From Tony Durkin
COURSE ‘RECORD’: A professional golfer sitting at 4133 on the Official World Rankings has won the 2024 Headland Living Choice Australia Legends Pro-Am, and set a low mark for the ‘new’ course. John Wade, a 56-year-old Victorian who has twice played the British Open, shot six-under 66 on Wednesday, the lowest score recorded since Headland’s major redevelopment over the past 18 months was completed. His error-free round revealed six birdies, and he won by three shots from fellow Victorian Roland Baglin, with six players locked on two-under 70. The official Headland course record of nine-under 63 was set by Brett Rankin at the Sunshine Coast Amateur Championship in April, 2010, but Wade’s round stands as the best since the collection of new bunkers and the new 17th green have recently been established. And he was very impressed with the course, which he had played only once previously. “I loved the challenge of the new bunkering. From what I recall from my last time here, it really stiffens up the course,” he said. A former Australian Eisenhower Cup representative, Wade said he was surprised his score won so easily. “I played in the morning and the course and the air were heavy, so I thought some of the afternoon guys might shoot it low,” he said. A very close long-time friend of Glenn Joyner, the highly-decorated PGA member who served as a popular Course Marshall at Headland in recent years during his semi-retirement and who passed away in August last year away following a courageous battle with bowel cancer, the 2024 Legends Pro-Am Champion said he was proud to have won where he knew Glenn enjoyed wonderful times, and great memories. “I can understand why he loved this club so much. The atmosphere in the clubhouse afterwards was gold, and the views are majestic,” he quipped. NOTE: As well as winning the event, John was presented with the Glenn Joyner Memorial trophy, awarded for just the second time. The inaugural winner, last year, was Jason Norris.
BIG STAGE: Paul Clarke cannot explain why, on one of the biggest stages of the year for a Headland member, he suddenly ‘shot the lights out’ on Wednesday. The ex-Sydney builder who moved north in 2004 and joined Headland two years later, scored 42 points from his 12 handicap to win the Medley Single Stableford event played in conjunction with the 2024 Living Choice Australia Legends Pro-Am. “When you play golf once a week, it is usually a case of 50 bad rounds a year, and a couple of good ones. This was definitely my good one,” he said. The son-in-law of long-time members Bob and Anne Hayward, Paul shot 78 off the stick and beat home six of the Legend Professionals. He signed for a birdie, 10 pars and seven bogeys, and carded just 27 putts. Paul and his group played with Robert Mitchell – who scored two-over 74 – and said the Pro was a ‘really top bloke’. “He enjoyed the day as much as we did, and was very generous with his helpful advice,” he said. For Paul, the win was his first in more than 12 months.
JENNY AWARDED: Popular three-decade member, Jenny Ingham, has been named Headland’s 2024 Club Woman of the Year. An A Grade golfer, Honour Board Champion, Pennant Captain and former Women’s Club Captain, Jenny’s significant contribution during the year was to head up Headland’s hosting of the annual Kookaburra Karnival. “As always, Jenny was here at dawn, checking in all teams, selling raffle tickets, making sure everyone was well informed, well fed and happy to be participating in the much-applauded event,” praised trophy donor, Sue Jones, the recently-retired Women’s Director of Golf. “For many years Jenny has represented Headland at District level, setting a benchmark with the grit and determination arising from her decades of selfless commitment and vast experience in golf administration. Our Club Woman of the year is simply a dedicated, quiet achiever, working mostly behind the scenes.” Major trophy winners, announced at Thursday’s Annual Events Presentation ceremony, were: Best eight rounds, Thursday, A Grade – Julie Halliday; B Grade – Odette Day; C Grade – Laura Mason-Baierl. Best eight rounds, Saturday, Anne Callanan. Triple Challenge – Ellen Bloxsome. Order of Merit, Thursday, A Grade – Kate Wilkie; B Grade – Lynn Deacon; C Grade – Ellen Bloxsome. Order of Merit, Saturday, Vicky Sheridan. Anne Alsbury Trophy for Most Improved Player – Wendy Burnie. Biggest Handicap Reduction – Kate Wilkie; 2024 Club Woman of the Year – Jenny Ingham.
SKY PILOT: Former Airline Captain Stuart Dykstra claimed he was ‘over the moon’ on Tuesday after winning his first event as a 12-year Headland member. And not only was it Stuart’s first win, but his 41 points was his highest score and the prizemoney – $105.50 – was easily his biggest collect. “I was very happy – over the moon in fact,” quipped the 81-year-old. “It was one of those days when everything I tried seem to work, from my drives to my putting.” Stuart said he knew his luck was in when, after his drive on the first hole had ‘dribbled’ into the trees on the left, he was presented with a small opening. “I hit my seven-rescue through the small gap, and it hit the path and kicked well ahead down the fairway. My third shot landed on the green and I just missed the putt for what would have been a spectacular par,” he claimed. Despite conceding ‘I’m not a very good golfer’, Netherlands-born Stuart carded seven three-pointers and nine two-pointers, but there were no wipes on his impressive card. The 29-handicdapper, who says winning his first competition came out of the blue, usually plays three times a week.
LYNN WIN: Having not played much golf recently, Lynn Hayman was ‘very pleased’ to have broken through to win the final Women’s single event of the year on Tuesday. “We have been travelling quite a lot, so my golf has been put on the backburner somewhat,” explained Lynn after her 40 points won the Single Stableford event. “Of late there has been no consistency to my game, so I’m very pleased with that round.” A 22-point back nine was the most pleasing feature, with 20 points from holes 12 to 18 the highlight. Following a wipe at the 11th, Lynn penned five three-pointers and a four-pointer, with a triple-bogey at hole 16 her only blemish coming home. “I played well,” was the under statement from the 2016 SWING graduate, who enjoyed the company of her playing partners, who included third placegetter Coralie Snowball (36 points).
