From Tony Durkin
PLANE TRUTH: Aviation Technical Consultant Fred Muller, who officially retires next week, embraced a plane of a different kind on Saturday – and scored a phenomenal 45 Stableford points. “I’ve been driving the ball really well, but lately have been having a real issue with my short irons,” confessed Fred, whose 81 off the stick is his lowest round since joining Headland back in 1993. “A week ago, I played with my namesake Shane (Muller), and he helped me with a couple of things, chiefly my swing plane. And on Saturday I hit it like a dream.” Playing off a generous handicap of 19 – a long way from the days he regularly played from the low teens – Fred had eight pars and 10 bogeys in his round, to easily win C Grade. “I reckon it has been at least 18 months since I played a decent round,” he bemoaned, but hoping the tips from ‘my son’ will head his handicap back down to around the 12-15 mark. With each of Headland’s regular 18 greens back in play on Saturday for the first time in 15 months, scores were outstanding. Playing off 11, Dennis Mikolic had three-over 74 for 44 points and a win in A Grade, while Mark Garcia won B Grade with 41 points.
MEEGAN WALKS: A Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at USC, Dr Meegan Walker, endorses her name – and her profession – by always walking the challenging Headland course. And on Wednesday she walked – and played – better than ever when, shooting her best-ever score – 87 – and breaking 90 for the first time. She also became the first female member to win a Wednesday Medley Single Stableford event. Meegan’s 43 Stableford points in C Grade came from a superb springboard – 23 points on the front nine – with one-four-point hole, three three-pointers and five twos. “I believe that is the first time both my short game and my long game have pulled together in the one round,” said a proud Meegan, who also ‘happily’ credited her husband Drew for a pre-game putting lesson. “Finally, all the stars aligned, and I played very well.” The win capped off a memorable week for the Walker family. Two days earlier Meegan’s mother-in-law, Jocelyn Walker, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the King’s Birthday honours. Ms Walker was recognised for significant service to business, and to the community through her philanthropic endeavours. In a big field of 233 players on Wednesday, Haydn Garner (39 points) won A Grade and Barrie Whelan (41) won B Grade, while Jamie Holbrook (12th hole) and Brett Stephenson (4th) both scored eagles. NOTE: In October 2021, Kate Wilkie became the first woman to win a Wednesday Medley Monthly Medal with victory in B Grade, while Annabel Harris created further history in December last year by becoming the first woman to win an A Grade Medley Monthly Medal.
DOUBLE ACE: Ironically, Darryl Chapman and Bryan Haggarty chatted on the putting green on Saturday before both aced the par-three 14th, two groups apart. “I was wearing my tartan pants, and Darryl said he wished he was a good enough golfer to ‘wear something like that’. I told him I only wore them to stir my playing partners,” revealed Bryan, whose hole-in-one was his second at Headland, and his third overall. Both Bryan and Darryl played the back nine first, meaning Bryan was first in the hole, which did not bother Darryl in the slightest. “Naturally, I was excited for myself, but just as pleased for Bryan. It’s good to share something like that,” said the former schoolteacher, who retired two decades ago. And, it was his first ace. The aces were not the lone highlight for either player. Bryan shot his first-ever par round at Headland for 43 points, and second pacing in A Grade, while Darryl (41) was third in C Grade.
FORM SWINGS: A week is a long time in golf, as Kathy Petrie can most certainly attest. With her two sisters, Kathy played in a Women’s invitational tournament at Nambucca Heads two weeks ago, and returned successive Stableford scores of 22, 26 and 22 from her three rounds. She then headed off to Mudgee the next weekend to compete in an Orienteering event, in which she finished second last in her age group. Feeling somewhat flat, and a tad dismayed, the 2015 SWING graduate lined up in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women, hoping for an improvement in form, and a slice of luck. And finally, the stars aligned, with Kathy signing for 41 points, the best score in the field of 108, and a win in Division Two. “And I finished with a birdie, and a nearest the pin shot to 55cm,” beamed the 27 marker, who has won two Monthly Medals in her time as a Headland member. Kathy carded two four pointers and seven threes, and says she still looks forward to playing her golf, despite her up-and-down form. Gay David (40 points) won Division One and Susan Stratford (39) saluted in Division Three.
