From Tony Durkin
FIRST FOR ZAC: His father-in-law runs Dalby Golf Club and his interior-decorator wife Katie helped design the recent refurbishment, but Dalby-born Zac Boland has saved his best round of golf for Headland. The Medical Rep, who specialises in hip, shoulder and knee replacements, scored 88 from his 20 handicap to return the equal best score (68 nett) in Saturday’s Wood Duck Challenge. Zac was one of 15 in the field of 237 to beat their handicap in the Single Stroke event, each of whom collected $81 courtesy of joint sponsors Nelson and Lachlan Valderrama of Absolute Building Solutions, and Greg Edgar of Rapid Equipment Hire. “It is my best round, and first win as a Headland member,” revealed Zac, whose previous best performance was reaching the semi-finals of the C Grade Match Play Championships in 2023, his first year as a member. “I have been playing a lot more lately – at least once a fortnight – and really enjoying my golf.” His winning round, after recent lessons from Head Pro Adam Norlander, included a birdie at the par-four 11th, four pars, nine bogeys and four doubles, with a back nine of five-over 41 the highlight. Although he played the odd social round at Dalby as a youngster, Headland is Zac’s first member club. Others to beat their handicap on Saturday – the first day the course was open for play since Tuesday – were Phil Maron, Andy Whitmore, Ryan Sawell, Simon Richardson, Dan Diachkoff, Rob Cunningham, Shane Muller, Adam Richards, Peter Francis, Clint Adams, Glen Teakle, Patrick Walsh, Darren Walters and Gary Marr. And while Kevin George and Brendan Duncan were not among those who broke their handicap, they also had reason to celebrate. Kevin scored his second hole-in-one as a Headland member when he aced the par-three 14th, while Brendan chipped in for an eagle at the par-four 11th, his fourth eagle as a Headland member.
WOMEN’S FOURSOMES: Rain, and the resultant saturated golf course, has forced Lisa Ramen and Sharon Thomas to wait for the defence of their Headland Women’s Foursomes Championship title. The 2025 championship, to be played over 27 holes, was to be contested on Thursday, but has been postponed to Thursday September 11. Lisa and Sharon teamed together for the first time last year, but between them have won the Foursomes title 13 times. Lisa first won with her mum, Geraldine, in 1994, and has saluted five times since. Sharon won the first of her seven Foursomes titles in 2017, then won five in a row – four with Dominique Paice – and one alongside Christina Claxton, as well as another with Annabel Harris in 2023 before her victory last year with Lisa. But Headland’s female golfing icon, Josie Ryan, goes into the 2025 event with partner Annabel Harris holding the most impressive Women’s Foursomes record. She has won the championship 14 times – her first back in 1997 – and three of those victories have been with Lisa Ramen. On paper, the pairings of Lisa and Sharon and Josie and Annabel appear clear favourites for the 2025 title, although the returning Fiona Munro (GA handicap 5.6) will be playing alongside the steady Pik Chong, and will be in the hunt. And the ever-reliable Kate Wilkie has teamed with in-form Narelle Hollowood to form another championship challenger.
FOURBALL FINAL: ‘Seasoned’ golfers David W Smith and Bruce Reid will meet youngsters Emmet Walsh and Kade Johnstone in next Sunday’s final of the Fourball Best Ball Match Play Championship. In Sunday’s semi-final of the Honour Board event, sponsored since its inception by Michael Thomas of Zenfind Accounting, David and Bruce beat Laura Mason-Baierl and Nicola Whitmore (2-up), while Emmet and Kade eliminated Quentin Poulsen and Anthony Larchin (3&2). Just on 250 players contested the qualifying round five weeks ago, with 16 teams earning their stripes in the quarter finals. Inaugural winners of the popular event in 2018 were Mick Kinnear and Mick Kelsey, followed by the fathers-and-sons’ combinations of Matt and Jack Fisher (2019) and Anthony and Sam Fichera (2020). Winners since have Geoff Bland and Dan Diachkoff (2021), Sergio Nogarotto and John Marrington (2022), Alex Dwyer and Lachie Moffatt (2023) and last year, Cathy Roberts and Robyn Muir.
IRISH DUCK: When Jonny Clarke won the Mid-Week Gold Medal in November last year in rainy conditions, he described the conditions as ‘perfect for ducks and Irishmen’. The 30mm of rain scared off most players, with Jonny prevailing in a field of just 18, the same number as competed in Tuesday’s Medley Single Par, which Jonny again won in the ‘drizzle’. “If we didn’t play in rainy conditions back home, we would never play,” quipped the Northern Ireland native, who has been in Australia, on the Sunshine Coast, for six years as the director of Technology company. “The course was wet on Tuesday, but it didn’t rain much. I think it was the weather forecast, rather than the weather itself, which limited the numbers.” Jonny scored plus one, with seven pars, eight bogeys and a three-putt double on his card. “I have never had a double-bogey-free round at Headland, and after 16 holes I thought I was heading for one on Tuesday,” revealed Jonny, who started on the back nine. “But disaster struck at the par-three eighth with that three-putt.” The weather finally beat Jonny on Wednesday, when heavy overnight rain caused the Mid-Week Medal for August to be postponed, and the course closed. “I was down to play. It was the anniversary of my first Medal last year, and I was keen to get out there again” he said.
SENIOR ‘DOC’: The goalkeeper for Australia’s Senior (Over 60) hockey team has changed his equipment and won Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford. Aptly named Richard Senior, the retired Hervey Bay GP also recently switched golf clubs after a nine-week overseas trip. “I have an old set I leave with a mate in the UK, and played okay with them while I was away,” he revealed after his 36 points won Sunday’s event. “They have steel shafts, and it took me a while to adapt to my graphite shafts back here.” But, while he wiped one hole and described his winning round as ‘a fluke’, Richard’s nine pars, five bogeys and three doubles were enough to give the 13-marker a win by a point, from last Sunday’s victor, Rod J Berger, and Jack Swanepoel, and a collect of $65. It is his first win since October last year.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Medley Single Par (18 players), Jonny Clarke (plus one), Geoff Sawyer (square), Steve Furness (-1).
Wednesday, Men’s Mid-week Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (course closed because of rain/conditions)
Thursday, Women’s Foursomes Championship – sponsor, Narelle Hollowood, Flip Belt – (course closed because of rain/conditions)
Saturday, Wood Duck Challenge, Medley Single Stroke – sponsor, Nelson and Lachlan Valderrama, Absolute Building Solutions, and Greg Edgar, Rapid Equipment Hire – (237 players) – Zac Boland (68 nett), Phil Maron (68), Andy Whitmore (69), Ryan Sawell (69), Simon Richardson (69), Dan Diachkoff (70), Rob Cunningham (70), Shane Muller (70), Adam Richards (70), Peter Francis (70), Clint Adams (70), Glen Teakle (71), Patrick Walsh (71), Darren Walters (71), Gary Marr (71).
Juniors, Nine-hole Stroke – Matthew Bothma (38), Finn Darlison (43), Max Faulkner (46), Peter Hall (50), Jasper Harding (65), Emme Coburn (75).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (50 players) – Richard Senior (36 points), Jack Swanepoel (35), Rod J Berger (35).
Fourball Best Ball Match Play, sponsor Michael Thomas, Zenfind Accounting – semi-finals, David W Smith and Bruce Reid beat Laura Mason-Baierl and Nicola Whitmore (2-up); Emmet Walsh and Kade Johnstone beat Quentin Poulsen and Anthony Larchin (3&2).
