From Tony Durkin
BEN AGAIN: Such is the talent at Headland Golf Club, that it has taken Ben Duncombe – current handicap minus 2.2 – five years to win the Men’s Club Championship. But while it took five attempts to clinch the prestigious event, he has now turned it into a double, winning the A Grade Match Play, thrashing defending Champion Adam Richards 7&6 on Saturday. And he did it in absolute class, winning the first four holes and playing the morning 18 of the scheduled 36-hole event seven under the card, to lead by nine at the turn. “It was a pleasure to watch him play the first nine,” said the vanquished Richards, who has won the Match Play title six times. A winner of the Junior Masters and four Club Championships – two at Bargara and two at his junior club, Coral Cove – Ben rates the 2024 Headland double ‘right up there’. “I have been runner-up in the Match Play twice, both times to Adam, and it was very satisfying to finally get the job done. I really wanted to win this.” In B Grade, Denis Orr and Joel Cooney staged a ding-dong battle, with the scheduled 36-hole event going to the 39th before Denis prevailed. But it was a completely different story in C Grade. Bruce Heseltine made it a Championship/Match Play double when he thrashed Anthony Larchin, leading 11-up with 10 of the scheduled 36 holes still to play.
LISA IS BACK: ‘I’m so relieved’ was how 2024 Women’s Match Play Champion, Lisa Ramen, described her comprehensive 7&6 victory over Annabel Harris, in the final played on Sunday morning. “And I’m happy I made amends for my capitulation in the Club Championships,” she added, after she had let a four-shot lead slip with nine holes to play, and was beaten by perennial Champion, Josie Ryan. Lisa confessed she had practised all week leading up to the scheduled 18-hole Match Play final, knowing that Annabel would be hard to beat. “Of all the women in the play-offs, Annabel was the last I wanted to meet in the final. She is as tough as nails, and I knew I had to bring it today. I had to play aggressively, and could not back off.” She again thanked her caddy, Pik Chong, for keeping her mind on the job. Lisa, who won back-to-back Club Championships in 2006 and 2007, revealed this was the first time she had played in an Honour Board Match Play event.
PERFECT PAIR: Thirteen marker John Langdon was ‘pleased, and proud’ to have played his part in Saturday’s Two Ball Jug victory at Headland. Partnering two handicapper and A Grade Pennant player Geoff Walker, John said most members assumed that Geoff, currently ranked 11th on the Australian Senior Men’s Order of Merit, would have been the star of the day. “Admittedly my handicap came in handy, but I must say I played very well, and certainly made some contribution to our good score,” mused John. And a good score it indeed was – 58.5 nett, with nine birdies and nine pars from their combined handicap of 3.5. Geoff has been a Headland member for 14 months, and in that time he and John have become regular Wednesday playing partners. “When he first arrived, Geoff put his name down to play in the same group as me, and we have since become good mates,” revealed John. “He is an outstanding golfer. I don’t think I have played with anyone as accurate as Geoff.” A big field of 218 teed off in the Jug, which was again sponsored by Grant Martyn Constructions and Jack and Graeme Nicholas of Hometree. John and Geoff each collected $140 for the win, plus the perpetual Jug trophy.
JENNY’S STOKED: ‘Amazed and surprised’ was how Jenny Stokes described her win on Thursday, while topping the table for Headland Women in retaining the Bentwood Trophy. “I wasn’t sure exactly how the Bentwood Trophy worked, and unfortunately I couldn’t stay for the presentations because I was babysitting my grandchildren,” confessed Jenny, who scored 41 Stableford points to win Division Two. And Jenny showed the steely competitiveness from her days as an Australian Masters Hockey rep when she failed to be rattled after starting with four successive double bogeys. “Playing Pennants (with Team Pearl) has helped me understand the game better, and I was determined to keep fighting back,” said the 2019 SWING graduate, who ripped the back nine apart, scoring 24 points. Jenny has wiped three strokes from her GA handicap in the past month and now sits on 23.7, with the ultimate goal of being down to 20 by the end of the year. Tracey O’Connor (39 points) won Division One and Sue Bolton (36) won Division Three. NOTE: Headland easily won the Bentwood Trophy clash against Redcliffe – 448 points to 384 – with the 12 best Stableford scores from each club contributing. “Twenty women travelled up the Bruce, and were all very complimentary of the new course layout,” reported Headland’s Women’s Director of Golf, Sue Jones.
