From Tony Durkin
ELITE HELP: Gary Martin, who shot his lowest round from the black tees to win Saturday’s Monthly Medal, says playing alongside low markers helps his golf. “I played with Adam Richards at the weekend and he reckons I play much better when I’m in his group, and I think he’s right,” deduced the owner of Direct Timbers, a regular Headland sponsor. Apart from ‘a typical 20-marker stuff up’ which resulted in a triple bogey on one hole, Gary’s 84 for 64 nett was generally plain sailing, with nine pars on his C Grade winning card. A member for eight years, Gary has recently added a Thursday round to his regular Saturday commitment, which is usually with single-figure handicappers Barry Newton (7) and Ciaran Fenton (8). “Ciaran and I took the money too, which was added satisfaction,” he quipped. Saturday’s win was Gary’s second Monthly Medal at Headland, his first coming last year. Bruce Reid (66 nett) finished an extremely productive week – two wins and a second – with the B Grade Medal, while Neven Daniel (also 64) won A Grade.
CONTENTED KATHY: Although she was not awarded the Monthly Medal because of a insufficient competitors in the field, Kathy Atkins was ‘very satisfied’ with her winning score in Saturday’s Single Stroke event – 70 nett. “It has been a long time coming, and that is my best round for as long as I can recall,” she said of her win. “I’m not sure how or why, but something suddenly clicked.” Kathy, who has been a Headland member for 36 years, also won the best gross (84), and says she loves the look of the redeveloped Headland layout. “The course is absolutely beautiful. I love the way it is coming together,” she said. NOTE: Terms of Conditions for Headland state that a Medal round must have a minimum field of 20 players for the Monthly Medal to be awarded. Saturday’s field was 18.
DANIEL’S DAY: Father-and-son members, Neven and James Daniel, left Headland on Saturday with golfing kudos, and a handy amount of cash in their respective House Accounts. Dad Neven, playing off eight, penned three birdies on his A Grade Monthly Medal winning card of 64 nett, for a collect of $100. But his 72 also won the day’s best gross, earning him $75 from sponsor Brian Kesby. James too, starred, finishing fourth in A Grade (75/66) for $5, but also snared the NTP at the 18th, which resulted in one of his two birdies. Their combined Saturday financial bonanza was $211 – plus a medal.
MASTERS WIN: It may not have been victory at Augusta, but a Masters’ win at Headland this past week has been celebrated with almost as much enjoyment. Not only did Rebecca Masters win Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women with 37 points, she broke 90 for the first time. “And I have Mitch Jacobson to thank,” explained Rebecca, referring to a recent chipping lesson from Headland’s Assistant Pro. “My chipping has certainly improved, and on Tuesday, on the slower greens, I also had a good day with my putting, which helped avoid a couple of wipes.” Now on a GA handicap of 18.6, Rebecca won Division One from good friend and playing partner Mouna Humzy (36 points), with four three-point holes and 11 twos on her steady card, giving her a second win for the year. Janette Ritchie (34 points), won Division Two.
KESSO RETURNS: Four-time Headland Club Champion Brian Kesby, has returned to Headland with a bang following a 16-month absence. Brian, who generously sponsors the best gross score in the Saturday Monthly Medal event, moved from Maroochydore to Brisbane in June of 2022, and prior to Saturday his last round at Headland was in November that year, before bunker redevelopment project started. In the interim, Brian and his wife Allyson bought into B By Halcyon at Buderim, and finally moved in three days before his return to the Headland layout. And his homecoming started superbly. Brian – affectionately known as Kesso – missed birdie putts on holes one and two before slam dunking his third shot at the par-five third (the original second hole) from 84 metres, for eagle. Although he was disappointed with his score of 79/71, Brian added a birdie to his card at the par-five eight (original seventh) and says it is good to be back. “I’m really looking forward to playing the ‘new’ course when all the redevelopment is finished,” he said.
