11th (original) hole and collecting the Pro Pin – for an overall purse of $155 – Josh was bitterly disappointed with the finish to his round. With five holes to play he was five-under the card following three birdies and his eagle, but two bogeys and a double coming home resulted in a nett 70 for the plus two handicapper. Bevan Horsnell also eagled the11th.
VETS CLASSIC: Entries have opened for the 2023 Headland Veteran Golfers Living Choice Classic, the 20th anniversary of continued sponsorship of the event by Living Choice Australia P/L. The Classic will be held over three days, from Sunday September 10, with a Fourball Best Ball following a 12.30pm shotgun start. A buffet barbecue and presentations will follow. Monday is a Single Stableford with morning and afternoon tee times, as will Tuesday, although a two-day Eclectic will be played in conjunction. Tuesday’s event will be followed by the closing dinner at 7pm.
MEN’S PENNANT: Sunday’s win over Bribie Island at Beerwah has shot Headland to the top of 2023 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse A Grade Pennant ladder, and despite next weekend’s result, our champion team cannot be dislodged from the No.1 position. The cream rose to the top on Sunday when five-time Club Champions Dave Rattray ((7&6) and Adam Richards (2&1) scored impressive wins, alongside the consistent Sean McGill (3&1) and Brad Butler (2-up) in Headland’s 4½-2½ victory. However, it was not all plain sailing, with No.1 player Ben Duncombe well beaten (4&3), Shane Muller downed (6&4) and the unbeaten Adam Rydwanski drawing his match. On Sunday, Headland clashes with Noosa at Mt Coolum, but the result will have no bearing on the final standings as Noosa is out of the finals race.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford– Women (58 players) – A Grade, Dora Habgood (41 points), Wendy Mosley (40), Linda Cannon (37); B Grade, Patrice Jenkins (39), Judy Farmer (35), Joy Murray (34).
Men (65 players) – Sergio Nogarotto (38), Trevor Simpson (37), Stewart Clover (37).
Wednesday, Medley Mid-Week Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (227 players) – A Grade, Gary Marr (65 nett), Adrian Moorcroft (67), Andy Whitmore (67); B Grade, Gifford Harper (65), Robert McCann (66), Burgess Stephenson (68); C Grade, Vince O’Neil (58 nett), Justin Scattini (61), Alan Reed (64). Best gross – sponsor Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australia – Josh Holbrook (68).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsor, B by Halcyon, Jodie McDonell, Century 21 on Duporth and Jane Boaler, Lyn Forbes and Rhonda Parry – (97 players) – A Grade, Lisa Ramen (69 nett), Lorraine Mazerolle (70), Sue Jones (72), gross – Lisa Ramen (78): B Grade, Sandi Whittle (68), Wil Sprake (69), Naomi Doyle (69), gross – Wil Sprake (88); C Grade, Deborah Thomas (65), Raewyn Anderson (67), Ree Condon (72), gross – Deborah Thomas (95); D Grade, Louise Armstrong (76), Deb Prince (76), Katrina Burke (77), gross – Deb Prince (114).
Men, Single Stableford (88 players) – Simon Burley (39 points), Josh Poole (38), Nigel Morrison (38).
Saturday, Monthly Medal– sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – Women (30 players) – Robyn Boreham (71 nett), Fiona Munro (71), Annabel Harris (72); gross – Fiona Munro (81).
Men (212 players) – A Grade, James Daniel (67), Glenn Kelly (68), Brett Adamson (68); B Grade, Nick Cox (67), Dennis Taylor (68), Peter Raymond (69); C Grade, Jon Welch (64), David Simmons (68), Trevor Gourlay (68). Best gross, sponsor Brian Kesby – Shane Muller (74).
Juniors, Eight-hole Stroke – Benjamin Cox (green line, 36 shots), Keaton Fox (orange, 39), Dylan Manning (pink, 40), Dominic Manning (orange, 40), Finn Darlison (orange, 44).
Sunday, Medley Single Stroke (59 players) – Max Pasterfield (69 nett), Charlotte Ridley (70), Graham Cartledge (70).
