From Tony Durkin
HANDI CHAMPION: Headland’s Mick Prince, a 16-handicapper, has won the Handiskins National Championship played at Palm Meadows on the Gold Coast. Having qualified from his home club earlier in the year, Mick then won his way through to Saturday’s final as one of the top-four qualifiers after finishing second on Thursday and fourth on Friday in preceding Stableford rounds. And competing against a plus one marker, a four maker and a 19 handicapper, Mick won the skins final at the 15th hole on Saturday to become the only Headland winner since the Australia-wide tournament was first played in 2016. But had it not been for last year’s third placegetter, fellow Headland member and good mate Bruce Heseltine, Mick would not have accepted his automatic invitation to play the final. “I have not been playing well, and thought going to the Gold Coast would be a waste of time and money,” he revealed. “But Bruce talked me into it, and obviously I’m glad he did.” His golf certainly rose to the occasion, and while there was nothing overly outstanding over the three days, he said his ‘straight driving and good approach shots’ won him the event. Mick collected $500 in skins from the final purse of $1200, a trophy and six bottles of Peter Lehmann Shiraz, while Headland Golf Club will also receive six bottles of Shiraz, courtesy of the victory. Other Headland members to contest the Handiskins National Championship final qualifiers at Palm Meadows were Bruce Heseltine – who received an automatic exemption – Monica Antony, Jill Nixey and Kirsten Kaergaard. And Skip Antony, Wayne Nixey and Vicky Sheridan supported the Headland team by entering the Peter Lehmann Wines Golf Challenge, played in conjunction. Mick, who owns and operates Elite Carpet and Pest Control on the Sunshine Coast, joined Headland five years ago, from Gosford. By virtue of his win, he receives a two-year exemption in to the event.
RAINED SUPREME: She started with a shocker – triple bogey seven at the par-four first hole – but Jenny Ingham endured that calamity, and the rain, to win Thursday’s A Grade Monthly Medal for Women. “I think I was one of the few survivors,” said 17-marker Jenny, who braved the rain throughout the morning to finish with 71 nett, the best score among the 72 starters. “The course was still soggy from the recent wet spell, and it rained continuously throughout the round – quite heavily at the end.” And while she was delighted with another Medal victory in her 27 years as a Headland member – ‘I’m not sure how many that is’ – Jenny was ecstatic that she also returned the best gross of the day, her first in A Grade. “Yes, I regard that as a special achievement,” she said, reflecting on her ‘steady’ four pars and 11 bogeys. In fact all three Medal winners – Jenny (A), Anne Callanan (B) and Joy Murray (C) – took the nett/gross double in the event for their respective grades, sponsored by fellow member, Jodie McDonell, of Century 21 on Duporth.
SHANE’S SIX: Shane Muller has become the fourth member of Headland’s A Grade Pennant team in the space of six days to ‘shoot the lights out’, bagging six birdies in his round of 66 in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford. He joins Club Champion Adam Rydwanski (66) and Adam Richards and Sean McGill (both 67), who ripped the course apart on Anzac Day. A former Trainee Professional and now Headland’s Pro Shop Retail Manager, Shane (handicap one) scored 40 points from his second three-under 66 at Headland this year. “I had only 25 putts, and that always helps. The greens are first class – they are running true, and the speed is good.,” he said. But his great round, flawed slightly by three bogies, was not good enough to win A Grade. That honour went to nurse Gary Marr (handicap 10) who scored 41 points in a round of 74, with two birdies on his card. Peter Leggo and David Drinnen (both 40 points) won B and C Grade, respectively.
BONZA WEEK: Despite being temporarily stranded in Townsville because of the Bonza Airlines fiasco, Gwen Nancarrow enjoyed a winning visit to the 2024 Women’s Queensland Country Week Championships. Playing alongside Ronnie Morley, her former Darwin Golf Club member and friend of 48 years, Gwen took out the Foursomes nett, for Divisions One and Two. The 2024 Women’s Country Stroke and Stableford Championship were played over 36 holes at, consecutively, Townsville Golf Club and Rowes Bay Golf Club. After being stranded in Townsville following the event, Gwen headed to Cairns to visit friends, then caught a Virgin flight to Brisbane and a coach back to the Sunshine Coast. “Winning made the week of messy travelling well worthwhile,” quipped the popular Headland veteran.
