From Tony Durkin
BACK-TO-BACK: Former World No.42 tennis player, Scott Draper, has won back-to-back Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open Championships, prevailing once again at Headland over the Easter weekend. The lowest handicapped player in the field off plus four, Scott won by four shots, and was the only player under par in the extremely tough conditions. “The course was super tricky both days. There was no run, so it was playing longer than normal, and the greens were very slick,” he said after his fifth attempt at winning the Championship. Scott, who played as a professional tennis player from 1993 to 2005 before a back injury ended his career, was two under 142 for his 36 holes, four shots worse than his winning score last year. “It was not my best ball striking over the weekend, but I grinded it out both days. No-one was under par on Sunday, so that is a fair indication of how tough the course played,” he said. Scott, who won the NSW PGA Championship in 2007 with a brilliant score of 20 under par, described the Headland greens as ‘fast, and tricky’. “I can honestly say that over the two days, I had just the one putt that I didn’t have to think too much about. The rest were delicate,” he said. Scott conceded he struggled on the par fives. “I was one over – seven pars and one bogey – on the two days,” he revealed. Overall, he carded seven birdies, 24 pars and five bogeys, and vowed to defend his title in 2026. “This is now my annual Easter getaway. I love the event,” he said. Best of the Headland members were Adam Richards and Ben Duncombe, both of whom finished on three over 147.
FIELD OF DREAMS: Pelican Waters member, Cooper Field, has won the 2025 Sunshine Coast Junior Open Amateur, played at Headland over the Easter weekend. Sixteen-year-old Cooper, who is the son of three-time Australian High-Performance Coach of the Year, Grant Field, fired rounds of 74,75 -149, to finish five over par in the 36-hole event. He won by seven shots, finished seventh overall in the Open Championship field, and his proud dad said he played ‘very well’. “It was a really tough course, and I was pleased the way Coops handled the conditions,” said the coach of several high-profile golfers, including 2022 British Open Champion, Cameron Smith. When asked if he thought Cooper, who was once a promising junior rugby league player, could ‘make it’ in golf, Grant quipped ‘yes, if he wants to do it’. Cooper finished 15th in the Australian Junior Championships at Indooroopilly last week, and was second in the Victorian Junior Masters last year. Cooper’s Pelican teammate Jensen Williamson (162) finished fourth in the Junior Division at Headland on the weekend, while Headland’s reigning Junior Champion, Sam Fichera (164), was fifth.
CHAMP RETURNS: Brian Kesby turned back the clock to his Headland glory days with three ‘wins’ over the Easter weekend. Teeing it up in the Sunshine Coast Amateur Open for the 22nd time – at 6.30am both days – the rising 72-year-old won the 36-hole Division Two gross (78,79 -157), was Senior Champion runner-up by a shot, and was also runner-up – to fellow Headland member Stewart Clover – in Division Two gross on Sunday. Describing the course as ‘magic’, Brian said he could not believe the improvement in its condition in the five days since Masters Monday. “It was amazing how much it had improved. The greens were just brilliant over the weekend,” he applauded. Playing off six, the 30-year Headland member penned three birdies, 17 pars and 16 bogeys over the two rounds, and was justifiably proud of no double bogeys on his cards. Headland Club Champion in 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2005, Brian finished a creditable 23rd in the Open field and said he ‘loved’ the recent improvements in the course. “I am probably biased, but I think Headland is the best course on the Sunshine Coast,” he opined.
BAZ IS BACK: A frustrating six-month period in which his GA handicap has drifted from six to eight, ended on Wednesday for colourful member Barry Newton. The semi-retired Business Finance Broker, who lives adjacent to the 17th fairway, shot five-over 77 to win the A Grade Mid-Week Medal with nett 68, the best score on the day. “It was tough out there. The course was understandably pretty sloppy from all the recent rain, and the rough is long,” said Barry, whose daily handicap under the conditions was nine. “I cannot remember when I last played off nine, and I’m getting baited by my mates about slipping out to double figures.” But apart from a double bogey at the 17th – when he quipped his ball was keen to get home – Barry’s card was solid. He birdied the par-five second, penned 10 pars and five bogeys. “I turned 64 last week and the simple truth is that I’m not hitting it as far as I once did,” he lamented. Barry, who is arguably Headland’s best-dressed member, won his last Medal in January 2024. Patron Simon Whittle (69 nett) won B Grade, Dylan Fennell (69) won C Grade and Peter Francis (36 points), Graham Clarke (36) and Dennis Clifford (33), claimed the top spots A, B and C Grade in the accompanying Medley Single Stableford.
