From Tony Durkin
CHAMPION BEN: With a second and two third placings in the past four years, 20-year-old Ben Duncombe has finally saluted in the 2024 Headland Men’s Club Championship. Leading from the opening round when he shot one-under 68, Ben (handicap -2) stormed home on Sunday to win by 11 strokes, finishing with a brilliant blemish-free four-under 30 on the back nine. Ben left the remainder of the talented Headland field in his wake, with a final round five-under 64 – including six birdies – giving him a four-round par-equalling total of 276 for 72 holes, and one of the most convincing victories in recent years. “I am very relieved,” said Ben, who conceded he had struggled to ‘get the job done’ in the past after joining Headland from Coral Cove as a gifted 15-year-old, specifically to play Pennants. “That is by far the best I have played in the Championships, and today I felt in control of my game. The course is playing the toughest it has in my time here, with the new bunkering now making it more demanding from the tee. But thankfully, my accuracy with the driver has been my main strength lately, and that was again the case today.” Ben shot rounds of 68,74,70, 64 to beat defending Champion Adam Rydwanski (73,72,71,71), and said the second-round conditions were by far the most difficult. He entered the final round on Sunday four shots ahead of two-time Champion Rydwanski, with Sean McGill a further two strokes in arrears. He immediately extended his lead with birdies at the third and eighth holes, with his only blemish a bogey at the par-three ninth (original eighth hole). Ben, who was Junior Champion in 2022, and the previous year won the Men’s Foursomes Championship with fellow junior Josh Holbrook, is currently employed at Twin Waters Golf Club and is contemplating his future, with a Pro Traineeship a possibility. He is the youngest Headland Champion since a namesake, Ben Wedmaier, won as 17-year schoolboy in 2008.
THANKS BROTHER: Brad Reed had to survive a two-hole play-off on Sunday to win the B Grade Championship, and in doing so collect $250 from his brother Tim. The Championship was sponsored by the Neubau Group, owned by Tim Reed, who also contested the Championship in C Grade, along with another brother, Nick. But Brad was the best performed of the trio, leading the B Grade field from round two. However, 2022 C Grade Champion Geoff Bland stormed home in the final round on Sunday with 78 to force a play-off with Brad, who carded 83. The pair squared the first play-off hole, but Brad parred the second (par-five third) to win his first Headland Championship. Last year’s C Grade runner-up, Bruce Heseltine, went one better in 2024, winning the C Grade Championship, while Scott Bromfield has become back-to-back Senior Champion.
FEET FIRST: Podiatrist Ben Kennedy exited Headland immediately after scoring 48 points in the Men’s Single Stableford competition on Tuesday – not because he felt pangs of guilt, but because he had to return to work. A former cricketer who attended a four-week golf clinic when he was 10 and had played virtually no golf in the three decades since, Ben joined Headland in November last year on a handicap of 26 and started playing competition golf in January. “I am a fairly data-driven person, so I realise 48 points is a really good score,” said the former Victorian who has been living on the Sunshine Coast for 15 years. “But while it was a fluke in some ways, I have actually hit the ball better.” With a round of 84 – six pars, 10 bogeys, a double and a triple – Ben shaved 13 strokes from his previous best competition round and penned two four-pointers and 10 three-pointers on his winning card. “I mostly recovered from my bad shots, and putted well,” he shared, revealing after his inaugural win that his golf, of late, had been ‘all over the shop’.
ON HER WAY: It may be happening gradually, but former Australian Masters Hockey player Jenny Stokes is closing in on one of her golfing goals. Jenny’s GA handicap was reduced to 26.6 after she won Tuesday’s Division One Single Stableford for Women, with an excellent score of 39 points. The 2019 SWING graduate started on 36, sliced that to 24 earlier this year before a mini form slump, but feels she is on her way back down. “I love golf, am enjoying the competitiveness and find that playing Pennants (with Pearls) has really helped my game,” said Jenny, who took up golf after quitting her impressive hockey career. While Tuesday’s round was somewhat short of her best-ever – 44 points late last year – there were similarities, with two four-pointers on her card in both rounds. “My ultimate golfing goal is to get down to a 20 handicap, and I feel I am playing well enough to achieve that,” she forecast. Jenny beat ‘guns’ Gwen Nancarrow and Sharon Thomas on Tuesday for her first Division One victory, while Denise Hutchinson (38) won Division Two.