THREE FIRSTS: Leaving his recent ‘garbage’ golf at home, Geoff Bland has recorded three ‘firsts’ in his winning Saturday Single Stableford round. His 74 off the bat is his lowest-ever round of golf, while no double bogeys and no three putts are also a first for the Retirement Village Manager. “I have been playing garbage golf for about four months, so decided to visit the Pro Shop and buy some new irons,” explained Geoff, who won the Fourball Best Ball Medley Matchplay Championship in 2021 with Dan Diachkoff. “I finally found the middle of the new Titleist irons on Saturday, and they felt great.” Geoff had two birdies, nine pars and seven bogeys in his steady round, carding 41 points from his 10 handicap, and a win in A Grade. He also collected the NTP at the par-three ninth (formerly the eighth), almost holing out after the ball finished a mere 81 cm from the pin. Scott Lindsay (39 points) won B Grade and Daniel Hawks (37) finished on top in C Grade.
EAGLES FLY: Shane Muller was one of four players on Saturday to score an eagle in the Single Stableford event, taking his impressive under-par tally in four days to nine shots – seven birdies and an eagle. Shane eagled the par-four 12th hole (11th on the original layout), which was also eagled on Saturday by Andrew Diggins. Damian Moelands was another successful eagle chaser, dunking a seven-iron from near the water’s edge on the par-four 13th (12th), taking advantage of the ‘lift-and place’ rule after finding mud from the tee. He also won the Pro Pin, collecting an additional $56.50 to the $15 bonus paid for eagles. And Chris Weier, recently back as a Headland member following an elongated work-related absence, eagled the par-five third hole (2nd) to complete the eagle-hunting quartet.
VALE JOHN BOURKE: A tough-as-teak ex-rugby league player, John Bourke passed away almost 20 years to the day since he joined Headland Golf Club. John, who was a member of the Old Goats golf group (Order of Late Developing Golfers Optimistically Approaching Terminal Senility), passed away on April 27, a week after the date he joined the club in 2004 just prior to him and wife Frances retiring to the Sunshine Coast from Samford, where he had worked as an Insurance Broker. John won two first grade premierships with Brothers Rugby League Club in Brisbane (1967 and 1968), and represented Queensland against the touring Great Britain team in 1970. When he made Cotton Tree his new home, he became a member of the local Men of League committee. John, whose funeral service was held at Stella Maris Catholic Church Maroochydore on Friday, fought a lengthy battle with cancer and is survived by Frances, three children – Kathy, Joanne and Paul – five grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. He was 79.
JUNIOR PENNANT: Headland’s Division Two Junior Pennant team has squared its match against Glasshouse at Gympie on Sunday, with ‘senior’ members Sam Fichera and Charlotte Ridley scoring a win and a loss. Sam won 5&3 and Charlotte went down 4&3, while Matthew Bothma won 1-up and Dominic Manning lost 2-up. It was the team’s fourth match of the season, for two wins, a loss and a draw. Headland’s Division Two and Three Pennant teams are next in action against Noosa and Mt Coolum, respectively, at Cooroy on May 19.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Medley Single Stableford (82 players) – Warren Selvage (36 points), Col Pledge (35), Glen Fallon (34).
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (120 players) – Phil Kornmann and Gary Rugless (42 points), Cathy Roberts and Vicky Sheridan (42), Peter Hutchinson and Roy Peterson (41).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Rob Chaplin, Chaplin Cranes and Excavators – (218 players) – A Grade, Gary Marr (41 points), Shane Muller (40), Jarred Roker (40); B Grade, Peter Leggo (40), Paul Anderson (39), Peter O’Brien (30); C Grade, David Drinnen (40), Jack Williams (38), Phil Maron (38).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsor, Jodie McDonell, Century 21 on Duporth – (72 players) – A Grade, Jenny Ingham (71 nett), Sue Jones (74), Pik Chong (77), gross – Jenny Ingham (88); B Grade, Anne Callanan (72), Linda Cannon (75), Kath Barford (76), gross – Anne Callanan (93); C Grade, Joy Murray (76), Ree Condon (77), Di Stark (78), gross – Joy Murray (107).
Men, Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of rain).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Men (143 players) – A Grade, Geoff Bland (41 points), Simon Groom (39), Ciaran Fenton (38); B Grade, Scott Lindsay (39), Peter Richardson (39), Glenn Brooker (37); C Grade, Daniel Hawks (37), Robert Barwick (37), John Mannix (36).
Juniors, nine-hole par – Dominic Manning (+5), Finn Darlison (+6), Matthew Bothma (+7), Benjamin Cox (+9).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (32 players) – Lawrence Hiremi (39 points), Chris Klazema (35), Rod J Berger (34).
Long Lunch competition, Single Stableford (36 players) – Stephen Quinn (39 points), Joshua Newman (37); Fourball Best Ball Team Stableford – Dora Habgood, Angela Pearson, Rod Habgood and Ben Pearson (85 points).