TOUGH, AND TIRED: Deborah Thomas says she has never felt as tired after a round of golf than she was on Thursday when her meagre score of 31 points was the equal best returned in the Women’s Single Stableford competition. “I’m actually embarrassed that the score won my grade, but it was an extremely difficult day out there,” said the 2017 SWING graduate who was C Grade Champion four years ago. “I generally don’t play when the course is wet and when carts are on paths, but because it has been a while since I had a round, I thought ‘let’s do it’. But it was really, really hard work.” Deborah, who has moved back to Brisbane from her six-year ‘sea change’ on the Sunshine Coast to be closer to family, has maintained her Headland membership and intends playing at least once a fortnight. She has also joined Nudgee Golf Club. “I had never set foot on a golf course until I started SWING at Headland, and now I absolutely love the game,” she said. “And I especially enjoy the camaraderie of my Thursday round at Headland.” Deborah, who said she ‘played safe, and putted well’, won B Grade, Kirsten Kaergaard (also 31 points) win A Grade, and Julie Lewis (30) won C Grade.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (13 players) – Jenny Stokes (32 points), Narelle Hollowood (25), Lisa Ramen (24).
Men (46 players) – Tony Briffa (39 points), Adrian Coyne (36), Jack Hourn (36).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stroke, Men’s Mid-Week Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (95 players) – A Grade, Barry Newton (68 nett), Scott Lindsay (70), John Harris (71); B Grade, Simon Whittle (69), Darcy Brown (71), Paul Anderson (72); C Grade, Dylan Fennell (69), Kyle Ormiston (71), Steven Makin (75). Best gross – Ben Duncombe (73).
Medley Single Stableford (72 players) – A Grade, Peter Francis (36 points), Peter Welsh (31), Steve Rose (31); B Grade, Graham Clarke (36), Christopher Swan (35), Peter Raymond (34); Denis Clifford (33), Phil Maron (32), Ian Llewellin (32).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsors, Mary Dowling, Penny Cooper, Catherine Peterson, Ruth Broderick, Pruce Byrnes, Julie Lewis and Lyn Keogh (71 players) – Division One, Kirsten Kaergaard (31 points), Jenny Ingham (31), Will Sprake (30); Division Two, Deborah Thomas (31), Laura Mason-Baierl (28), Gail Young (27); Division Three, Julie Lewis (30), Sue Wake (29), Trudi Russell (29).
Men (68 players) – Matt Potter (40 points), Jamie Holbrook (38), Sergio Nogarotto (36).
Saturday, Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open – sponsor Justin Walsh, Walsh Consulting Engineers – round one (175 players) – Division One – gross, Scott Draper (69), Jake Smith (71); nett, Ash Reck (71), Fred Scheepers (72). Division Two, Sam Dangerfield (77), Scott Bromfield (77); nett, Warren Sorby (71),
Carter Greeff (71); Division Three, gross, Mark Swift (85), Gary Marr (85); nett, Clint Adams (72), Ron McMahon (73).
Sunday, Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open – sponsor Justin Walsh, Walsh Consulting Engineers – round two (170 players) – Division One, gross, Daniel Sheehan (72), Adam Mollis (72); nett, Jack Hourn (72), Tim McMaster (73); Division Two, gross, Stewart Clover (78), Brian Kesby (79); nett, Peter Walker (71), Barry Newton (71); Division Three, gross, Anthony Fichera (85),
Nathan Williams (85); nett, Jarrod Kennewell (72), Mike McQuarrie (75).
Overall, Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open Champion, Scott Draper (69,73 – 142), runner-up, Jake Smith (146); nett, Jack Hourn (144), Tim McMaster (149). Division Two, gross, Brian Kesby (78,79 -157); Scott Bromfield (157); nett, Stewart Clover (142), Barry Newton (143); Division Three, gross, Anthony Fichera (90-85, 175), Nathan Williams (175); nett, Jarrod Kennewell (145), Mark Swift (151). Junior Champion, Cooper Field (74, 75 – 149), Jaxon Smith (156). Senior Champion, Peter Wouters (76, 80 – 156), Brian Kesby (157).
