From Tony Durkin
MATCH PLAY: A month ago, when 20-year-old Ben Duncombe won his first Headland Club Championship and realised he and five-time Champion would be on the opposite sides of the Match Play Championship draw, he threw out a challenge to the veteran. “We have played each other twice in the past three years, and I have won both times,” said 50-year-old Adam, the defending Match Play Champion. Ben’s wish was granted on Saturday following his close shave against Sean McGill (2&1), and Adam beat Justin Nicholson 3&1, in another tight semi-final. The final will be played over 36 holes next Saturday. In B Grade, Joel Cooney will play Denis Orr, while Bruce Heseltine plays Anthony Larchin in C Grade, and aiming for the double. Lisa Ramen and Annabel Harris have set the scene for a titanic battle in Women’s A Grade, both winning their respective finals on Saturday, 5&4. Lisa has found some of her best form of late while Annabel brings an unbeaten Pennant season into the showdown, to be played over 18 holes, also next Saturday. In B Grade, Robyn Boreham meets Helen Fraser, and Penny Cooper and Ree Condon will clash for the C Grade title.
BROWN BREAK: Following a three-year stretch when he averaged only a half dozen competition rounds annually, Peter Brown wasn’t sure he would ever recapture the form that once had him playing from a handicap of four. But the Head Chef at The Bower Tree, Sippy Downs, scuppered those doubts on Wednesday when – playing off eight – he shot three-over 74 to return a nett 66, to win the June A Grade Mid-Week Medal. And while that feat alone was a notable achievement after such a long break, the Medal win was a first for the tall left hander, who has been a member of Headland since 2001. “The win certainly ended a long drought – maybe as long as five years,” said a relieved Peter, who a few years ago decided golf should take a back seat while he changed jobs, and spent his former ‘golf’ time being more involved in his kids’ sport. “I drove the ball exceptionally, and while my irons weren’t that crash hot, I was able to get most of my long putts close.” Three birdies highlighted a card that also revealed nine pars and six bogeys. Brenden Southey (B Grade) and Robin Hardy (C Grade) both scored 68 nett to win their respective Medals, while Ben Duncombe shot six birdies, seven pars and five bogeys to return the best gross score, with one-under 70.
BUNKER BOGEY: Three bunkers, three bogeys. That was the tale of woe that prevented Headland’s lowest handicapped female member, Lisa Ramen, from having the perfect round on Tuesday. The eight-marker shot three bogies in her opening four holes on the front nine, after an unblemished back nine (she teed off on the tenth), but managed to score 41 points from her three-over 75, and win the Single Stableford for Women. “It’s been quite a while since I’ve had a card that clean,” said Lisa, who has struggled with recent personal issues, yet still managed to maintain her interest in golf. “I was happy with my three sand shots, but failed to convert the putts.” But Lisa revealed it has been her final three Pennant matches of the season where she ‘punched well above my weight’ that has reinvigorated the mental discipline she had been lacking of late. “I know I’m physically capable – I just hope I can move forward with a bit more between the ears,” she quipped. Lisa paid tribute to her ‘good mate’ Pik Chong for caddying during her final three Pennant matches. “She kept me on the straight and narrow and helped my self-belief enormously,” she added.
SILENT GOLF: As is always his way, former teacher librarian Kevin Howe quietly made his way around Headland’s 18 holes on Saturday, but this time a little more successfully than in recent rounds. Kevin, retired from Kawana State College for six years, put two ‘shockers’ behind him to score 41 points in the Men’s Single Stableford, and win C Grade. “I had 104 in the Monthly Medal at the start of June, and finished dead last in the field. And on Thursday, I scored only 23 points,” he bemoaned. “The difference? I ‘managed’ my round, and stayed out of the bunkers.” Teeing off on 10, Kevin started par, birdie, then had successive doubles. “But thankfully I steadied, and scored 32 points in the next 14 holes,” he said. Golf, however, will be the furthest thing from Kevin’s mind this coming week. With two mates form Mt Isa, he is off to Melbourne to watch the Mighty Maroons in Origin Two at the MCG on Wednesday night. Adrian Barr (39 points) won A Grade, Dean Rae (40) led in the B Grade field and Sandee Brimblecombe (37) won the Women’s event.
