From Tony Durkin
GOLD MEDAL: Despite winning the 2024 Gold Medal on Saturday, former Sunshine Coast rep cricketer Grant Martyn says inconsistency on the course remains his great frustration. And that was never more evident than during his winning round, when he found the water at the par-four third and took a triple. “We started on the tenth, and I was two-over par standing on the third tee, with seven to play,” he bemoaned. But the self-employed builder was able to hold his game together, matching three pars with three bogeys coming home. Grant was one of 28 contesting the Gold Medal play-off after winning the Mid-Week Medal back in February and, coincidentally, on that day he also stained his card with a triple bogey. “I played off 12 on Saturday, a long way from my lowest handicap of eight, which was many years ago,” he revealed. “My goal is to get back to single figures, but until I become more consistent, that won’t happen.” His round of 80, for 68 nett and victory by a shot from Barry Newton, included three birdies, one at the tough par-four 15th hole. “The greens are rolling better than in recent weeks, and I putted pretty well,” he said.
ELATED WINNER: When Sue Bolton walked in to the Headland clubhouse on Thursday, read the TV screen and saw she had finished second in the 2024 Medal of Medals event, she was pleased, and proud. But when she was informed the player above her on the leaderboard, Carol Quin, was not a finalist in the event, she was ecstatic. “It was such a surprise, but really pleasing,” said the 2021 SWING graduate. “I actually felt I hadn’t played that well, but when I realised I was five under my handicap, I was ecstatic.” Not only did Sue capture the Medal of Medals – for those women who had won a Monthly Medal during the year – but she won Division Two on the day and also penned her best round at Headland. And her score continued a fruitful recent run, including victory at Noosa Springs the previous day (39 points) and 40 points in the Scrambled Ambrose at Headland a week earlier. Mentioning how much she loved playing Headland, and enjoyed the company of her partners, Sue also referenced prolific women’s sponsor, Jodie McDonell of Century 21 on Duporth. “She is always so lovely, and generous,” Sue enthused.
CHILLED HILL: Once a scratch marker, a club Champion and a State Championship winner, Jamie Hill reckons he has once again ‘found the enjoyment of golf’. “My 24-year-old son Lachie has started to play, and I have been having a social round with him every Sunday, and loving it,” said Jamie, after smashing Headland by three shots to win the Par Plus event, in A Grade, on Wednesday, and returning his lowest Headland round. A Real Estate Consultant with Property Today, Jamie penned an unblemished three-under 69 from his four handicap to score plus seven, yet claimed he did not ‘sink a putt’. Apart from getting up-and-down for par at holes eight and 17, Jamie described his round as ‘pretty boring, actually’. “I one-putted for birdie at the second and 11th, and two-putted for birdie at seven, but otherwise it was two putts after hitting the greens in regulation,” he conceded. Jamie joined Headland when he moved from Oxley Golf Club in 2017, where he had won both the Junior and Senior Club Championships, as well as a State Foursomes title. “But that was so long ago, the mighty Broncos were winning premierships,” jested the Broncos tragic. Jamie’s winning score was equalled by Peter Keane, who won C Grade, while Jonny Clarke (plus 4) was the best in B Grade.
DID NOT STRAY: Even though he described his golf in Saturday’s Monthly Medal as ‘just good enough to win’, Greg Stray’s round exemplified his surname. “I drove the ball well, and scored well,” was his understatement when, playing off 18, he scored 83 for 65 nett, with a very consistent seven pars and 11 bogeys on his card. “It was a big relief, I can tell you. My golf of late has been horrendous.” After having never played serious golf, the Systems and IT Manager joined Headland eight years ago. But in the past 12 months he has added half a dozen strokes to his GA handicap, which is currently 16.6. “I’m only playing once a week and because of work and family commitments, I don’t get to practise at all,” he lamented after returning the best score on Saturday by three strokes. Darren Macleod (68 nett) won the A Grade Medal for November, and Jay Gourlay (69) won B Grade, while the highlight of the day came from five-time Club Champion Adam Richards. In his only blemish, he scratch marker bogeyed the par-four 12th, but otherwise had four birdies and 12 pars to return the best gross, and win $70 courtesy of regular sponsor Brian Kesby, himself a former Club Champion.
