From Tony Durkin

POINTS HAUL: A back nine of 25 points, with a miserly 14 putts, has led to John Hall’s best score at Headland since January of 2018. And, his outstanding round – which garnered 45 points and resulted in a B Grade victory in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford – came on the fourth anniversary of his retirement from local government, with the Chief Legal Officer spending three decades at Sunshine Coast Regional Council. “Even though this score came out of the blue, I have been playing okay of late,” said John, who regularly plays twice a week at Headland, unless he is visiting other courses. “I recently played Coffs Harbour and Bonville, and was happy with my form down there.” Despite scoring two four-pointers – with pars at the tough fourth and 15th holes – and nine three-pointers, John also logged two singles and in fact finished his round with a wipe, at the par-four ninth. “I messed up that one, which was disappointing. But, overall, it was certainly a great day,” beamed John, who joined Quentin Poulsen (A, 43 points) and Andrew Hempsall (C, 41) as grade victors, and winners of $120 each, courtesy of sponsor, Greg Edgar of Rapid Equipment Hire. NOTE: John shares a cart each Wednesday and Saturday with his father-in-law, former Police Superintendent Don Teage, who turns 90 early next year, and the pair topped-and-tailed Wednesday’s list of money winners. Don, who scored 36 points, finished 62nd, last on the money list, and collected $5.

SHARON, AGAIN: Sharon Purnell, who started her golf administrative career at Headland three decades ago and is currently GM of Mt Coolum Golf Club, has continued her outstanding form of 2024 with a win in Saturday’s Single Stableford for Women. The three-decade member was beaten into third place a week earlier when scoring 40 points, but prevailed on Saturday with 39, her excellent round interspersed with eight three-point holes. “I have not played Headland as much this year as usual, but I like the ‘new-look’ course. It is certainly tougher with the new bunkers, which are strategically placed,” she assessed. Besides her excellent scores of the past two weekends, Sharon has won the Mixed Foursomes Championship with Adam Richards in March – for the first time – two weeks after winning a three-day Go Golfing event in Las Vegas. And she and Adam also returned the best the gross in the 2024 Patron’s Cup three weeks ago, hot on the heels of her also being runner-up in the Mt Coolum Mixed Foursomes Championship. “I have been playing okay this year,” Sharon quipped.

VOLLY VICTORY: He spends more time at Headland than most members, but Rob Howard doesn’t particularly like playing golf. “Honestly, I’d rather be laying turf on the course than ripping it up with some of my terrible shots,” conceded the chief organiser of Headland’s volunteer group, the Vollies. But on Saturday he made one of his rare on-course appearances for the year, scored 42 Stableford points for the best round of the day, won C Grade and pocketed $115. And although claiming he is ‘terribly embarrassed’ by his current handicap of 32, Rob showed glimpses of his real form when he penned six three pointers and three four pointers on his card. He started the back nine in brilliant fashion, with Stableford scores of 4, 4, 3 and 4, and confessed ‘I’m still not sure how that happened’. A former Victorian farmer who moved to the Sunshine Coast with his wife Marg four decades ago, Rob was bestowed Life Membership of Headland in 2020 for his volunteer work, which spans almost 30 years, and spent seven years as Course Director. And although the Vollies only gather for two hours each Friday morning, Rob – who has been a Headland member for almost 39 years – is a more frequent attendee. “He is real gem, and like a member of the ground staff,” praised Course Superintendent Ben Tilley. Dennis Mikolic (41 points) won A Grade and Brad Reddan (39) won B Grade.

DADS, SONS & BIRDIES: It was a case of sons beating their dads in a barrage of family birdies at Headland in Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford. Although former Junior Pennant player James Daniel stole the show with a par round from his eight handicap for 44 points and the competition victory, two up-and-coming youngsters celebrated by beating their illustrious dads – one for the first time. Two-time Club Champion Adam Rydwanski, playing off a handicap of plus one, had three-under 69 for 38 points, but was beaten by his nine-year-old son Blake, who scored 39 points. And junior coach Leon Faulkner (founder of Golf Rocks Kids Academy) played second fiddle to his son Max, despite scoring one-over 73. Max, 12 years of age and playing off 24, scored 38 points to his dad’s 37. It is the second time Max has beaten Leon, whose handicap is two. Birdies flowed freely between the four – who played in the same group – with 12 dropped during the round. Adam scored five, Leon four, Blake two and Max one. And to add lustre to the day, both Blake and Adam collected a Pro Pin. NOTE: Blake (handicap 26), played from the orange tees, while the remainder of the quartet were off the whites.

RELAXED COLLEEN: After scoring 28 points on her first nine in Tuesday’s Medley Fourball Stableford – and finishing that nine at the 18th hole – Colleen Sarquis could have been excused for walking off the course, thinking her round was over. “Of late, that has been my usual score for 18 holes,” revealed the 2018 SWING graduate. But there was more to come, and even though Colleen scored only 16 of her 44 points on the next nine, she and partner Sue Harris (34 points) combined for 51, and a one-point victory. Colleen’s best-ever round was illuminated by a five-point birdie at the 11th hole, with a further two four-point holes and six three-pointers on her card. But it was not all Colleen – Sue scored on eight of the 18 holes, scoring a four-point par at the first, as well as five three-pointers. “The course is just so beautiful, and I love being out there, feeling relaxed and enjoying the company,” said Colleen, who confessed she and Sue did not realise they were fourball partners until after their round had finished. Good scores were the order of the day, with the pairs of Ken Scanlan and Don Harris, and Gordon O’Neill and Stewart Clover, penning 50 points, to just miss the winning booty of $80 each. 