RARE SUCCESS: Retired Oil and Gas Surveyor Stu Ennever concedes that because of the recent course changes, Headland, in general, was becoming more difficult to conquer. Yet, suddenly, ‘one of those days’ emerged, and the former Maroochy High student shot the lights out on Wednesday. Stu returned the best score in the mid-week Medley Single Stableford – 43 points – to win C Grade. And in doing so, he shot successive birdies on holes 14 and 15 (13 and 14 on the original course), a rare achievement for him. “One is rare bird for me these days,” says Stu, who joined Headland 23 years ago when he returned from a working stint in the Houston oil fields. “And winning is also rare. I think my last memorable victory was a Monthly Medal back in 2020, so this has been a long time coming.” Despite a wipe at 17 (16th), his notable winning card revealed a five-point hole, three four-pointers and four three-pointers. Restaurateur Tex Teixeira (42) returned to form with a win in A Grade, while Nick Reed (40) won B Grade. And Ben Duncombe (11th hole) and Glenn Walker (sixth) both scored eagles.
RICHIE RABBIT: On the same day his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs scored just their second win of the NRL season, dedicated fan Richard Ryan won his first golf event in more than six months. Richard, who lives adjacent to the second tee, scored 41 points from his 22 handicap to win Saturday’s Medley Single Stableford, penning 86 stokes. “I’ve had a bit of a lean trot since I won the C Grade Monthly Medal Back in November, but at 80 years of age I can’t really complain,” says Richard, who moved north from Lismore in 2013 before becoming a Headland member. Pleased not to have a wipe on his card Richard – who plays at least twice a week and often plays a few practise holes – registered seven three-pointers in his round.
WOMEN’S PENNANT: Emerald has continued its winning run in the 2024 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s ICMP (Inter Club Match Play), with a strong 5-1 victory over Caloundra at Bribie Island on Sunday. With skipper Kirsten Kaergaard injured, Angela Pearson came into the team and won 2&1, joining Narelle Hollowood (4&3), Julie Welsh (3&2), Cathy Roberts (2-up) and Odette Day (5&4) in the winner’s circle. Jan Langdon lost 2-down. The weekend earlier Emerald beat Mt Coolum 4-2 at Noosa, with Narelle Hollowood, Kirsten Kaergaard and Cathy Roberts each scoring 2&1 victories, and Jan Langdon won 2-up. ICMP newcomers Angela Pearson (5&4) and Julie Welsh (7&6) were beaten. Pearl had a resounding win on Monday, beating Noosa 4-2 at Noosa. Wendy Burnie (5&4), Deborah Bennetts (4&3), Ree Condon (4&2) and Ellen Bloxsome (1-up) were winners, while Di Stark and Jenny Stokes both lost 2-down. The previous week, Diamonds could not capitalise on the home course advantage and tied with Beerwah, 3-all in a nail-biting finish. Annabel Harris had a strong 4&3 win, Pik Chong won 5&4 and Josie Ryan won 1-up. Vicky Sheridan lost her match 7&5 while both Lisa Ramen and Julie Halliday were beaten 1-down, at the 18th. Amethyst lost 4-2 to Woodford at Bribie Island, with four of the six matches also going to the final hole. Gwen Nancarrow smashed her opponent 7&6, both Helen Venter and Wil Sprake squared their matches, but Jenny Ingham (1-down), Althea McLean (2&1) and Marg Smith (2-down) were beaten.
JUNIOR PENNANT: The season of Headland’s Division Two Junior Pennant team is over following Sunday’s loss to Noosa at Woodford, 2½-1½. Max Faulkner continued his unbeaten form, winning 2&1, and Matthew Bothma squared his match, while Sam Fichera lost 2-down, as did Dominic Manning (5&4). At Cooroy a week earlier, Division Two halved their match against Mt Coolum – Dominic Manning winning 4&3 along with Max Faulkner (2&1), with Charlotte Ridley (7&6) and Matthew Bothma (2&1) beaten. Despite losing 3-1 against Noosa at Cooroy, Division Three has still qualified for the final, and will play Maroochy River at Mt Coolum next Sunday (June 2). Keaton Fox won 5&4 on his Pennant debut, while Flynn Lambalk lost 6&4, David Groom went down (5&4) and Paige Prosser lost 2-down. Headland Junior Pennant coach Leon Faulkner was full of praise for his Juniors, most of whom were having their first year in Pennants. “I suspect the next few years will be very entertaining,” he predicted.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (53 players) – Division One, Jenny Stokes (39 points), Gwen Nancarrow (38), Sharon Thomas (37); Division Two, Denise Hutchinson (38), Christine Hall (36), Carolyn Schwartz (34).