‘BIG EGG’ WINS: After clinching her second Monthly Medal for the year on Saturday, Annabel Harris described herself as a ‘big egg’. “I scrambled well,” said Annabel, who also returned the best gross, despite penning an ugly eight, as well as a seven, on her winning card. “Some nice person did not rake the bunker on the second, and I pulled my drive and found the gully on the tenth, leading to triples and doubles, respectively.” But her renowned on-course persistence and fighting spirit came to the fore, and Annabel added 11 pars, four bogeys and a birdie to her card, for a gross of 81 for 69 nett. And while she said it was a rare Monthly Medal win since she joined Headland from Maroochy River in 2018, Annabel’s major claim to fame came last year when she created Headland Golf Club history by becoming the first woman to win an A Grade Medley Monthly Medal. As well as winning the final Monthly Medal for 2024, Annabel also returned the best gross.
RAINBOW LOVER: He is 83 years old and still loves his golf, but ex-accountant Gordon O’Neill says the ‘rainbow tees’ recently introduced at Headland has made the game more enjoyable. And that pleasure was fully illustrated last week when Gordon – playing from the yellow (forward) tees – scored 41 points to win the men’s Single Stableford in a big Thursday field of 87. “It has made golf, for me anyway, much more enjoyable, and more rewarding. For someone my age, who can no longer hit the ball very far, it has been a marvellous innovation,” said the former member of Royal Freemantle Golf Club. Not only did Gordon win the competition, but he pocketed $120 for the victory, an amount which surprised him. He also won an NTP ($12) at the 14th, where he scored the first of his two birdies for the day. But it is not Gordon’s best round of late. Ten days earlier the 18-year Headland member contributed 43 points to a fourball score of 50 points with partner Stewart Glover, but they finished third. NOTE: Gordon’s GA handicap is 29, but on Thursday, from the yellow tees, he played off 25.
QUIN-TESSENTIAL: Her victory in Thursday’s Single Stroke event may not have snared a Monthly Medal, but it yielded Carol Quin two separate ‘firsts’, and three different cash prizes. Instead of playing for a November Monthly Medal, Headland women contested a stroke event to decide two significant annual awards – 2024 Medal of Medals and the Rabbits Cup. With her winning round – 89 off the bat – 24-marker Carol returned the lowest gross in the field, and her nett 65 not only won her $40 for lowest score in Division One, but she also collected the Rabbits Cup ($50) for the best score by those who did not qualify for the Medal of Medals, which was won by Sue Bolton (68 nett). And to add to her swag of cash, Carol snared the Pro Pin ($31) when she hit it to 21cm with her third shot at the third. Although she had four double bogeys on her card, six pars and eight bogeys exemplified her consistent round. “It was one of those days when everything came together,” quipped Carol, whose lowest score was 81 at Twin Waters ‘about 25 years ago’. As well as winning the Medal of Medals, Sue Bolton won Division Two, and Patrice Jenkins (72) finished ahead of the Division Three field.
BACK TO GOLF: Having missed six months of golf because of a chronic back issue, former Australian Federal Police Commander Mick Kelsey has returned to the game in a blaze of glory. Electing to play in the alternative Single Stableford rather than Saturday’s Monthly Medal, Mick scored 42 points for his first win in ‘at least 18 months, if not longer’. And he did it without too much pain, thanks to Prolotherapy, an injection treatment used to relieve pain. “I’m very, very happy,” said Mick, who had never played competition golf before he joined Headland six years ago. “I had four four-point holes, no wipes and we won the side bet, so it was good day.” Mick chose to play from the white tees for two reasons. “Not trying to out-drive everyone, as I usually do, is one factor, and the last time I played from the black markers I had 12 on the first hole,” he revealed. Now that he is back, playing twice and week and without too much inconvenience, Mick – like most golfers – is keen to reduce his handicap. “I got down to 15 in my first few years here, but my current GA is 21.9. Getting back into the teens would be pleasing,” he said.
