From Tony Durkin
MATES RATE: Three years ago, the opportunity to play golf with his mates lured Kade Johnstone from Maroochy River to Headland, and the University student could not he happier. And that contentment was further enhanced on Saturday when Kade, with his mates in tow, returned the best score in the big field of 227 to win the Men’s Single Stableford, in B Grade. Kade, who is studying Finance and Economics, scored 43 points from his 13 handicap, with four birdies, eight pars, three bogeys, two doubles and a wipe on his card. “Yes, it was a mixed bag, but isn’t variety the spice of life,” quipped the 23-year-old. “I made a couple of good putts, which always helps.” The round was his best as a three-year Headland member, and Kade said he has really enjoyed his switch of clubs. “I love the course. It presents a different challenge every day I play here,” he said. Geoff Bland (42 points) finished late to win A Grade and usurp new dad Sean McGill (40) who shot the best gross round of the day (71); Ian Harper (41) won C Grade, and Gwen Nancarrow (37) was the best in the Women’s field.
FIRST, AND BEST: After winning the Thursday Men’s Single Stableford event 10 days ago with 41 points following a long drought, former Headland Men’s Director of Golf Tony Kelleher pondered ‘who knows what is next?’. Well, what came six days later was not just his best round at Headland, but his first victory as an A Grade golfer. “I had no idea I was in A Grade,” said Tony, who shot 79 from his 13 handicap to score 42 points and return the highest score in the field of 219. And this came after a less-than-impressive start. ‘TK’ – as he is universally known – double-bogeyed his first two holes and, in fact, had scored a meagre 12 points after his first seven. But he then went on a golf-scoring rampage, with two birdies, seven pars and two bogeys on the next 11 holes, for an added collection of 30 points. “And no hosel rockets,” he revealed, in reference to his three shanks in his winning round 10 days earlier. Tony’s best round of 78 was shot at Caloundra, where the now-retired teacher cut his golfing teeth ‘many years ago’. Popular Headland barman Rory Hanley, with 40 points, birdied his final two holes to win B Grade, and Richard Thurgood won C Grade with 37 points.
HOLIDAY OVER: When she left home on Tuesday morning headed for Headland, Mouna Humzy joked to her husband, Phil, ‘I wonder what today will bring’. And, after a run of 20 ‘bad rounds’ of golf, her question was answered with sunshine, relaxation, and a win. “It was such an exciting day,” said 20- handicapper Mouna, whose 40 points easily won the Single Stableford for Women, despite two wipes and three one-point holes. “The rest of my round (a four-point birdie at hole eight, nine three-pointers and three twos) was just so enjoyable.” A member since 2011 who plays Pennant golf for the club, Mouna said her swing had been ‘on holidays’ for such a long time, and she was feeling quite negative about her golf. “But somehow, I got my swing back,” she said. But her love of the game never waned, with her Tuesday round the first of three in succession for the week.
GOLDEN WEEK: He once worked for Queensland icon Golden Circle, and this past week Geoff Sawyer has panned gold on the greens of Headland. In the space of two days Geoff – GA handicap 7.1 – shot successive rounds of 74, his best-ever score. On Tuesday he finished second with 41 points, then on Thursday he turned his identical score into a victory, with his 40 points the best in a field of 84. And, ironically, it was February 12 months ago that the former Brisbane resident scored his first Monthly Medal after a dozen years as a member. “I putted very well each day,” said Geoff, who reckons the recently-renovated greens are not far from being back to their best. “They were sandy, but there was still some break in the putts.” His Tuesday card revealed three birdies, 11 pars, three bogeys and a double at 15, whereas he penned three birdies, 10 pars and five bogeys in Thursday’s winning round. His previous best score had been three-over 75, several times at Headland.
BACK-TO-BACK: While winning is always a thrill, consistency is a word most golfers like to associate with their game – especially players with generous handicaps. And Headland’s Director of Golf for Women, Valerie O’Brien, has found that harmony in her golf with back-to-back wins for the first time in her six-year membership tenure. Valerie won Monday’s Vets Single Stableford for Women, scoring 37 points from her handicap of 27, returning the best score among the combined 122 male and female golfers in the field. And, as she did four days earlier when she scored 39 points to again taste victory, consistency was the key. Valerie scored three points on five holes, two points on 10 and recorded one single point hole and a wipe on her card. “I really enjoy playing Vets,” she said following the hosting of Gympie on Monday on what she described as ‘the magnificently-conditioned course’. “Everyone playing Vets always seem very relaxed, and the camaraderie is palpable.” And, as was the case the previous week, Valerie putted well and had no issues with the bunkers. Also winning for the second successive week were Burgess Stephenson, with 35 points in Men’s Division One and David Parker (36, Division Two), while Wayne Nixey (36) won Division Three.
