From Tony Durkin
A LITTLE LUCK: ‘Some good golf combined with some good luck’ was how Michael Goodluck described his lowest-ever round of golf at Headland, in Saturday’s Single Stableford. A former Sunshine Coast Scorchers cricketer, Michael joined Headland seven years ago and before Saturday’s 77, his previous best round was78 in September of 2019 when he amassed 45 points from a 15 handicap. And while his latest victory – 41 points to win B Grade – was four points less, the impressive round has reduced his GA handicap to an all-time low of 11.3. The Flaxton-based plumber had two birdies, nine pars, five bogeys and two doubles on his card, and came home in two-over 36 for 22 points to collect the very generous $120 payday, compliments of sponsor Bryan Haggarty of R2G Communications. “Bryan was one of the senior players at Maroochydore who took me under his wing when I started in the senior grades as a 15-year-old,” Michael revealed. Dave Sims (37 points) won A Grade, Barrie Whelan (36) won C Grade and Anne Callanan (36) won the Women’s Single Stableford.
RELIABLE REBECCA: With her golf ‘on the improve, but still needing more work’, the seemingly ever-reliable Rebecca Masters has scored – for her – a rare Division One victory at Headland. The 21-handicapper returned minus one in Thursday’s Single Par for Women, continuing a run of recent top-three finishes. Included in those outstanding results were four successive placings towards the end of last year, as well as a team victory in 2023 Closing Day and third place in Division One in 2024 Women’s Opening Day. “Yes, I have had a good little run of late,” Rebecca said, reflecting on her round of three plusses, 12 squares and three minuses on Thursday. “The rough was very thick, but thankfully I only wandered off the fairway a couple of times. I putted well, and had three wonderfully-supportive playing partners.” Jan Langton (-2) won Division Two and Pam Andrews (-1) headed the field in Division Three.
SLUGGISH START: Despite scoring a birdie at his first hole on Wednesday – hole 10A – Ty Pilcher was disappointed with his first nine, which reaped only 18 points. “I’m usually a sluggish starter – it takes me a couple of holes to gain some momentum,” said Ty, who returned the best score in the Medley Single Stableford – 40 points – by adding an impressive 22 points after the turn. His first nine was an assortment of two birdies, one par, four bogeys and two doubles, but he steadied coming home with a birdie, five pars and three bogeys. “I was happy with the score, but my consistency is not where I want my game to be,” said Ty, whose three birdies places him high on the Headland Hustlers’ birdie board with a shot at the end-of-season green jacket, which he won in 2023. Overall, Wednesday’s outing was a boon for the self-employed plumber. He collected $125 for winning B Grade, plus another $59.50 for snaring the Pro Pin at 12. With 38 points, Tony Pattinson won A Grade, and Malcolm Webster (37) won C Grade.
LISA RETURNS: Following seven years in the Club Championship wilderness, Headland’s lowest handclapped female member, Lisa Ramen, has decided to again contest the club’s major events in 2024. And if her recent form is a yardstick, the two-time Women’s Champion will give the titles a shake. With one of her most consistent recent rounds, Lisa won Tuesday’s Division One Single Stableford for Women with 38 points from her handicap of seven. Her round of 76 – 38/38 – contained 12 pars – six on each nine; and six bogeys – three on each nine. “There was nothing brilliant, but nothing dumb either,” said the winner of three Monthly Medals in 2023. The last time Lisa won the Club Championship was 2007, and she collected the treble – Club Champion, Women’s Foursomes and Mixed Foursomes – a feat equalled in 2023 by Sharon Thomas. She was also Club Champion in 2006. “I’m keen to return to playing at a more competitive level,” said Lisa, who will again make herself available for Pennant golf ‘if needed’. Janette Ritchie (34 points) won Division Two on Tuesday, and Braden Anderson (35) won the Men’s competition. NOTE: Lisa was runner-up in Division One in Thursday’s Single Par for Women, beaten on a countback – by Rebecca Masters – with minus one.
IAN POPS AGAIN: Rising 94-year-old, Ian McRaild (GA handicap 31.9), has been crowned Headland POPs’ Player of the Year for 2023. Turning 94 in April, Ian amassed 50 points during the 2023 season, winning the Mick Driver Plate by five points from another youngster, 88-year-old Frank Schmidt. It is the third time Ian has won the shield, having previously saluted in 2024 and 2019. Ian joined Headland in January 1960, and has continually maintained his membership in the intervening period. POPs (Poor Old Pensioners) is a social group within the Headland membership, with members playing nine-holes every Friday afternoon. Initially formed in 1973, POPs currently has 28 regular playing members, with a waiting list. The conditions for membership are simple – candidates must be retired, must be a Headland member and must be over 65 years of age.