BEST IN TEN: A new shaft in his driver is the explanation Josh Vearing has given for his best round as a decade-long Headland member. The medical device rep took advantage of ‘a light day at work’ to play a rare weekday round on Tuesday, and shot five-over 77 for 40 points from his handicap of nine. His win in the Men’s Single Stableford was his first victory since midway through last year. “It was my first round with the driver since I fitted a new stiffer shaft, and I hit it straighter, and further,” said the fanatical Carlton AFL supporter. “And now that the greens are a little faster and rolling better since the renovations, that suits my game better.” Starting on the back nine, Josh turned even par after a birdie and a bogey for 22 points, but a lone double bogey at the par-four fourth after finding the water, spoiled what could have been an even better round. Josh won on a countback, beating Colin Cross and John Robertson, who also scored 40 points. Annabel Harris (39 points) continued her good form of 2024 with victory in the Women’s Single Stableford.
JILL’S THRILL: ‘Absolutely’ was how Jill Nixey answered the query whether scoring her first hole-in-one last week was better than backing the 80-1 Melbourne Cup winner. Jill, who first joined Headland in 1989, decided on a game of golf on Melbourne Cup day, and although her ‘dividend’ – for the ace and NTP – was just $35, she was ecstatic. “Not only is it my first hole-in-one, I think it’s the first time I have even been close,” claimed Jill, who aced the par-three fifth hole. “It was wonderful. I am so excited.” Jill and her husband Wayne spent 16 years away from the Sunshine Coast pursuing business interests in WA and NSW, but rejoined the club in 2020, shortly after their return. Jill’s hole-in-one kick started a series of eagles at Headland during the week. Mal Bradshaw aced the 14th on Wednesday while Brad Williams eagled the par-five second, and on Thursday Wayne Harriott dunked his second shot at the par-four 12th, for eagle. Then on Saturday, Paul Henricks and Brian Callaghan both eagled the par-five tenth.
CHRISTMAS TIME: Fittingly, as the festive season approaches, John Christmas has found some golfing form – as he did this time last year. The amazing 71-year-old retired Telstra technician, who is vision impaired, scored back-to-back 39s in the Vets’ Tony Coad Trophy on the past two Mondays, for a win and a second placing in Division Two. A member for 25 years, John says he needs ‘patient and caring’ playing partners, of which he reckons Headland has many. “I can usually see the ball as soon as I hit it, but once it gets airborne, I lose it against the blue sky,” he explained. And after a few years of regularly finding some form at this time of the year, John cannot explain the ‘Christmas’ synergy. “Just one of things I suppose,” he reflected. Also in the running for the annual and prestigious Tony Coad Trophy will be Pam Andrews, who on Monday scored 40 points, also for the second successive week.
BACK NINE BLITZ: Cooper Hulsman, a Grade 11 student at St John’s Nambour, may soon have to decide whether to continue surfing and playing AFL, or become ‘really serious’ about his golf. The 17-year-old absolutely blitzed the back nine at Headland on Sunday, scoring 26 points on his way to winning the Medley Single Stableford event. He penned three four-pointers, three threes and two twos before finishing with a single point at the 18th, after depositing his tee shot in the car park. “I took an eight iron, it hit the path on the right, and bounced over the fence. But I parred the hole with my second ball, for a point,” he revealed, after pocketing $80 for his victory, with 43 points. When Cooper joined Headland 18 months ago, he enticed some of his mates to follow. “About a dozen of my surfing and footy mates have followed, which is great,” he said. Cooper concedes he now ‘loves’ golf, and may well have to spend more time at Headland honing his skills, and reduce his handicap, which is 25 after Sunday’s win.
