From Tony Durkin 

GREEN JACKET: It was a case of a green jacket for the greenkeeper in yesterday’s Masters Monday, with Apprentice Greenkeeper Kaden Thorne standing tall under extremely difficult circumstances. Playing from the Championship tees, during sporadic downpours, wind, and on a sodden course, newcomer Kaden handled the conditions admirably, with 82 from his 15 handicap for a return of 41 Stableford points. He carded a birdie, 10 pars, three bogeys and four doubles. Under a shotgun start, Kaden and his group teed off from the sixth, which he parred. However, he then went double bogey, bogey, bogey, before settling his nerves with nine pars, his birdie, a bogey and a double over the next 12 holes. “I was very pleased with my round today, in those conditions,” he said. “It is the best I have played in a long time.” Kaden, who started playing golf just three years ago, started his apprenticeship at Headland in August last year following a stint on the ground staff at Noosa Springs. Damian Moelands won A Grade with 39 points, and Greg Edgar (37) collected the B Grade spoils after Kaden was ruled ineligible because of his green jacket victory. Each group of four players was assisted by a US Masters final-round player, and the winning team of Brendan Duncan, Simon Hughes, Glenn Walker and Shane Moore, drew Denny McCarthy, who carded a par round, and finished tied 29th. Four of the best five Stableford scores on the day were recorded, and the victors tabled 145 points. James Kidd of EKO Financial again sponsored the event, for the tenth time. When he was Club Captain in 2005, he kicked off Masters Monday, and also donated the green jacket. Ironically, James was the first winner of the jacket, and won it again two years ago. NOTE: Kaden’s win followed his first Headland victory, on Saturday, winning B Grade with 39 Stableford points.

HECTIC TOM: With his first baby due in October, a wedding in June and monetary markets worldwide in a spin, golf has not been a major priority for Financial Adviser Tom Burnett in recent times. But on Saturday, despite a 60-minute break because of a storm, Tom found some form following a winless two-year period. After a breakthrough year in 2020, winning both the Mid-Week Gold Medal and B Grade Matchplay Championship, Tom – who only took up golf seriously in 2018 – has had a very lean trot. “My GA handicap has blown out from six to 12 in the past few years, so it was good to get some revenge on the course today,” he said. And retaliate Tom did, certainly on the back nine where he carded two-under 34 with an eagle and three birdies. He scored 80 for 39 points, which included three four-pointers and two threes on his somewhat erratic card. He had penned 46 on the front, for a meagre return of 14 points. But the most interesting stat came after the players were called off the course because of an electrical storm. “We had just played the 15th, and spent almost an hour in the clubhouse,” revealed Tom, who teed off at 6.44am. “I had a couple of beers, then went back out and finished par, birdie, birdie. Maybe that’s the secret.” Tom won A Grade, Kaden Thorne (39 points) won B Grade and Ben Faith topped the C Grade ladder, with 32 points.  

DRIVING MEDAL: Gwen Nancarrow delved into her recent memory bank to help her return the best score in the field, and win Thursday’s B Grade Monthly Medal. “I partnered Scott Bromfield in the Mixed Foursomes earlier in the year, and was fascinated by how well he hit his driver off the deck,” said Gwen, a Headland member for more than two decades. “With preferred lies on today, I was occasionally able to find some good spots on which to sit up the ball, and decided to give Scott’s idea a crack. And it worked.” Gwen described the conditions as ‘really tough’, and although she has played much better golf, was pleased to have won another Medal. “It is at least two years since I have won a Medal, so it’s another one for the jar,” she revealed. “I have gathered a jarful of Medals over the years, but winning another one always feels good.” Gwen penned 99 shots from her 23 handicap in the tough conditions for 76 nett, and said she played much better on the back nine. Pik Chong (80 nett) won the A Grade Medal, Debbie Bennetts (77) won C Grade and Lisa Ramen (91) returned the best gross. In the associated Single Stableford, Deb Prince won with 27 points.

MURRIHY OR McILROY: No one was more stunned on Sunday than Queensland Rail Electrical Linesman David Murrihy after the rookie golfer scored a massive 45 Stableford points. “I was waiting for a mid-round meltdown, as often happens to Rory McIlroy when he starts well,” quipped the 42-year-old, who easily won the Medley Single Stableford event. “But everything turned to gold.” Although he has been playing golf for just 3½ years, David said he is confident with most parts of his game, except driving. “But today I hit my driver straight, putted well and things fell into place,” he said. If ‘falling into place’ for a 17-handicapper is 10 pars and eight bogeys – reaping nine three pointers and nine two pointers – then David most certainly has a recipe for further success. “Until my mate Trent Meade talked me in to taking up golf, I had no interest at all in the game. Now, I am obsessed,” he revealed.

SLOW AND STEADY: Recently retired from the printing industry, ex-Victorian Steve Makin liked the way his scorecard looked after Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford. Steve was one of a host of first-up winners at Headland over recent weeks, scoring 41 points to return the best score in the field of 226, and win C Grade. A member for three years after moving north, Steve and his family had fallen in love with Mooloolaba following 15 years of holidaying on the Sunshine Coast, and one of his goals was to start playing golf again. “I played as a youngster, but hadn’t picked up a club for about 35 years,” he said after his two four-point holes and seven three-pointers helped him to victory. “I have struggled with my driver since I have been back, but played with a guy recently who suggested I slow down my swing. I have done that, and today hit 14 fairways.” Steve is an admirer of the course, and says it has improved markedly in the three years he has been a member. And he is particularly looking forward to the winter months. “The heat, and the humidity, has been difficult to handle,” he said. Andy Whitmore (40 points) won A Grade, and Dom Manning (40) won B Grade. 