SUPER START: When former Army Lieutenant Colonel Peter Keane won the C Grade Monthly Medal back in May last year, he was off to the worst imaginable start – a quadruple bogey at the first hole. That start changed dramatically on Tuesday when Peter, a Headland member since 2012, was out of the blocks like Usain Bolt, amassing 17 points in his first five holes on the way to 43 points, and a smashing victory in the Men’s Single Stableford. His 26 points on the front nine was almost flawless – one five-point birdie, five three pointers and two twos. “No reason at all,” was Peter’s response to why the sudden ‘purple patch’ materialised, although playing on Tuesday, which he normally does not, was an impulsive decision. Peter played off a 31 handicap on Tuesday, and does not profess to be any great shakes as a golfer, although in his 12 years as a member, he has won three Monthly Medals. “But I love the game, and thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie it offers,” he said. Six players, including President Peter Raymond, finished on 40 points.
INDSIDE INFO: Angela Pearson says no intel from her husband Ben, a newly-appointed greenkeeper at Headland, assisted in her winning score of 40 points in the Women’s Single Stableford on Saturday. “But he has been encouraging me to practise more, which I have, and it has really helped my short game,” said the CBA banker who joined the club in February of 2019. But the 23-marker, who penned a consistent three three-pointers and six two-pointers on her notable back nine of 21 points, revealed the major bonus in her round was not having to play out of any bunkers. “Last week it felt like I was in most of them,” she lamented. Ben, who was working at Maroochy River and on the Headland waitlist for membership when Angela last won an event in February last year – again with 40 points – was not only accepted as a member, but also joined the ground staff. “He plays off nine, and had 36 points on Saturday,” Angela added.
FOUR-POINT DES: The last time Des McNee won an event at Headland – a Thursday fourball in 2020 – he etched five four-point holes on the team card. On Thursday this past week, the retired surveyor was at it again when he won the Men’s Single Stableford, this time with three four-point holes in his score of 43 points. “There was a lot of luck in that score, and with those four pointers,” quipped Des, who joined Headland when he moved south from Gladstone a decade ago. He had a rather unusual front nine – three four pointers and three ones among his 22 points – but was much more consistent on the back, with six bogeys and three pars, to come home with 21 points. A left hander, 25-handicapper Des did not play serious golf until he retired to the Sunshine Coast in 2014.
PENNANT POWER: Five of the top six finishers in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women are Pennant (Inter Club Match Play) players, giving weight to the Julius Caeser quote that ‘experience is the teacher of all things’. Despite some recent rounds of self-proclaimed ‘rubbish’ golf, 12 handicapper Annabel Harris won the event with 40 points, from a round of 78, which included two birdies. But it was the next in line who also impressed – three of whom are recent graduates to Pennant golf. Competing in the 2024 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s ICMP competition – which is about to be finalised – Wendy Burnie (39), Lisa Ramen (39 points), Jenny Stokes (38) and Narelle Hollowood (37) were the Pennant players to score better than their handicaps. “Playing Pennants has certainly helped my golf, and my confidence,” said second-year player Jenny Stokes. “My understanding of the game has improved. I now look at the big picture, and certainly don’t fret like before if I have one bad hole.” First-year rookie Wendy Burnie concurred, saying her mental game had benefitted from her Pennant experience, as has her consistency.