HANDI MONEY: Ellen Bloxsome was the big money winner in Headland’s recent Handiskins final, pocketing $355 after winning seven skins. And Gay David was the next big winner, with a haul of $315 for her seven skins. “I have played in each of the past three events, but that is the first time I’ve reached the final and won anything,” said Ellen. “I really liked the idea the event was assisting the Challenge charity, which supports kids with cancer, so it is a worthy cause as well.” With more women than men nominating in the 2024 Headland event, women split $1000 in the final, while the men played for $800, with Neil Oxley and Emmet Walsh both walking away with $270. Four men and four women contested the local final, and each of the eight has qualified to play in the National Handiskins final at Palm Meadows on the Gold Coast in May next year. Final winnings were: Ellen Bloxsome ($355), Gay David ($315), Neil Oxley ($270), Emmet Walsh ($270), Leeanne Ptak ($235), Don Caldwell ($170), Odette Day ($170) and Doc Flemming ($90). NOTE: Under the Handiskins scoring system, skins are worth more as the competition progresses through the holes.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, round two of Tony Coad Trophy – sponsor, Perry and Oster -Women (32 players) – Division One, Robyn Boreham (37 points), Jenny Stokes (36), Linda Cannon (36); Division Two, Pam Andrews (40), Jill McAndrew (37), Margaret Moran (36).
Men (53 players) – Division One, Haenga Pirini (36), Peter Francis (34), Dave Sims (33); Division Two, John Christmas (39), Bob Keogh (38), Clive Glover (37).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (31players) – Annabel Harris (39 points), Joy Murray (38), Anne Hayward (37).
Men (56 players) – Josh Vearing (40), Colin Cross (40), John Robertson (40).
Wednesday, Medley Single Par Plus – sponsor, Mark Postles, Coast Chiropractic Kawana – (203 players) – A Grade, Jamie Hill (plus 7), Neil Oxley (+3), Rob Cunningham (+3); B Grade, Jonny Clarke (+4), John Jones (+3), Paul Anderson (+3); C Grade, Peter Keane (+7), John Wettenhall (+5), Megan Walker (+3).
Thursday, Women, Single Stroke, Medal of Medals and Rabbits Cup – (91 players) – Division One, Carol Quin (65 nett), Gail Young (72), Liz Dunford (74); Division Two, Sue Bolton (68), Linda Cannon (69), Jodie McDonell (71); Division Three, Patrice Jenkins (72), Margot Easton (73), Laura Mason-Baierl (73). Best gross, Carol Quin (89). Medal of Medals, Sue Bolton. Rabbits Cup – Carol Quin.
Men, Single Stableford (87 players) – Gordon O’Neill (41 points), Wayne Harriott (39), Rory Hanley (39).
Saturday, Monthly Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth -Women (27 players) – Annabel Harris (69 nett), Cathy Roberts (70), Gail Young (71). Best gross – Annabel Harris (81).
Men (189 players) – A Grade, Darren Macleod (68), Gary Marr (69), Barry Newton (69); B Grade, Jay Gourlay (69), Ken Anderson (69), Neil Oxley (69); C Grade, Greg Stray (65), David Murrihy (67), Graeme Denovan (70. Best gross, sponsor Brian Kesby – Adam Richards (69). 2024 Gold Medal – Grant Martyn (68).
Single Stableford (34 players), Mick Kelsey (42 points), Michael Phillips (40), Stu Ennever (38).
Juniors, Nine-hole Twoball Best Ball Stroke, Peter Hall and Matthew Bothma (38), Peter Hall and Finn Darlison (39), Max Faulkner and Nash Hoger (44).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (59 players) – Cooper Hulsman (43 points), John Burnie (42), Marc Egan (39).