EAGLES FLY: The scores may have been well below average, but four eagles landed at Headland on Wednesday during the Medley Single Stableford event. And the only one of the quartet not to have previously scored an eagle, did not see the ball roll in to the hole. “I hit it sweetly and thought it might be close, and when the guys sitting on the verandah overlooking the green did not react, I assumed it missed,” said Vicky Sheridan, who aced the par-three 18th. Then, when we arrived at the green, one of the men said ‘it’s in the hole’.” Glen Grimish aced the par-three 14th for his third at Headland, the previous two coming at the 18th. Glen has also scored three holes in one during social competitions. And good mates Chris Eccles and Dean Oster, both members of the Headland Hustlers group, remarkably eagled the sixth hole on Wednesday, although they were not playing in the same group. It was Dean’s second eagle, and a sixth for Chris.
THURSDAY JOSH: He plays three times a week, but after successive wins Josh Poole is starting to get a liking for Thursday golf – and chicken sandwiches. Josh scored 40 points on Thursday from his equal best gross round at Headland – 80 – and banked $122 in his House Account. “That’s a few more chicken sandwiches,” quipped Josh, who collected $110 for winning the comp, and $12 for NTP at the fifth. His winning card revealed six three pointers, 10 two pointers and two one-point holes, with a birdie at the par-three 14th the highlight. The previous Thursday, in extremely heavy conditions, the 14-handicapper scored just 35 points to win. Describing the recent changes to the course as ‘awesome’, Josh said that although it had taken him a while, he was ‘working out’ how to play the new bunkers. Earl Hicks continued his remarkable run of eagles at Headland, sinking a six-metre putt at the par five 14th (original 13th) after driver, six iron. It was his 20th eagle in two decades as a Headland member.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (39 players) – Division One, Lisa Ramen (38 points), Vicky Sheridan (37), Dora Habgood (37); Division Two, Nanette Ritchie (34), Trish Arden (33), Denise Carmichael (30).
Men (72 players) – Braden Anderson (35), Bradley Bacon (35), Alnon Christian Paggabao (35).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Adam Robins, AR Coastal Scaffolding – (229 players) – A Grade, Tony Pattinson (38 points), Richard Franklin (38), Jack Pyke (37); B Grade, Ty Pilcher (40), Peter Leggo (38), Mark Davis (37); C Grade, Malcolm Webster (37), Drew Grant (36), Peter McAndrew (36).
Thursday, Women, Single Par – sponsors Sue Hadenham, Odette Day, Raewyn Bissett and Cathy Haimes – (100 players) – Division One, Rebecca Masters (-1), Lisa Ramen (-1), Narelle Hollowood (-2); Division Two, Jan Langdon (-2), Deborah Bennetts (-3), Trudi Russell (-3); Division Three, Pam Andrews (-1), Laura Mason-Baierl (-2), Lyn Mansfield (-3).
Men, Single Stableford (82 players) – Josh Poole (40 points), Tony Pattinson (39), Stephen Woolcott (38).
Australia Day, Medley Single Stableford (48 players) – John Craven (38 points), Alnon Christian Paggabao (38), Thomas Harrison (37).
Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Bryan Haggarty, R2G Communications – Women (21 players) – Anne Callanan (36 points), Narelle Hollowood (35), Kate Wilkie (35).
Men (217 players) – A Grade, Dave Sims (37), Michael Thomas (36), Matt Prince (36); B Grade, Michael Goodluck (41), Mal Bradshaw (39), Steve Rose (38); C Grade, Barrie Whelan (36), Ian Harper (36), Wayne Grainger (35).
Juniors – Parent and Child nine-hole Stroke – Benjamin Cox and Stef Keis (green, 35), Keaton Fox and Leon Faulkner (green, 36), Alex and Nick Duncan (pink, 37), Dylan and Daniel Manning (pink, 38), Dominic and Amber Manning (orange, 38).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (14 players) – Graham Smith (37 points), Todd Petrie (36), Cody Petrie (36).
