From Tony Durkin
PRINCELY WIN: Teeing off at 6.45am, brothers Bruce and Mick Prince had to wait until the final group finished Saturday’s Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford before they were declared winners. “I wasn’t keeping tabs on the score, but my mate Bruce Heseltine keep texting me to keep me updated,” revealed Mick, who won the Handiskins National Championship at Palm Meadows on the Gold Coast back in May. The brothers, who moved from Gosford to the Sunshine Coast and joined Headland, scored 49 points to beat Mick Kelsey and Mick Kinnear on a countback, courtesy of a birdie at the par-three 18th from Bruce, his second birdie and second four-pointer of the round. “Yes, he did mention that, but I then reminded him that I was on the card 11 times to his seven,” quipped Mick. “As brothers, we are good mates, and we combined well, as is always essential to win a fourball.” Not only did Bruce and Mick win, and collect $110 each from sponsor Michael Thomas of Zenfind Accounting, but they also finished as top qualifiers in the upcoming 4BBB Matchplay Championship, to be contested over the next four weeks. “Our goal now is to win that Honour Board event,” said Mick. In a big field of 224 players, Michael Zeckomske and Chris Weier (41 points) returned the best gross score.
COP THAT: Recently-retired Police Officer Dave Drinnen has scored his second win as a six-month Headland member, and copped a $155 boost to his House Account. Dave, reigniting his game after a two-decade lapse from Wynnum Golf Club, won C Grade in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford, topping the ladder of 225 players with 42 points. “It was a good day out,” said Dave, who added the pin shot at the par-three eighth hole and binned the putt from 103cm for a four-point birdie. A keen surfer, who looks for a wave most days, Dave is only golfing once a week at this stage but may play more if he can reduce his current handicap of 23 to 17 or 18. “When I was last an active golfer, my handicap was 15, but a stroke a hole would be ideal at this stage of life,” he quipped. Dave had two four-point holes on his card as well as five three-pointers, and says he is enjoying the course, even though it can play ‘pretty tough’. Jack Pyke (40 points) won A Grade and Barry Mapes (42) equalled Dave, to win B Grade.
MASTERS GOLF: It may not have been gold and silver, but for Rebecca Masters a win and second placing on successive days last week was akin to an Olympic performance. “I have been in a real form slump,” said Rebecca, revealing her all-time low handicap of 18 has crept out to 23 in the past six months. “And the major cause has been poor putting, in particular missing short putts.” But some advice from her good friend Mandy Oster over the weekend, has seemingly stopped the rot. “I wasn’t keeping my head still, and that was Mandy’s tip,” Rebecca explained, after winning Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women with 38 points, and finishing second (36 points), in Vets the previous day, both in Division One. Since she retired from her Medical Admin role 18 months ago, 24-year member Rebecca has been playing plenty of golf, and regularly attending open days at neighbouring clubs. “Hopefully, now that I have my putting under control, I can enjoy the game more,” she said after her Tuesday’s round which was highlighted by a back nine with four three-point holes and a four-point birdie at the 12th. On Monday in the Vets, Dianne Keen (39) won Division One and Colleen Sarquis (39) saluted in Division Two, while Penny Cooper (37) topped the field in Division Two on Tuesday.
BIRDIE COAD: When ‘advised’ by former Headland President John Alsbury to be conservative and ‘two-putt’ his final green for par and maybe score a ball in the rundown, 82-year-old Tony Coad suggested a birdie would be better, and might win him Monday’s Vets competition. And the Headland Vets President (for two decades) did just that – he dropped an eight-metre putt from the back of the second green, scored 37 points and won Division One. Monday’s event was a shotgun start and Tony was well and truly behind the eight ball after the first nine, scoring just 14 points, but roared home with 23 to win on a countback from recent prolific winner Col Pledge. The victory followed an impressive 85 for 68 nett, and second place in Saturday’s Monthly Medal for the 31-year Headland member. Brian Garnett (38 points), won Division Two. NOTE: Tony is one of Headland’s most esteemed members, and is a Life Member of both Headland Golf Club and Headland Vets.
HIP, HIP HOORAY: Recently back playing golf following hip replacement surgery and a three-month break, Leeanne Ptak won Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women and in the process annoyed her ‘boss’, Sue Jones. “I was teamed with Monica Knowles for the square, and we were against Sue (Women’s Director Golf) and Kathy Atkins,” Leeanne revealed. “And because I scored three points on seven holes – and we won the square – I think Sue was wondering why I had such a generous handicap (23). But she was very encouraging, and we all had so much fun.” Leeanne’s score of 41 points won Division One, was the best of the day, and her steady round included nine two pointers and two ones, alongside her seven threes. “My theory is that if I am having fun out there, I usually play well,” she said. Leeanne also revealed that her hip-replacement surgery had ‘worked a treat’. Odette Day (36 points) won Division Two and Barb Marrington (38) won Division Three.