BIRDIE BLITZ: Paul Anderson, a Headland member for 37 years, has just had a golfing weekend to remember. On Saturday, a disastrous nine at the par-five 14th (formerly the 13th) cost him the March Monthly Medal; on Sunday he won the Medley Single Stableford, scored four birdies in a round for the first time; and watched the NRL on Kayo while playing golf. “One of the guys in our group is a fanatical Sea Eagles supporter, so we literally had no choice but to get involved in the match from Las Vegas,” quipped Paul, himself an NRL fan. “But I enjoyed the day, because it has been at least a couple of years since I have won anything.” Although Paul scored 41 points to win on Sunday, the Structural Draftsman was still smarting over his quadruple bogey the previous day. “Even an eight would have given me the B Grade Medal,” he said, referring to his score of 66 nett, and second place on a countback. Another reason for Paul’s memorable weekend was finishing his Sunday round with successive birdies.
KANGAROO BIRDIE: A seven-metre birdie putt by Kate Wilkie at the par-three 18th on Tuesday – in front of a packed verandah cheer squad – has given Headland victory in the annual Women’s Kangaroo Challenge against Caloundra Golf Club. The Kangaroo Challenge is a Fourball Matchplay event, contested annually between the two clubs, which had been postponed earlier in the year because of the weather. With Kate and her partner Odette Day one-up on their opponents teeing off 18, the birdie gave them a two-up win, and was the deciding result in the 3-1 victory, with one match squared. Wil Sprake and Jenny Stokes won 7&6, Narelle Hollowood and Althea McLean prevailed 5&4, while Vicky Sheridan and Tracey O’Connor finished square. Kirsten Kaergaard and Ree Condon found their opposition too strong, going down 5&4. Next year’s event will be the 50th anniversary of the challenge.
BEST FOR OX: For a former tri-athlete who took up golf seriously just five years ago, Neil Oxley was justifiably proud to shoot his lowest-ever round at Headland on Thursday. The 10-handicapper scored 40 points from his six-over 75 in the Men’s Single Stableford, winning by a point from David Carmichael. “I was happy with that effort today. It all pretty much came together,” he said. “Golf is a reasonably simple game when there are no bad holes, you don’t do anything silly and the putts drop.” Neil said that when he started par, par, birdie, he thought it might well be his day. “And, for a change, my round was consistent,” he admitted, with a birdie, 10 pars and seven bogeys on his card. Neil started competing in triathlons in his late 20s, representing Australia twice in the 45-55 age groups, before a dicky shoulder forced him to stop in his mid-50s. It was then he took up golf, joining Headland in 2017.
PACE ATTACK: An outstanding back nine, which included birdies at holes 11 and 17, was enough on Wednesday for Chris Pace to win his first event at Headland in ‘probably as long as two years’. The principal of McGrath Estate Agents at Buderim and Mooloolaba – an annual Headland sponsor – Chris followed his ‘very average’ five-over par front nine with one-under 33 on the back for 40 points, and victory in A Grade on a countback from Mark Selig. “I have not played well for a while, and my handicap has drifted from six to nine in the past 12 months,” Chris lamented. “But I started playing better towards the end of last year and a recent golf trip to New Zealand with some mates has helped get my game back on track.” Chris described his putting on the front nine as ‘terrible’, and was exemplified by the fact that he lipped out for birdie from 125cm at the par-three ninth (original eighth) hole, where he collected the NTP. “I can’t believe my 73 off the bat beat Riley Martin, who shot eight birdies,” he said. And although the win was his first in an age, the financial reward – thanks principally to sponsor Josh Myers of RM Developments – was well worth the wait. He collected $162 for four hours’ work.
CRAZY GOLF: The quirks of golf are not lost on former Headland SWING co-ordinator Di Stark, who had two wins during the week – one with 28 Stableford points and the other with 39. “We all love our golf, but at times it is a really crazy game,” said Di following her B Grade win in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women. “How is it that I can win twice in three days, with scores 11 points apart.” But she was delighted with both victories – the other was in the Vets on Monday – because golf has been a real struggle for Di since finger surgery last May. “I couldn’t play for three months, and when I did return it was difficult. It has honestly taken me this long to gain some confidence in my game,” she confessed. Di said no bunkers and no three putts contributed to her winning score on Thursday, with a four-pointer, four three-pointers and 10 two-point holes on her impressive card. Pik Chong (41 points) won A Grade, while Laura Mason-Baierl (38) continued her 2024 fabulous run in C Grade, scoring her fourth win of the year.
