From Tony Durkin
EIGHTY AT 80: Nine years ago – at 71 years of age – former Telecom Technician Bob Trevor shot three-under par 69 at Headland to beat his age for the first time. The date was November 21, 2015, and Bob recalls the achievement as if it was yesterday. Since then, Bob has not just become Headland’s most prolific age ‘shooter’, but could possibly find himself in the annals of Australian golf. On Saturday, in the Men’s Par Plus event, he fired a three over 75 and scored plus five to win A Grade. And while that achievement, alone, is a major feat, it pales beside the overall significance. His round just happens to be the 80th time Bob has either equalled, or beaten his age, since that breakthrough a decade ago. Before Headland’s bunker restoration program started in April 2023, Bob had achieved the feat 25 times. And while he concedes the deed became somewhat easier once the par was reduced when holes were taken out of play, he still claims a further 42 achievements in that 15-month period. “Then, the first day the course returned to par 72, I added my 68th, with a score of 79,” he said. Since then, another dozen has been added, for a progressive total of 80 after Saturday, at 80 years of age.” Obviously, Bob maintains his own records, which are recorded on his MiScore app. “Today was my best round for a while,” he quipped after Saturday’s win. Bob’s current GA handicap is 7.3, while his lowest was 2.8, when he was in his 40s.
BURGESS TOO: Another octogenarian to equal his age on Saturday was 21-year member Burgess Stephenson, whose plus seven was the best score of the day, and won B Grade. And, ironically, it was the eighth time the former high-ranking Queensland Public Servant has either equalled, or beaten his age. Asked whether he liked the par-plus event, 80-year-old Burgess quipped ‘it worked for me today’. Starting from the tenth tee, his winning round was off to a rocky start, with a double bogey, bogey opening, before a birdie at the par-four 12th enabled him to get back to square, courtesy of a shot on the hole and a double plus. Burgess then had two more minus scores, a square and two plusses to finish the nine, and turned at plus one. But he soared home without a blemish for plus six, scoring another double plus with a birdie at the par-three eighth. “I had only 24 putts, a direct result of hitting them at the hole and forgetting about the break,” he explained, concerning the still-sandy greens. Burgess explained that while his golfing form of late had been ‘okay’, his victory on Saturday was the first time he had scored well in the recently-introduced par plus event. Fellow B graders Peter Gablonksi and Lindsay Olsson scored plus six, which was also the winning score for David Parker in C Grade.
WENDY WONDER: In an astonishing achievement since graduating from the Adam Norlander school of SWING in 2019, Wendy Burnie has halved her GA handicap. And on Saturday, despite what she described as a ‘not a good finish’, she hung on to win Saturday’s Par Plus event for Women. Wendy was the only player in the field to finish with a plus score – plus one – and record her first victory since November last year, when scored 41 points. Starting on the tenth, she finished the back nine in a blaze of glory with three successive plusses, and held on to win by a shot. Having never played golf previously, the ex-Brisbane resident joined SWING at the encouragement of good friend Suzanne Pledge, and they were the only two from the group of eight to graduate to Headland membership. “I love my golf, but I love being out there playing as much as I enjoy the competition,” she said, revealing she tries to play three times a week. Her initial GA handicap was 53, and apart from her amazing handicap reduction her other major milestone in five years is having represented Headland in Pennants last year. “But Suzanne and I want to try something different this year. We intend playing Open days, and visit different courses,” she said, confirming she was taking a break from Pennants.
HOSEL ROCKETS: Despite the ignominy of three shanks, a former Headland Men’s Director Golf has managed to win Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men. “They are commonly known as the ‘hosel rocket’, and all three were with wedges,” announced Tony Kelleher, who had a two-year stint as Club Captain during Covid (2020-21). “But, thanks to my trusty putter, I was able to survive the wedge carnage and return a respectable score.” Amazingly, two of Tony’s shanks were on the back nine – at holes 15 and 16 – where he scored 22 of his 41 points on a remarkable card. He penned three birdies, three pars, a bogey, double bogey, and a par. “Yes, it was certainly a roller-coaster ride, but I hung on and finally had my first win in about 12 months,” he said. But the victory has not convinced the popular TK – as he is known – that he is out of his recent form slump. “This week I have had scores of 23 points, 36 and 41, so who knows what is next,” he quipped, after pocketing his winning purse of $90.
DIRECTOR WINS: ‘Delighted’ was how Women’s Director Golf, Valerie O’Brien, defined her reaction to returning the best score in a field of 89 in Thursday’s Single Stableford. “I felt my game was very consistent today, which is always pleasing,” she said after scoring 39 points to win Division Two, beating Sue Bolton (38) by a point. And ironically, Valerie’s last win was in the district Kookaburra Karnival in November, when she partnered Sue in a fourball event. With her game steadily on the improve in recent weeks, the first-year Women’s Captain was delighted with two pertinent aspects of her round – successfully extricating from four bunkers, and putting well on the ‘sandy’ greens. “I actually didn’t find much trouble, which usually relates to a good score,” she revealed. The return of six three-pointers and 10 twos was her ally, with just the lone one pointer and a single wipe on her card. Rebecca Masters (37 points) won Division One and Cathy Haimes (34) topped the Division Three table.