BARBOUR CUT: As a result of his best round on Monday as a Headland member, Peter Barbour has had three strokes shaved from his GA handicap. “I was playing so poorly, I was about to give it away,” quipped the retired engineer after scoring 45 points to win the Vets’ Single Stableford, and the first round of the Tony Coad Trophy. In his second year as a member who had played the Melbourne sand belt courses before retiring to the Sunshine Coast, Peter penned 26 points on the front nine with a four-pointer, six threes and two twos on his remarkable card. “I was ready to go home after that,” he enthused, before then adding eight twos and a three-pointer on the back, to win Division Two by six points. Peter said that like most engineers, he had been ‘trying’ different things to improve his game and suddenly, he hopes, has found the solution. “I simply moved my weight forward through my swing,” he revealed. “I had a great day. It was terrific.” Richard Ryan (41 points) won Division One, while Karen Wilson (38) and Margot Easton (40), returned the winning scores in Women’s Division One and Two, respectively. 

FAMILY DAY: Don Follent scored an eagle at the par-four sixth on Saturday, his first at that hole, but the second eagle overall for the 85-year-old. However, that was not the only reason for Don and his extended family to celebrate with a couple of ‘coldies’ after golf. One of his grandsons, Emmett Walsh, won $270 in the Headland Handiskins final and has qualified for the national final, to be played at Palm Meadows in May next year. Another grandson, Patrick Walsh, scored 40 Stableford points, while Don’s daughter, Coralie Walsh, had her best round in weeks, with 35 points. As she does twice a week, Coralie played in the same group as her dad.  Yet, as is usually the case in golf, there was tale of woe. Don’s son-in-law Justin Walsh, lipped out with a wedge at the same hole Don eagled, then two-putted from a metre for par. NOTE: Although Don won $15 for his eagle, it could have been another $69.50 in his pocket had he paid an additional dollar to be in the Pro Pin. “He never goes in the Pro Pin,” Coralie revealed. 

SCORE UPDATE: Even though HH was in recess two weeks ago, Headland members certainly were not, as some exceptional scores have demonstrated. Retired teacher Mal McDougall was the absolute standout, scoring a phenomenal 47 points from his 26 handicap – from the black tees – to win last Saturday week’s Medley Single Stableford. Mal, who joined Headland with wife Jo in 2018 after having been a ‘social only’ player, shot 87, his best-ever round by three strokes. And big scores were the norm for the week, with Phil Thistlewood, Mitch McFarland, Peter Birt, Steve Blampied, Sid Ryan and John Kingston each penning 45 points across different competitions, while 10-handciapper Nigel Morrison shot two-over 74 to score 44 points. Ellen Bloxsome and Wendy Burnie kept the women’s flag flying high with scores of 41 points, while 14-year-old Charlotte Ridley shot 84 from her 14 handicap, to score 39 points on Sunday. In fact, three juniors – Mitch McFarland, David Groom and Charlotte – filled the placings in Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford event. And last Wednesday week, 17 players returned scores of 40 points or better in the Medley Single Stableford event. 

RIP RAYMOND NORMAN: Headland lost a long-time popular member with the recent passing of Raymond Norman, following a series of health issues. Ray had a career in the Australian Army and, among other postings, served in the Vietnam War. Following his retirement, he continued his association with the Army, working in a volunteer capacity. A Headland member for 24 years, Ray and his wife Karen were married at the club. A private family funeral has been arranged and for Ray’s many close friends, and a celebration of his life will be held soon. Although ill, Ray remained a tenacious fighter, and played golf just three Thursdays before his passing. 

WEEKLY RESULTS: 

Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (36 players) – Division One, Karen Wilson (38 points), Robyn Boreham (38), Kathy Atkins (37); Division Two, Margot Easton (40), Di Stark (40), Pam Andrews (40).

Men (54 players) – Division One, Richard Ryan (41), Peter Francis (40), Barry Mapes (39); Division Two, Peter Barbour (45), John Christmas (39), Roly Hoy (39).  

Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (116 players) – Colleen Sarquis and Sue Harris (51 points), Ken Scanlan and Don Harris (50), Gordon O’Neill and Stewart Clover (50). 

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor Greg Edgar, Rapid Equipment Hire – (216 players) – A Grade, Quentin Poulsen (43 points), Spencer Ives (43), David Werner (41); B Grade, John Hall (45), Dion Southey (43), Ian Scobie (43); C Grade, Andrew Hempsall (41), Michael Gregora (41), Denis McGrath (40). 

Thursday, Women, Pink Day, Scrambled Ambrose – (99 players) – Kathy Atkins, Robyn Muir, Sue Jones and Monica Knowles (58.125 nett), Marg Smith, Catherine Peterson, Coralie Snowball and Liz Halyday (58.875), Colleen Berger, Kerry Longworth, Patrice Jenkins and Janelle Heaney (59.25).

Men, Single Stableford – competition cancelled because of electrical storm.

Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Alex Dwyer, Dwyer Quality Homes -Women (27 players) – Sharon Purnell (39 points), Monica Antony (37), Carl Quinn (36).

Men (212 players) – A Grade, Dennis Mikolic (41), Brad Downs (40), Terry Ward (39); B Grade, Brad Reddan (39), Deon Breytenbach (38), Nick Bolton (38); C Grade, Rob Howard (42), Michael Rutledge 941), Stu Ennever (40).

Juniors, Nine-hole Stroke – Matthew Bothma (44), Peter Hall (50), Max Faulkner (52), William Springall (52), Kai Sherwood (63), Nash Hoger (68).

Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (60 players) – James Daniel (44 points), John Matson (40), Thomas Harrison (39).