SAM’S DOUBLE: Sunshine Coast Grammar student, Sam Fichera, has gone back-to-back, winning Headland’s Junior Championship on Sunday by 10 shots. The 14-year-old, who played off nine in the final round, led by three strokes going in to the deciding 18 holes, held that lead until the turn on Sunday, then surged away from runner-up Matthew Bothma over the final nine. He was never headed during the 36-hole event. Gurmantar Gill and Dominic Manning finished third and fourth, respectively.
NO BLEMISHES: Naturally, 14-handicapper Gary Rugless was ecstatic when he broke 80 at Headland on Thursday for the first time as a 10-year member. But the former Sydney Firey who won an A Grade Rugby premiership with Randwick in 1973, was just as enamoured by the 11 pars and seven bogeys on his card. “No wipers, no doubles,” beamed Gary, who has fully recovered from his second hip replacement 12 months ago. “I had a great day. It all just happened.” Gary scored 43 points in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men, winning the competition by four points, and adding $105 to his House Account. His last win was in August last year, also in a Thursday comp, when he scored 40 points playing off 17, and collected $125. “I like Thursdays,” said Gary, who moved north to retire 20 years ago and joined Headland to ‘have a crack’ at a game he had never previously played.
PAR BREAKER: It has taken the former Longreach local almost a decade, but Dan Hurst has finally broken par at Headland. The holidaying Caloundra State High teacher won A Grade in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford with 42 points from his five handicap, and confessed he had not ‘choked’ when his one-under 70 was looming. “I have been in pole position a few times before, but have always found a way to not get the job done,” revealed Dan, who penned four birdies, three bogeys and 10 pars on his winning card. “I don’t think I played any better today than I have previously, and in fact probably left a couple out there. But it was a big relief to finally achieve something that has been really important to me.” After turning with 20 points, he was one-under on the back with his only bogey at the No.1 rated hole, the par-four 15th. “But I came home par, birdie, par, and settled the score with my demons,” jested the former Maroochydore first grade cricketer, who thanked his playing partners – from the ‘Headland Hustlers’ group – for their calming support. In a big field of 228, Marco Di Nardo (also 42 points) won B Grade and Peter Norris (43) returned the best score of the day, to win C Grade.
MORE CLUBS: Narelle Hollowood realises she needs more than 11 clubs in her bag, but first wants to master the ones she has. And while one of those clubs is not usually her putter, it was the blade which cost her three of her four double bogeys in Tuesday’s winning round. A former semi-professional Adventure Racer, Narelle took up golf during Covid lockdown and joined Headland in 2022, quickly reducing her handicap to 19, from which she played on Tuesday and scored 38 Stableford points. And while an impressive back nine of 21 points was hindered by a double bogey at the 18th, she confessed she needed a club to give her more distance from the fairway. “My favourite club is a men’s five wood, which I mostly use for my second shot on the par fours and par fives. And while I know I need something else, I’m not sure what,” quipped Narelle, who was unbeaten in the 2024 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s ICMP (Inter Club Match Play) competition, playing for Emerald. NOTE: Narelle’s business, SkirtSports, is sponsor of Headland’s 2024 Women’s Open, to be played on Monday, July 22.
MORE STEALTH: A slower swing with his new TaylorMade Stealth clubs purchased from the Pro Shop, has enabled Marty Dix to score his first win in ‘a damn long time’. The retired glazier – who will still replace the odd piece of glass if asked – was having his first game of golf on Tuesday after a bout of pneumonia, contracted on a recent trip to China, and surprised himself at how well he hit the ball. “It was the first time I had played the ninth and tenth holes since they have been back in play, and parred them both,” revealed the 19 marker. A Headland member for 34 years, Marty said he felt he needed to upgrade his clubs, and was delighted with the advice from Head Pro Adam Norlander, and the subsequent on-course result. Although he had a wipe on his card, a birdie at the first for four points, and six subsequent three-point holes on his way to victory, has given the 60-year-old a renewed spring in his step following his recent lung infection.