MEMBER WAITING: Luke Fluerty has been on the Headland wait list for more than 12 months, but managed to snatch a spot in Tuesday’s Single Stableford field for Men for the third successive week, and score his first victory. Ex-member of Ingham and Mackay Golf Clubs, Luke moved to Buderim a decade ago and the FIFO Maintenance Supervisor has decided to revive his golfing career. A former 13 handicapper at Mackay 10 years ago, Luke played from 23 on Tuesday and carded 89, for 41 points, with three four-point holes – pars at the difficult fourth, ninth and tenth. “Once I become a playing member, I hope to play at least once a week when I am home, and my goal is to get back to around the 13-mark,” said the father of three youngsters. Luke won Division One on Tuesday and Todd O’Leary (31) finished top of Division Two.
VIDEO ARMED: Carrying a tip gleaned from a YouTube video he had watched two days earlier, 16-marker Jock McLaughlin scored four-over 39 for 22 points on the back nine in Thursday’s Stableford for Men. And even though ‘the wheels fell off’ briefly on the front nine (his second) with three successive one-pointers, the former teacher hung on to win, with 41 points. “It has been at least a year since I have won anything, and my golf has been ordinary,” confessed the 36-year member. “But the video I watched alerted me to the fact I have been swinging with my arms, and not turning my body. When I did that on Thursday, the difference was amazing.” And Jock thanked his playing partners for keeping him focused when old habits resurfaced on holes three, four and five. “The guys knew I had a good score going, and kept encouraging me,” he reflected, after coming home with two pars and two bogeys, for 10 points.
SAM STARS: Schoolboy Sam Fichera, who has been Headland Junior Champion for the past two years, achieved one of his major goals when he won Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford. When 14-year-old Sam kicked off his golfing career as a 10-year-old on a 34 handicap in September of 2020, his long-term goal was to play from a lower handicap than his dad Anthony, a single maker for the past seven years. And he achieved that that on Sunday, shooting four-over 75 for 40 points and a two-point win in the field of 52. As a result, Sam’s GA handicap is now 8.8, and his dad is 9.3. “Sam has had a growth spurt recently and not only is his handicap lower, but he is hitting it further than me,” Anthony revealed. While his best round at Headland was three-over 72 a few months ago when par was 69, Sam rated Sunday’s round – two birdies, 10 pars and five bogeys – his best as a Headland member.
COACH SHOWS: If Headland’s vast array of talented junior golfers needed an added reason to admire their coach, Leon Faulkner (founder of Golf Rocks Kids Academy), he gave them one on Wednesday. Leon aced the par-three fifth hole during the Medley Single Stableford event, striking a seven iron to the 148-metre mid pin. “I hit a low cut into the headwind, the ball bounced twice, then disappeared,” said Leon, who has been coaching Headland’s junior golfers for the past three years. It was Leon’s fourth hole in one, his last coming two decades ago at The Coast Golf Club in Sydney. Also on Wednesday, Spencer Ives eagled the par-five tenth hole.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets – Single Stableford, Women (39 players) – Division One, Dianne Keen (39 points), Rebecca Masters (36), Rhonda Parry (34); Division Two, Colleen Sarquis (39), Janette Ritchie (38), Trish Arden (36).
Men (74 players) – Division One, Tony Coad (37), Col Pledge (37), Peter O’Brien (35); Division Two, Brian Garnett (38), Noel Harris (37), Robert Pixley (37); Division Three, Francis Moran (39), Stuart Dykstra (38), Denis McGrath (38).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (47 players) – Division One, Rebecca Masters (38 points), Janelle Heaney (38), Colleen Berger (35); Division Two, Penny Cooper (37), Roz Brandt (37), Barb Marrington (32).
Men (67 players) – Division One, Luke Fluerty (41 points), Warren Selvage (39), Nigel Morrison (38); Division Two, Todd O’Leary (31), Ken Scanlan (30), Gordon O’Neill (30).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Greg Edgar, Rapid Equipment Hire – (225 players) – A Grade, Jack Pyke (40 points), Rob Cunningham (38), Spencer Ives (38); B Grade, Barry Mapes (42), Mick Prince (40), Eddie Pucella (40); C Grade, Dave Drinnen (42), Phil Martin (39), Neil Dougherty (38).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsors, Trudi Russell, Anita Boyle, Deborah Thomas and Kay Campbell (107 players) – Division One, Leeanne Ptak (41 points), Lynn Deacon (40), Julie Halliday (38); Division Two, Odette Day (36), Linda Cannon (35), Lynn Hayman (32); C Grade, Barb Marrington (38), Patrice Jenkins (38), Cathy Haimes (38).
Men (94 players) – Jock McLaughlin (41 points), Sergio Nogarotto (39), Rick Popik (39).
Saturday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford and 4BBB Matchplay Championship qualifier- sponsor, Michael Thomas, Zenfind Accounting – (244 players) – Bruce Prince and Mick Prince (49 points), Mick Kelsey and Mick Kinnear (49), Barry Potter and Mike Radmill 46), Brendan Duncan and Bernie Duncan (45), Barry Newton and Gary Martin (45). Fourball gross – Michael Zeckomske and Chris Weier (41 points).
Juniors, Nine-hole Twoball Best Ball Stroke – Keaton Fox and Finn Darlison (38), Oliver Brown and Peter Hall (42), William Springall and Nash Hoger (44), Mitch McFarland and David Groom ((46), Archer Kinloch and Willem Robba (50).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (52 players) – Sam Fichera (40 points), David Werner (38), Bradley Bacon (36).