MEN’S PENNANT: An understrength Headland A Grade team found the going tough against the always-strong Maroochy River on Sunday, going down 4½ – 2½ at Caloundra in round three of the 2024 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse Pennant season. Club Champion Ben Duncombe was again the shining light, thrashing 2022 Sunshine Coast Amateur Champion Jared Whittal, 4&3. Steve Hudson also continued his good Pennant form, with a 5&4 victory, as did Sean McGill, who squared his match. Adam Richards (4&3), Glenn Walker (5&3), Scott Bromfield (2-down) and Shane Muller (1-down) were beaten. B Grade reversed last week’s result with a 5-2 victory over Nambour at Noosa, with ‘Mr Reliable’, Michael Thomas, leading the change with a 5&2 win. Captain Steve Bell and Matt Prince both on 4&2, Brendan Duncan saluted 3&2 and Pennant debutant, Tony Mesic, scored a hard-fought win, 2-up. Damian Moelands, impressive last week, lost 1-down and Spencer Ives was beaten 2&1. Masters halved their match against Nambour at Noosa, with a 3½-3½ result. Newcomer Wayne Cassidy (4&3) won his second successive match, first-gamer Rob Van Delft won 3&2, as did Wayne West, while Terry Grogan gained a half, with a drawn result. Neven Daniel lost 3&2, and was joined on the deficit ledger by Captain Mark Henricks (3&2) and Chris Pace (5&3).
WOMEN’S PENNANT: Although out of finals contention, Headland’s Diamond (No.1) team finished the 2024 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s ICMP (Inter Club Match Play) competition on Sunday in a blaze of glory. Hosting the strong Maroochy River team, Headland won 4½-1½ despite their ‘gun’, Josie Ryan, going down 6&4. Julie Halliday climbed from her sick bed to win 7&6, Kate Wilkie won 3&2 as did Annabel Harris, while Vicky Sheridan was victorious, 2&1. And, for the second successive week, No.1 Lisa Ramen was valiant, managing a draw when giving six shots to her Maroochy opponent. In a season to forget – except for this last match – Diamond had one win, two losses and three draws.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (48 players) – Annabel Harris (40 points), Wendy Burnie (39), Lisa Ramen (39).
Men (73 players) – Peter Keane (43), Peter Raymond (40 points), Max Pasterfield (40).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Justin Scattini, Ord Minnett Private Wealth – (233 players) – A Grade, Haydn Garner (39 points), Scott Ingham (38), Col Thomas (38); B Grade, Bernie Whelan (41), Mike Radmall (40), Ben Victor (39); C Grade, Meegan Walker (43), Rob Douglass (39), David Drinnen (38).
Thursday, Women, Single Stableford (108 players) – Division One, Gay David (40 points), Althea McLean (38), Sue Jones (37); Division Two, Kathy Petrie (41), Nicola Whitmore (39), Sue Briffa (38); Division Three, Susan Stratford (39), Chrissy Eggins (39), Janette Mason (37).
Men, Single Stableford (80 players) – Des McNee (43 points), Paul Stephens (42), Stephen Woolcott (39).
Saturday, Single Stableford – Women (17 players) – Angela Pearson (40 points), Anne Callanan (37), Coralie Walsh (36).
Men (189 players) – A Grade, Dennis Mikolic (44 points), Bryan Haggarty (43), Andrew Hay (41); B Grade, Mark Garcia (41), Gary Martin (40), Michael Phillips (40); C Grade, Fred Muller (45), Richard Dinkelmann (42), Darryl Chapman (41).
Saturday, 2004 Match Play Championships, Quarter Finals – Women, A Grade, Lisa Ramen beat Dora Habgood (8&6), Julie Halliday beat Sharon Thomas (walkover), Kate Wilkie beat Sandy Whittle (5&4), Annabel Harris beat Vicky Sheridan (6&4); B Grade, Robyn Boreham beat Janelle Heaney ((7&6), Lynn Deacon beat Kristen Kaergaard (3&2), Cathy Roberts beat Naomi Doyle (5&3), Helen Fraser beat Kerry Longworth (6&5).
Men, A Grade, Ben Duncombe beat Ash Reck (6&5), Sean McGill beat Shane Muller (3&2), Justin Nicholson beat Adam Rydwanksi (20th hole), Adam Richards beat Glenn Walker (3&2) ; B Grade, Tom Burnett beat Brad Reed (1-up), Joel Cooney beat Ian Farrington (5&4), Geoff Bland beat Dennis Roberts (5&3), Denis Orr beat Mark Henricks (walkover); C Grade, Josh Poole beat Deon Breytenbach (2&1), Ross Itzstein beat Tim Reed (5&3), Anthony Larchin beat Mick Prince (1-up), Bruce Heseltine beat Jeff Jones (2-up).