MAN BEATER: Only two players in the field of 59 in Sunday’s Medley Single Stroke had a bigger handicap than Maureen Cartledge, but the rising 77-year-old beat them all. “It felt so good,” said the three-time C Grade Women’s Champion, who ‘mentioned’ her husband Graham was one of those left in her wake. “I had 103 (nett 70) and he had 106. We regularly play on Sundays, in the same group, and it was very satisfying to beat him.” But despite the win, Maureen was not overly happy. “My golf lately has been awful. My handicap is out to 33, after I played off 27 for most of last year,” she lamented. Maureen was one of only seven women in the Sunday field, and is a rare female member to win a Medley event at Headland since they were introduced during the past decade.
STEELY RESOLVE: The former owner of AJ Steel, Mal Galletly, exhibited the strength of the product he formerly sold when he won Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men, with a three-year high of 40 points. Suffering renal cancer, Mal lost a kidney five years go and endured a reoccurrence in 2022 which resulted him being bedridden for almost 15 months. “It is what it is,” said Mal, a former Circulation Manager for the Sunshine Coast Daily newspaper. “I have sold AJ Steel to my son, and am back playing golf again, so life is pretty good at the moment.” And so was his golf on Tuesday, particularly his back nine of 21 points, highlighted by three successive pars – and three pointers – to finish. “I have only been back to golf a few months, and my round was a bit flukey. But my short game saved me,” he confided, revealing he sank a nine-metre putt from off the green for birdie at the par-four sixth.
HUBBY HELPS: Maria Hireme won Monday’s Vets Division One Single Stableford for Women, and scored more points than her husband Lawrence, yet praised him for her improved form. “Lawrence has been giving me some tips, particularly with my putting,” revealed Maria, who said it had been ages since her last win. The agency nurse, who keeps at least one day free each week for golf, scored 39 points from her 26 handicap, and breezed home with 21 points on the back nine. “I haven’t been playing well for quite a long time, so I was very happy to have a win, and I was grateful to Lawrence for his help. The fact that I scored more points than him on Monday wasn’t any big deal. We often play together and understand we have our good days, and our bad days. That’s golf.” The couple, who had not been members of the any golf club before they moved to the Sunshine Coast, joined Headland 12 years ago. Jill McAndrew (36 points) won Division Two. NOTE: Lawrence (36 points) finished second in Division One Men on Monday, and followed that with 37 points on Tuesday to finish third.
POOR LAPSE: Standing on the 14th tee – his last hole in the shotgun start – Bruce Heseltine had tabled 39 points in Monday’s Vets Single Stableford, and thought a really good score was on the cards. “And I put the cart before the horse, forgot all the good things I had been doing during round, and wiped the hole,” lamented the recently-crowned C Grade Champion. “Even though I ended up with the best score of the day, I was so disappointed in myself. I had been playing exceptionally until three of my last four holes, with two doubles and the wipe.” Bruce (17 handicap on the day) played to 14 with – apart from his three blunders – seven pars and seven bogeys on his card, and says he simply can’t afford similar lapses in concentration if he wants to fulfil his goal of the C Grade double – Championship and Match Play title. Bruce won Vets Division Two, Glen Teakle (38 points) won Division One and Roly Hoy (36) Division Three.