MEN’S PENNANT: After reviving its finals chances a week earlier, Headland’s A Grade Pennant team has smashed another opponent in the 2024 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse Pennant season. With newly-crowned A Grade Match Play Champion Ben Duncombe off to a flying start with a 1-up victory, Headland beat Bribie Island 5-2, at Bribie. Beaten Match Play finalist Adam Richards responded as Champions do, winning 2-up, while Sean McGill (5&3), Steve Hudson (2-up) and Geoff Walker (5&4) also prevailed. Shane Muller (1-down) and Glenn Walker (2&1) lost their close matches. To familiarise themselves with the course, B Grade team members played in the Tin Can Bay club competition on Saturday prior to their clash with Noosa Springs on the same course, and the decision paid handsome dividends 24 hours later. Headland won 7-nil, with Brendan Duncan (4&3), Steve Bell (1-up), Matt Prince (5&4), Spencer Ives (3&1), Michael Thomas (2&1), Matt Hetherington (1-up) and Ryan Tomlinson (4&2) each contributing to the outstanding triumph. Sadly though, other results on the weekend went against Headland, and despite one final match against Caloundra next weekend, the team will not qualify to play finals. Masters made it a clean sweep for Headland teams, beating table leaders Noosa Springs 5-2, also at Tin Cay Bay, and usurping them as table toppers. Winners were Wayne West (3&1), Neven Daniel (1-up), Rob Van Delft (6&4), Andy Whitmore (1-up) and Wayne Cassidy (3&1), but Chris Pace (5&4) and Peter Dunn (1-up) lost their matches.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (52 players) – Narelle Hollowood (38 points), Colleen Berger (38), Penny Cooper (37).
Men (71 players) – Marty Dix (41), Cooper Hulsman (40), John Cleary (40).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford sponsor, Mick Kinnear, Zero Termite and Pest – (228 players) – A Grade, Dan Hurst (42 points), Rob Cunningham (39), Brendan Duncan (38); B Grade, Marco Di Nardo (42), John Langdon (41), Peter Raymond (41); C Grade, Peter Norris (43), Lex Lane (41), John Hammond (41).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women (113 players) – Division One, Tracey O’Connor (39 points), Julie Halliday (38), Sharon Thomas (37); Division Two, Jenny Stokes (41), Rhonda Parry (40), Althea McLean (38); Division Three, Sue Bolton (36), Denise Hutchinson (35), Chrissy Eggins (35).
Men (79 players) – Gary Rugless (43 points), Matt Hetherington (39), Mark Garcia (38).
Saturday, Medley Two-Ball Jug (Ambrose) –- sponsors, Grant Martyn Constructions and Jack and Graeme Nicholas, Hometree) – (218 players) – Geoff Walker and John Langdon (58.5 nett), Wayne Grainer and Josh Veering (60.75), Stewart Clover and Di Gilmour (61.25), Wayne West and Ash Reck (61.5), Jamie Duffy and Dean Oster (62.5), Haydn Garner and Lawrence Hireme (62.5).
Saturday, 2004 Match Play Championships, Finals – Women (18 holes), A Grade, Lisa Ramen beat Annabel Harris (7&6); B Grade, Robyn Boreham beat Helen Fraser (5&3); C Grade, Ree Condon beat Penny Cooper (2&1).
Men (36 holes), A Grade, Ben Duncombe beat Adam Richards (7&6); B Grade, Joel Cooney beat Denis Orr (39th hole); C Grade, Bruce Heseltine beat Anthony Larchin (11& 10).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (64 players) – Peter Blackford (39 points), John Bohringer (37), John Anderson (37).