BIRDIE BLITZ: An incredible round of 17 birdies and a lone par has handed a group of Headland mates victory in Saturday’s Closing Day Ambrose. Dan Diachkoff, Chris Goundrey, Glenn Kelly and Geoff Bland combined to score nett 52 nett from their handicap of three, for a comfortable win over Dave Wickham, Todd Petrie, Peter Dunn and Garry Holmes (55.25), with Steve Van Der Linde, Dennis Mikolic, Jacob De Bruyn and Deon Breytenbach (55.25) relegated to third on a countback. “We could not do a thing wrong,” said Dan, who woke on Sunday morning still in awe of the score. “And our only par, at the 16th, was unlucky, because Geoff’s birdie putt hit the back of the hole and jumped out.” The group had been regular competition playing partners until recent work and family commitments intervened, but Dan said they had pledged to join up again for the final event of the year. “We got the band back together,” quipped Dan, who said they braved the heavy showers to keep their brilliant round going. “When we saw the morning scores, we estimated we would need at least 14 birdies if we were to win,” he said.
RESTRICTED WIN: He started his round on Sunday with successive double bogeys, but restricted member Stephen Quinn showed the fighting qualities of his beloved Liverpool FC to record a second Headland win. The Englishman, who played junior golf in England with Deputy Course Manager Steve Hudson, remains a restricted member despite joining the club more than 12 months ago, but plays whenever opportunities present. And Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford was one such occasion, with the poor start was not on his radar. However, he went on to add a birdie, six pars, eight bogeys and just one more double on his way to signing for 85, and 39 points from his 16 handicap. He came home strongly, with successive pars at challenging holes 15, 16 and 17. An insurance company Project Manager, Stephen arrived in Australia 13 years ago and lived in Perth and Brisbane before settling on the Sunshine Coast in 2017. “We absolutely love it here, and I can’t wait to become a full member, and playing more regularly,” he said. Stephen’s first visit to the victory dais was in December last year, when he partnered Steve Hudson in the Long Lunch event, which will be contested again next Saturday (December 21).
NO JOKE: Kate Wilkie has capped off an astonishing week by winning the club’s Joker Jackpot – for the second time in three months. After being named on Thursday as winner of the Women’s A Grade Order of Merit, and also recognised for the biggest handicap reduction of the year, Kate won $3800 in Friday night’s weekly member’s draw. And the win, coupled with a collect of $7600 back in October, has given the regular Friday night attendee a financial bonanza of $11,400 for the year. And a staff member – who prefers to keep their identification ‘secret’ because they are a mathematics nerd – has calculated the probability of Kate’s incredible winning streak as one in somewhere near 11 million.
FESTIVE FINALE: As official club competitions have closed for the year, Headland Headlines will hibernate for a couple of weeks to rest, recuperate and regenerate during the festive season. HH will return on Monday, January 13, following the first week of official competition rounds for 2025. HH thanks Headland members for their continued cooperation and support, and wishes all members of the golfing ‘family’ a Happy Christmas and continued enjoyment, and success, in the fast-approaching new year – on our ‘new’ course.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (42 players) – Lynn Hayman (40 points), Narelle Hollowood (39), Coralie Snowball (36).
Men (79) players) – Stuart Dykstra (41 points), Ian Crombie (40), Colin Williamson (39).
Wednesday, Legends ProAm (59 players) – John Wade (66), Roland Baglin (69), Matt King (70), Michael Craig (70), Mark Boulton (70), Guy Wall (70), Russell Swanson (70), David Hill (70).
Medley Single Stableford (163) – Paul Clarke (42 points), Mark Selig (41), Dylan Fennell (39).
ProAm Teams (222 players) – David Fearns, Dean Ewington, Marg Smith and David W Smith (123 points), Mike Harwood, Mark Selig, Derrick Bogaart and Dave Mansley (123), Jason Norris, Peter Raymond, Ian Moore and Alan Brooker (121).
Thursday, Women, Closing Day Ambrose, nine holes (104 players) – Front Nine, Marie Flegler, Robyn Muir, Lesley Johnston and Del Whittaker (30.69 nett), Wendy Burnie, Lee Heseltine, Emilia White and Suzanne Pledge (31.12). Back Nine, Prue Byrnes, Marg Smith, Kathryn Tayles and Catherine Peterson (30.5), Barb Marrington, Margot Easton, Joy Logan and Chris Hall (31.06).
Men, Single Stableford (91 players) – Hayden Grayson (40 points), Mike Williams (39), Josh Poole (39).
Saturday, Closing Day, Medley Four-Person Ambrose – sponsor, Earl Hicks, Global Turf Projects – (188 players) – Geoff Bland, Dan Diachkoff, Chris Goundrey and Glenn Kelly (52 nett), Dave Wickham, Todd Petrie, Peter Dunn and Garry Holmes (55.25), Steve Van Der Linde, Dennis Mikolic, Jacob De Bruyn and Deon Breytenbach (55.25), Brendan Duncan, Sean McGill, Ben Duncombe and Jeff Lovell (56).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (30 players) – Stephen Quinn (39 points), Liam Dutton (38), Jonny Clarke (37).