TITANIUM MAN: Scott Simpson has returned to golf with a bang following a five-month break courtesy of a shoulder replacement back in early October. The recently-retired Body Corporate Company owner scored 42 points to win B Grade in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford, in just his second game since having a titanium shoulder joint fitted. “My first game back was in an Ambrose at Caloundra the previous week, so it was fairly relaxing to settle in when there wasn’t much pressure on me,” he said after his 84 off the bat and an impressive 23 points on the back nine, his first nine on Wednesday. “Everything felt really good. There was no pain at all, and obviously I can highly recommend my surgeon. And 26 putts also helped.” Scott started with a double at the par-five tenth hole, then reeled off four pars, three bogeys and a birdie in a four-over 40. He came home in 44, with another double, six bogeys and two pars. “I certainly missed my golf, but the best part was being back out there with my mates,” he claimed. A keen Sea Eagles NRL supporter, Scott shared his victory with a fellow Manly fan, Jack Pyke (40 points) who won A Grade, while Queensland Reds’ Rugby follower, Johnny Miller (41), topped the C Grade ladder.
RENO RICHARD: He has been a Headland member for 15 years, but Richard Mallinder cannot recall when he last won an individual event – before Tuesday, that is. But what the Yorkshire-born cricket fan does remember, is that his best round at the club – two-over 74 – was also on recently-renovated greens. “Maybe it has something to do with the fact that where I’m from in England, the greens are usually in a similar condition,” he quipped, after firing 79 to score 39 points and win Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men. Richard, a retired engineer who recently moved from his property at Flaxton to Twin Waters, estimates he has played only ‘four or five’ comp rounds in the past two years, due mainly to tendonitis in both arms. More recently he has managed a couple of nine-hole social rounds a week, the last of which produced an ace at the par-three fifth two weeks ago. “It is my first-ever hole-in-one, and thankfully I had someone with me as a witness,” he said. Apart from doubles at the second and tenth holes, Richard’s round on Tuesday was very sound – 13 pars and three bogeys. Sue Harris (37 points) won the Women’s event.
DOC’S BEST: Lake Kawana GP John Matson has returned his best round as a four-year Headland member to win Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford. John finished his round with a birdie at the par-three 18th to score 41 points and win his third event since he and three other former Pelican Waters members headed north during the Covid pandemic. Playing off 18, his front nine was as smooth as silk, with two three-point holes and seven twos for a return of 20 points. And while the back nine produced 21 points to give him the winning edge, it was slightly more erratic – a four-point birdie, four three-pointers, two twos, a single and a wipe. John’s last victory was in September last year – again on a Sunday, the only day he plays – when he scored 38 points from his then handicap of 20.
MIXED CHAMPS: Entries have opened for Headland’s 2025 Mixed Foursomes Championship, to be played over 36 holes on Saturday, March 15. Members can request to play in groups of up to six individuals, and entry is via the Headland website. Those members who would like to contest the Championship but do not have a partner, should email Golf Operations Manager, Ian Hepburn, at golfoperations@headlandgolfclub.com.au. Entry fee is $40 per person, which includes lunch, and players will be assigned tee times by the Match Committee. Proud sponsors, once again, are club members Erik and Tove Larsen of Cirlock, and reigning Champions, Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards, have confirmed they will be defending their title.
VALE GARRY SHAW: Headland Golf Club has lost its longest-serving member, Dr Garry Shaw. A foundation member of the club seven decades ago, Garry joined alongside his dad, Dr Hugh Shaw, who was Headland’s first Patron. Garry was Headland’s last remaining foundation member, and resigned his golf membership in 2021 after an incredible 66 years and nine months. Although he had spent two decades practising in Goondiwindi, he maintained his Headland membership, but four years ago decided to retire his clubs after not having played for 18 months. And when he resigned, he donated his fee of $409 to the Headland Golf Club Future Fund. At the time, as a gesture to the long-serving member, the club transferred Garry to continuing social membership, which enabled him to maintain his number of 840. Dr Hugh Shaw, was Buderim’s first doctor and Headland’s first Patron, and back in the 1930s permitted the Buderim Community to develop a nine-hole golf course on land he owned adjacent to Orme Road. Garry passed on Monday, February 17.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Medley Single Stableford, Women (37 players) – Sue Harris (37 points), Marg Smith (35), Leeanne Ptak (32).
Men (66 players) – Richard Mallinder (39 points), Greg Jellis (38), John Marrington (38).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford, (218 players) – A Grade, Jack Pyke (40 points), Richard Franklin (40), Chris Pace (40); B Grade, Scott Simpson (42), Syd Shilling (42), Barry Potter (40); C Grade, Johnny Miller (41), Michael Fortune (40), John Jamieson (39).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women (sponsors, Helen Venter, Sue Keays and Catherine Janiszewski) (89 players) – Division One, Rebecca Masters (37 points), Kerry Longworth (36), Linda Cannon (36); Division Two, Valerie O’Brien (39), Sue Bolton (38), Joy Murray (37); Division Three, Cathy Haimes (34), Emilia White (33), Barb Marrington (31).
Men (69 players) – Tony Kelleher (41 points), Colin Cross (39), Garry Holmes (38).
Saturday, Par Plus, Women (24 players) – Wendy Burnie (plus 1), Louise Harriott (square), Narelle Hollowood (square).
Men (214 players) – A Grade, Bob Trevor (+5), Brett Glover (+4), Matt Prince (+4); B Grade, Burgess Stephenson (+7), Peter Gablonksi (+6), Lindsay Olsson (+6); C Grade, David Parker (+6), Wayne Harriott (+5), Emmett Walsh (+4).
Juniors, Parent/Child Twoball Ambrose – Charlotte and Adam Rydwanski (35 nett), Matthew and Clinton Bothma (37), Jenson and JC Bannister (38), Finn and Chris Darlison (38), Oliver and Nick Brown (38), Ziggy and Brad Williams (38), Dominic and Dan Manning (40).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (53 players) – John Matson (41 points), Cooper Hulsman (40), Chris Klazema (39).