WELL GROOMED: Imparted the basics of golf by his dad, 14-year-old David Groom blitzed the Headland course on Thursday, scoring 42 points to win the Single Stableford for Men. Simon Groom, a six handicapper and teacher at Sunshine Coast Grammar where David is a student, had stressed on the sports-talented youngster that if he took up golf, practising the skills was a stipulation. And David heeded his dad’s advice, practicing for three hours before penning three four-pointers and five three pointers on his card, and returning an impressive 23 points on the back nine from his 31 handicap. A junior member for 12 months, David had played just seven competition rounds before Thursday’s three-point victory, with his previous best 33 points. He also deputised for two recent Junior Pennant matches and, despite being well beaten, gained valuable experience. But while David was thrilled with his win, he was just an enamoured for his playing partner, 80-year-old Raymond Norman, who aced the par-three 14th for his fourth hole in one at Headland. And David and Raymond quinellered the event – Raymond was runner-up with 39 points.
LIBBY’S BACK: Not only is Libby Hall back on the golf course after a lengthy sabbatical, but she is also back in the winner’s enclosure for the first time since August last year. A graduate from the original SWING program of 2013, Libby played to her handicap (26) and scored 36 points to win Division One in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women. Because of medical issues, and travel, Libby has played sparse golf since her good friend, and fellow SWING graduate, Kathy Walker, passed away last October. It was alongside Kathy, in a Fourball Best Ball Stableford, that Libby scored her last win – and what a victory that was. The duo scored 49 points, the most in a Women’s Fourball during 2023, and second only for the year behind a 50-pointer amassed by Brett Beaumont and David James. On Thursday Libby penned 18 points on both nines, with just the one wipe, the result of a visit to one of the two bunkers she found. Lynn Hayman (also 36 points) won Division Two and Jill McAndrew (35) won Division Three.
JUNIOR CHAMPS: Headland’s lowest handicapped junior member, Sam Fichera, is the halfway leader of the 2024 Junior Club Championship. Sam, the defending Champion, shot 84 in the first round of the Championship on Sunday, and holds a three-shot lead over Matthew Bothma (87), with Gurmantar Gill (90) and Max Faulkner (94) the only threats to the leading pair. Sam (handicap 10.5) started well with four pars and two bogeys in his first six holes, before faltering to turn in 44. His back nine of 40 included the only two birdies in his round, but he also penned two doubles. The final round of the Championship will be played next Sunday.
SANDEE WINS: ‘I’m enjoying the fact the changes to the course are almost finished,” quipped Sandee Brimblecombe following her victory in Saturday’s Single Stableford for Women. Also enjoyable for Sandee, who scored 37 points from her 20 handicap to win by a point, was the fact she did not wipe any holes. Until the past month, when she has managed four competition rounds, Sandee had played just four games for the year. “Work, travel and family commitments have been a more important priority,” she revealed, also disclosing that her last win was in January last year, and prior to that in March 2022, when she partnered her husband Ross to win a Mixed Ambrose event. Sandee penned five three-pointers, nine twos and four singles on her winning card.
TWO-BALL JUG: Headland’s annual Two-Ball Jug will be contested on Saturday (June 29), and is once again sponsored by Grant Martyn of Grant Martyn Constructions and Graeme and Jack Nicholas of Hometree. Theme for the day is footy dress – any code – and more than $2000 in prizes will be up for grabs, with numerous additional enticements including prizes for the best-dressed team, NTPs for both males and females on holes five, eight and 14, Pro Pins on six and 12, and long drives, again for both men and women players, on holes three and 12. As well, any player who hits the 18th green in regulation will be in the draw for a $200 cash prize. Entries are now open, via the members portal.