KIDS’ STUFF: For popular Club Patron Simon Whittle, the memory clock was turned back more than six decades during and after Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford. Simon, who was Headland’s first junior member in 1959 and has maintained his membership since, was beaten into second place in B Grade by 11-year-old Dom Manning. And, he played in the same group as 15-year-old Junior Club Champion Sam Fichera, who now plays off a seven handicap, and on Wednesday won the Pro Pin at the 12th. But it was Dom who stole the show, shooting his best-ever score of 83 – off the blue tees – from his handicap of 15. His excellent round, in very difficult conditions, featured a birdie and five pars, with 10 bogeys and just the one double on his card. The win was Dom’s first in open company, and his mum Amber said he was as proud, as he was pleased. “Dom just loves his golf, and it is so great for him to have that win playing against the men. It will do so much for his confidence,” she said. Dom started his golf experience under the tutelage of Junior Coach Leon Faulkner three years ago, and in that time has reduced his handicap from 26. Simon Whittle expressed his pleasure at seeing so many juniors progressing under the coaching of Leon’s Golf Rocks Kids Academy, and he could not have been happier to be beaten by one of them. “I have a love and passion for this club and am thrilled to see juniors coming through the ranks, and winning,” he said. 

BACK-TO-BACK: Personal Trainer Reece Howell may have taken six months to win his first event as a Headland member, but only two more days to win his second. And he did it with almost identical rounds. Reece, who grew up in Buderim but did not start playing golf until three years ago – and that was ‘just socially’ – scored his first win in last Sunday week’s Medley Stroke event, with 67 nett from his 19 handicap. So excited by the victory, Reece decided to back up on Tuesday, and managed the same result with the identical round. He scored 41 points in the Men’s Single Stableford, again scored 86 from his 19 handicap, and – as fate would have it – matched his Sunday round of 45/41 for the two nines. “I found trouble on the same holes,” said a disappointed Reece, who claimed nerves were getting the better of him. “I made some bad decisions, but I realise my game is a work in progress and my course management needs improving.” Mouna Humzy, with 34 points, won the Women’s event. 

WOMEN’S PENNANT: Yesterday’s final round of the 2025 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Pennant final competition in Weekend Women’s No.1 Pennant between Headland and Twin Waters was cancelled because of the rain, but Headland has still qualified for the finals. Their opponent has yet to be decided. But despite having one match still to play, Headland’s Mid-Week One team will fail to qualify for the finals. Headland was beaten 4-2 by Caloundra at Caloundra on Tuesday, with Caloundra in an unassailable position atop the points ladder. Josie Ryan (3&2) and Helen Venter (2-up) were Headland victors, while Lisa Ramen (3&2), Kirsten Kaergaard (1-down), Jan Langdon (3&2) and Sue Briffa (5&4) on the wrong side of the ledger. The final match for the team will be against Maroochy River, at Maroochy River, tomorrow (Tuesday). Headland’s Mid-Week Two team has also qualified for the play-offs, with their opposition still to be decided.

WEEKLY RESULTS:

Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (44 players) – Mouna Humzy (34 points), Leeanne Ptak (32), Jill Nixey (31).

Men (73 players) – Reece Howell (41 points), Nev Kenzler (37), Dom Manning (37).

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Earl Hicks, Global Turf Projects – (226 players) – A Grade, Andy Whitmore (40 points), Quentin Poulsen (40), Andrew Fisher (39); B Grade, Dom Manning (40), Simon Whittle (38), Brett Beaumont (38); C Grade, Steven Makin (41), Egidio Della Sabina (34), Lib Bonel (34).

Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsor, Jodie McDonell, Century 21 on Duporth (61 players) – A Grade, Pik Chong (80 nett), Julie Halliday (80), Lisa Ramen (84); B Grade, Gwen Nancarrow (76), Helen Venter (80), Cathy Roberts (80); C Grade, Debbie Bennetts (77), Kath Barford (82), Ellen Bloxsome (82); best gross, Lisa Ramen (91).

Single Stableford (31 players) – Deb Prince (27 points), Rhonda Biggs (25), Denise Hutchinson (23).

Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (competition abandoned because of afternoon storm). 

Saturday, Men’s Single Stableford (155 players) – A Grade, Tom Burnett (39 points), Jay McDowell (37), Nathan Osborn (37); B Grade, Kaden Thorne (39), Nick Bolton (34), Marco D Nardo (33); C Grade, Ben Faith (32), Bruce Heseltine (32), Stephen Van Der Linde (31).

Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (46 players) – David Murrihy (45 points), Simon Whittle (37), David Groom (36).

Monday, Masters Monday – sponsor James Kidd, EKO Financial – (141 players) – Green Jacket, Kaden Thorne (41 points); A Grade, Damian Moelands (39), Simon Hughes (37), Brendan Duncan (37), Terry Ward (36), Dominic Geeves (35); B Grade, Greg Edgar (37), Alexander Dwyer (35), Lincoln Harris (34), Dean Oster (34), Bruce Fielding (33), Thomas Harrison (32); Teams (best 4 of 5 stableford scores) – Brendan Duncan, Simon Hughes, Glenn Walker, Shane Moore and Masters Professional Denny McCarthy (145 points).