BEST BY THREE: With his most recent acquisition – a three-hybrid from a second-hand bin two days earlier – working a treat, Josh Poole has scored his best round as a decade-long Headland member. Josh shot six-over 78, beating his previous PB by three strokes, to score 43 points and win Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men. His impressive card of a birdie, 10 pars and seven bogeys, was devoid of the dreaded wipe, which thrilled Josh. “I tried hard not to have a wipe on my card, and had to two-putt from the back of the sixth green to a front pin, to avoid my only real danger,” he revealed. After playing ‘some golf’ as a kid, Josh joined Headland in 2014 on a handicap of 28 and has been as low as 12.2. His new GA after Tuesday’s win is 13.1, but he is confident his game is now in such a good place that his low mark is again attainable. Josh is a regular competitor on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
RONALD, AGAIN: Back in 2022, HH queried – in jest, of course – if 2015 SWING graduate Rhonda Biggs might be related to notorious British Train Robber Ronald Biggs, after she had scored a phenomenal 47 points in a Single Stableford event. Then, on Friday night a week ago, the ‘Train Robber’ struck again when Rhonda won the Joker Jackpot, and collected $3000. “We have recently moved in to Crest Apartments, next door to the club, and we dine out every Friday night,” she revealed. “When my number came up, I was excited to think I would collect $100 in my House Account. So, to turn the Joker card, I was ecstatic.” While delighted with the ‘Joker’ win, Rhonda was, however, not as upbeat about her golf. “After my 47 points my handicap was smashed to pieces, and I have really struggled since. In fact, because of a few personal issues, I played only 14 competition rounds last year,” she said. But, with her winnings, she intends to have lessons and play more golf. NOTE: The Joker Jackpot, which is drawn after 7:30 each Friday night, has been reset at $2000. It is open to all financial golfing, leave of absence, waitlist and social members of Headland Golf Club, who must be in attendance.
WOMEN’S PENNANT: The 2025 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Pennant season teed off on Sunday, and Headland scored two wins, with a close defeat in the third. On Sunday the Weekend team (No.1) fought gallantly against Maroochy River at Headland before going down 3½-2½. Captain Karen Wilson won handsomely, 5&4, Kate Wilkie won 2&1 and Robyn Muir squared her match, while Vicky Sheridan (2&1), Narelle Hollowood (1-down) and Will Sprake (2-down) were beaten. On Tuesday, again at home, both Mid-week teams had strong victories. Mid-Week One, skippered by Kirsten Kaergaard (4&3), scored a huge 5-1 victory. Other victors were Helen Venter (3&1), Leeanne Ptak (4&3), Linda Cannon (2&1) and Sue Briffa (2-up), while Lisa Ramen, after giving her opponent 10 shots, was beaten, one-down. Playing against Mt Coolum, Mid-Week Two won 4-2, with Debbie Bennetts (4&3), Laura Mason-Baierl (2&1), Ree Condon (2-up) and Carol Sinclair (4&2) the victors, while Wendy Mosley (1-down) and Sue Bolton (8&6) lost their matches.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford – sponsor Perry and Oster – Women (33 players) – Valerie O’Brien (37 points), Maria Hireme (35), Marg Smith (33).
Men (89 players)- A Grade, Burgess Stephenson (35 points), Nick Cox (35), Ken Wilkins (34); B Grade, David Parker (36), Geoff Barling (36), Kevin George (36); C Grade, Wayne Nixey (36), Richard Ryan (36), Phil Martin (35).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (39 players) – Mouna Humzy (40 points), Sharon Thomas (36), Gwen Nancarrow (33).
Men (59 players) – Josh Poole (43 points), Geoff Sawyer (41), Stuart Brooks (40).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford, sponsor Josh Myers, RM Developments (219 players) – A Grade, Tony Kelleher (42 points), Wayne Bridgeman (38), Paul Henricks (38); B Grade, Rory Hanley (40), Terry Lawlor (39), Dylan Fennell (38); C Grade, Richard Thurgood (37), Dave Kelso (37), Brian Hermiston (36).
Thursday, Women’s Ovarian Cancer Charity Day, Scrambled Ambrose – sponsors, Monica Knowles, Kathy Atkins, Jodie McDonell, Robyn Muir, Karen Wilson, Carol Quin, Anne Callanan, Pamela Hudson-Jessop and Melanie Byrne, Friends of Lindy – (113 players) – Angela Pearson, Fiona Sullivan, Narelle Hollowood and Annabel Harris (60.85 nett), Gillian Thomas, Helen Siddins, Robyn Muir and Barbra Parkinson (63.125), Leeanne Ptak, Kathy Atkins, Robyn Muir and Jodie McDonell (64.125).
Men, Single Stableford (84 players) – Geoff Sawyer (40 points), Alan Brooker (39), Sam Henricks (39).
Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor Syd Shilling, Ecokaps Australia, Women (16 players) – Gwen Nancarrow (37 points), Kirsten Kaergaard (35), Kathy Atkins (35).
Men (227 players) – A Grade, Geoff Bland (42 points), Sean McGill (40), James Daniel (38); B Grade, Kade Johnstone (43), Daniel Crabtree (40), Ross Roberts (40); C Grade, Ian Harper (41), Tim Gahan (40), Graeme Nicholas (40).
Juniors, Nine-hole Stroke – Matthew Bothma (37), Max Faulkner (41), William Springall (45), Jenson Bannister (45), Finn Darlison (45), Peter Hall (46).
Sunday, Medley 4BBB Stableford (58 players) – Adam Montgomery & Todd Petrie (47), David Murrihy & James Reinke (45), Benjamin Brown & Graham Smith (44)