MEN’S PENNANT: Headland’s A Grade Pennant team recharged its finals chances in the 2024 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse Pennant season with a gripping 4-3 victory over Caboolture at Noosa on Sunday. Recent Club Champions Adam Rydwanski (5&4) and Adam Richards (4&3) were the stars, while newcomer Jack Hourn scored a 1-up victory on debut. Sean McGill and Ben Duncombe scored halves, while Shane Muller (6&5) and Justin Nicholson (3&2) were beaten. Adam Richards’ victory was extra sweet – he downed ex-Headland Pennant player and former multiple Club Champion Dave Rattray, who has moved to Caboolture. B Grade was not as fortunate, and will struggle to qualify for the finals after losing 5½-1½ to Mt Coolum at Peregian. Skipper Steve Bell (4&2) was the only victor, while Brendan Duncan fought back from four-down dormie, to square his match. Damian Moelands (6&5), Tony Mesic (3&2), Matt Prince (1-down), Michael Thomas (1-down) and Ryan Tomlinson (6&5) were beaten. Masters were also beaten by Mount Coolum, succumbing 4-3 at Peregian. Peter Dunn was the standout, recording a 6&4 victory, while captain Mark Henricks (2&1) and Rob Van Delft (3&2) also prevailed. But close results went against Headland, with Wayne West (1-down), and Chris Pace, Terry Grogan and Wayne Cassidy each being beaten 2-down.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (30 players), Division One, Maria Hireme (39 points), Annabel Harris (35), Kim Cummins (33); Division Two, Jill McAndrew (36), Christine Hall (36), Pam Andrews (32).
Men (103 players), Division One, Glen Teakle (38 points), Lawrence Hireme (36), Gary Roberts (36); Division Two, Bruce Heseltine (39), Ross Wedmaier (39), David Munns (38); Division Three, Roly Hoy (36), Barry Hodge (36), Stephen Larossa (33).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (43 players) – Lisa Ramen (41 points), Anne Hayward (38), Anita Boyle (38).
Men (73 players) – Mal Galletly (40 points), Don Caldwell (39), Lawrence Hireme (37).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stroke and Men’s Mid-Week Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (219 players) – A Grade, Peter Brown (66 nett), Mark Selig (68), Rhett Charlton (70); B Grade, Brenden Southey (68), Huki Matenga (69), Ken Anderson (70); C Grade, Robin Hardy (68), Craig Driscoll (69), Ian Robinson (69); Best Gross, Ben Duncombe (70).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsors, Sandy Whittle, Patrice Jenkins, Kerry Longworth and Gwen Nancarrow – (96 players) – Division One, Libby Hall (36 points), Catherine Peterson (35), Gwen Nancarrow (35); Division Two, Lynn Hayman (36), Lyn Forbes (36), Joy Bulloch (35); Division Three, Jill McAndrew (35), Mary Gibberd (33), Barb Marrington (33).
Men (90 players) – David Groom (42 points), Raymond Norman (39), John Marrington (39).
Saturday, Single Stableford –- sponsor, Bryan Haggarty, R2G Communications – Women (22 players) – Sandee Brimblecombe (37 points), Kerry Longworth (36), Anne Callanan (35).
Men (196 players) – A Grade, Adrian Barr (39 points), Geoff Sawyer (38), Rob Cunningham (38); B Grade, Dean Rae (40), Brad Downs (39), Justin Walsh (38); C Grade, Kevin Howe (41), Roly Hoy (39), Ross Wedmaeir (39).
Saturday, 2004 Match Play Championships, Semi-Finals – Women, A Grade, Lisa Ramen beat Julie Halliday (5&4), Annabel Harris beat Kate Wilkie (5&4); B Grade, Robyn Boreham beat Lynn Deacon (4&3), Helen Fraser beat Cathy Roberts (3&1), C Grade, Penny Cooper beat Sue Bolton (1-up), Ree Condon (bye).
Men, A Grade, Ben Duncombe beat Sean McGill (2&1), Adam Richards beat Justin Nicholson (3&1); B Grade, Joel Cooney beat Tom Burnett (2&1), Denis Orr beat Geoff Bland (2&1); C Grade, Bruce Heseltine beat Josh Poole (6&5), Anthony Larchin beat Ross Itzstein (1-up).
Sunday, Medley Single Stroke (59 players) – Maureen Cartledge (70 nett), Rod J Berger (71), Lang Pryor (71).