Men (65 players) – Ben Kennedy (48 points), Don Caldwell (42), Mark Glassop (41).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor Adam Robins, AR Coastal Scaffolding – (211 players) – A Grade, Tex Teixeira (42 points), Jay Gourlay (41), Glenn Walker (40); B Grade, Nick Reed (40), Toby Zaremba (40), Peter Blackwood (39); C Grade, Stu Ennever (43), Neil Dougherty (39), Joe Stotscheck (38).
Thursday, Four-Person Ambrose, Women (103 players) – Di Stark, Robyn Boreham, Gail Young and Jane Boaler (57.125), Sue Bolton, Jill Nixey, Julie Welsh and Mary Young (57.875), Kerry Longworth, Marg Howard, Naomi Doyle and Patrice Jenkins (60.625).
Men (83 players) – Barry Newton, Brad Reddan, Fred Muller and Neil Oxley (53.875), John Langdon, Brian Kesby, Warren Selvage and Geoff Walker (54.25).
Saturday, Men’s Championships, Round Three – sponsor, Tim Reed, Neubau Group (149 players) – A Grade, nett, Simon Hughes (66), Chris Weier (67); gross, Ben Duncombe (70), Scott Bromfield (71); B Grade, nett, Paul Morton (64), Tom Burnett (64); gross, Mark Henricks (75), Tom Burnett (75); C Grade, Mick Garske (67), Emmet Walsh (68); gross, Nick Reed (85), Tim Reed (85).
Medley Single Stableford (72 players) – Richard Ryan (41 points), David Murrihy (39), Clint Adams (34).
Sunday, Men’s Championships, Round Four – sponsor, Tim Reed, Neubau Group – (142 players) – A Grade, nett, Glenn Walker (65), Justin Nicholson (66); gross, Ben Duncombe (64), Adam Richards (69); B Grade, nett, Chris Klazema (66), Dennis Mikolic (67); gross, Matt Hetherington (75), Geoff Bland (78); C Grade, Ben Laycock (66), Ross Itzstein (69); gross, Nick Reed (85), Tony Kelleher (87).
Men’s 2024 Club Championship gross scores – sponsor, Tim Reed, Neubau Group, Round One (154 players) – A Grade, gross, Ben Duncombe (68), Dan Diachkoff (69), Ash Reck (69), Glenn Walker (72), Wayne West (72); B Grade, Gary Clarke (78), Glen Grimish (79), Ian Farrington (79), Rhett Charlton (79), Graham Smith (79); C Grade, Geoff Kimmitt (81), Mick Prince (87), Bruce Heseltine (87), Terry Lawlor (87).
Round Two (154 players) – A Grade, Darryl Kong (72), Sean McGill (72), Chris Weier (72), Adam Rydwanski (72); B Grade, Brad Reed (82), Gary Clarke (82), Ross Brimblecombe (82), Mike McQuarrie (82), Druce Fielding (82); C Grade, Terry Lawlor (88), Tim Reed (89), Anthony Larchin (82).
Round Three (149 players) – A Grade, Ben Duncombe (70), Scott Bromfield (71), Adam Rydwanski (71); B Grade, Mark Henricks (75), Tom Burnett (75), Geoff Bland (76); C Grade, Nick Reed (85), Tim Reed (85), Bruce Heseltine (86).
Round Four (142 players) – A Grade, Ben Duncombe (64), Adam Richards (70), Adam Rydwanski (71); B Grade, Matt Hetherington (75), Geoff Bland (78), Chris Klazema (79), Dennis Mikolic (79); C Grade, Nick Reed (85), Ros Itzstein (87), Robert Chaplin (87), Tony Kelleher (87).
2024 Men’s Championship results: Club Champion – Ben Duncombe (68,74,70, 64 – 276), runner-up – Adam Rydwanski (73,72,71,71 – 287); A Grade nett (on a countback) – Glenn Walker (274), Jamie Holbrook (274); B Grade (following a two-hole play-off), Champion – Brad Reed (319), Geoff Bland (319); nett (on a countback), Denis Orr (276), runner-up Ross Brimblecombe (276); C Grade Champion – Bruce Heseltine (358), runner-up – Anthony Larchin (361); nett, Ben Laycock (279), runner-up, Geoff Kimmitt (286); Senior Champion – Scott Bromfield (305).
A Grade final standings: Ben Duncombe (68,74,70, 64 – 276), Adam Rydwanski (73,72,71,71 – 287), Adam Richards (76.75,72,69 – 292), Sean McGill (73,72,73, 74 – 292).