ALNON’S BACK: After winning five events – including successive Monthly Medals in February and March – in his first three months as a Headland member last year, Alnon Paggabao hit a roadblock. “My handicap came right down and I could not play to it,” said the Bokarina pizza chef who dabbled in golf in the US as a youngster but has only played the game seriously for the past two years. But he feels his fortunes may be changing following recent adjustments to his swing, and a win in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men. Alnon scored 39 points from his round of 88, and has now set his sights on reducing his GA handicap from the current 23.4, to 19. “And I’ve set myself the goal of achieving that within two months,” he confidently predicted. Alnon birdied the par-three ninth (hole eight on the original course) on Tuesday for four points, adding to another four-pointer at the par three second as well as three three-pointers.
RYLEY’S ROUND: Headland’s 2015 Club Champion, Ryley Martin, smashed the course on Wednesday, rolling in eight birdies in a sensational round of seven-under 62. But the Mt Coolum member, who plays off plus four, fouled his otherwise-unscarred card when he bogeyed the shortest hole on the course – the par three-second (practise hole). And despite nine pars, eight birdies and that lone bogey for a return of 39 Stableford points, Ryley could only manage third place in A grade, with a collect of $50. The dad of youngsters Theo and Luna is again off to qualifying school in April, attempting to win his PGA Tour card, and says the recent changes to Headland have been outstanding. “Once all the improvements are finished and the ground staff can tidy up those little areas that need attention, I reckon Headland will be one of the best golf courses in Queensland,” he praised.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets (Gympie visit) Single Stableford, Women (34 players), Division One, Bev Maddison (34 points), Leeanne Ptak (32), Jan Langdon (30); Division Two, Di Stark (28), Johanna Coogan (28), Colleen Sarquis (26).
Men (70 players), Division One, Bruce Reid (34), Tony Waddington (34), Steve Rose (33); Division Two, David Parker (34), Andrew Hempsall (32), Greg Holmes (31); Division Three, Edward Eason (40), Peter McMillan (30), Roy Hoy (28).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (36 players) – Division One, Rebecca Masters (37 points), Mouna Humzy (36), Gay David (33); Division Two, Janette Ritchie (34), Colleen Sarquis (33), Kym Mason (32).
Men (67 players) – Alnon Paggabao (39), Dean Simmons (38), Stephen Woolcott (37).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor Josh Myers, RM Developments (229 players) – A Grade, Chris Pace (40 points), Mark Selig (40), Ryley Martin (39); B Grade, Ben Victor (38), Bruce Reid (38), Dion Southey (38); C Grade, Jon Welch (37), Ashleigh Matheson (36), Dennis Farmer (36).
Thursday, Single Stableford, (113 players) – A Grade, Pik Chong (41 points), Robyn Muir (35), Sharon Thomas (35); B Grade, Di Stark (39), Lynn Hayman (37), Deborah Bennetts (35); C Grade, Laura Mason-Baierl (38), Emilia White (36), Cathy Haimes (34).
Men (82 players) – Neil Oxley (40 points), David Carmichael (39), Josh Poole (37).
Saturday, Monthly Medal, Women – sponsor, Jodie McDonnel, Century 21 on Duporth (18 players) – Kathy Atkins (70 nett), Helen Fraser (73), Robyn Boreham (73). Best gross – Kathy Atkins (84).
Men, sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth (221 players) – A Grade, Neven Daniel (64 nett), Richard Franklin (65), Matt Price (66); B Grade, Bruce Reid (66), Paul Anderson (66), Brian Richards (66); C Grade, Gary Martin (64), Sam Fisher (64), Stewart Douglas (66). Best gross – sponsor, Brian Kesby – Neven Daniel (72)
Juniors, Parent/Child, Nine Hole Stroke – Blake and Adam Rydwanski (34), Kai and Josh Stewart (36), Dominic and Amber Manning (37), Jett and Daniel Stevenson (37), Finn and Chris Darlison (37).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (49 players) – Paul Anderson (41 points), Graham Smith (40), Andy Whitmore (40).
