From Tony Durkin
WOMEN’S FOURSOMES: Outsiders Narelle Hollowood and Kate Wilkie have come from the clouds to be Headland’s 2025 Women’s Foursomes Champions. With respective handicaps of 15 and 13, Narelle and Kate beat the highly-fancied Josie Ryan and Annabel Harris in a play-off after both pairs were locked on 133 after 27 holes. And while a par from the champions was enough to clinch the title, the talking point of the play-off – at the par-three 18th – was a stunning combined four shots in the bunker from Josie and Annabel. “I am not upset, nor disappointed,” said perennial winner Josie. “Narelle and Kate played outstanding golf all day and were deserved winners.” The champion pairing scored 83 in the morning 18 holes, with eight pars and 10 bogeys on their excellent card. Conversely, Josie and Annabel scored 87, with a 10 at the par-five tenth hole a massive blemish on their card. The tenth hole again scarred their afternoon nine-hole card, with a triple bogey eight tarnishing their total of 46. Narelle and Kate, who were runners-up last year, stumbled in the afternoon with their score of 50 defaced by a nine at the par-four 17th, and sentencing them to the play-off. “We played well,” said Narelle, who has reduced her handicap from 28 to 15 in her mere three years as a Headland member. “And although we played consistent golf, we didn’t shy away from a challenge when the opportunity presented itself.” As a relative golf rookie, Narelle confided that the more experienced Kate had been a tower of strength, and performed superbly. The win was the first Honour Board event victory for Narelle, and the second for Kate who won the Women’s Matchplay Championship in 2022. Defending champions Lisa Ramen and Sharon Thomas finished third, on 138, while the 27-hole nett was won by Robyn Boreham and Di Stark (109.5). Ironically, Narelle’s business, FlipBelt, sponsored the event. NOTE: Two days later, Kate won Saturday’s Monthly Medal for Women (76 nett) and returned the best gross (91) in the small field.
WILL’S DOUBLE: Playing less golf since he was married last December, Will Millroy scorched around Headland one over par on Saturday to take the September Monthly Medal double. His 73 gave him 65 nett from his handicap of eight and his second Monthly Medal since he became a Headland member in December of 2017. But, just as significantly, he also returned the lowest score in the field of 142 to add the best gross to his impressive day out. “It is my second-best round at Headland,” said Will, who had never played golf before he joined a group of mates at the club eight years ago on a handicap of 18. “I parred the course when I won my first Medal in March, 2023.” The Civil Engineer, who has won the past two Ambrose Two-Ball Jugs with good mate Nick Reed, has had some ‘home duties’ since his marriage in December, and golf has taken somewhat of a back seat. But Saturday’s round, which was highlighted by a two-under 34 coming home, was very sold, with two birdies, 12 pars and three bogeys on his card. His new AGU handicap is 6.5. Junior, Keaton Fox, won the B Grade Medal with 68 nett, Kevin Howe (71) saluted in C Grade, and Jamie Holbrook became another member to recently eagle the par-four 11th.
AWKWARD ACE: Not being able to see her ball on, or near the eighth green on Thursday, Carol Sinclair confessed she was almost too embarrassed to look in the hole. “I knew my tee shot was a good one, and seemed to be heading towards the hole, but because of the pin position and the sunlight, we did not see where it finished,” said the four-year member who scored her first ace during the Women’s Single Stableford event. “The three others in my group were each at the front of the green, and when I couldn’t see my ball anywhere, I felt really awkward looking in the hole.” Following a lengthy period on the waitlist, Carol joined Headland in 2021 from Gold Creek Golf Club in Canberra where she said she had never even been close to having a hole in one in her decade-long membership. The HR Manager with Astills Electrical Services moved north primarily because of the climate, and says she enjoys the camaraderie of Headland, and hopes to play more often. Carol played in the event which was supplementary to the Women’s Foursomes Championship, and was won by Elizabeth Goodhew, with 38 points.
‘OX’ SHINES: An Ox is typically a draft animal, utilised usually for its strength and temperament, and carrying out mundane farm work. But Headland’s Ox – Neil Oxley – was far from ordinary on Wednesday when he beat an almost maximum Headland Wednesday field of 237 to win the Medley Single Stableford. The former champion tri-athlete scored 80 from his handicap of 13 to post 41 points, win A Grade and collect a whopping $130 courtesy of event sponsor Moffatt Family Pharmacies. “My round was nothing spectacular, but it was very satisfying to find some form after a while in the golfing doldrums,” he said. “That is my lowest round since my best-ever Headland score of 78, back in May last year.” Neil’s only stutter came at the difficult par-four 15th, when he penned a double bogey, which followed a birdie at the previous hole. Otherwise, he shot an unruffled nine pars and seven bogeys. “I putted well,” he said, revealing he had recently replaced a thick grip on his putter with the thinner original. Neil won A Grade on a countback from Sean Hanna, while Eddie Pucella (39) beat home the B Grade field and disheartened NRL Rabbitohs supporter, Richard Ryan (40), won C Grade.
‘BOOM’ TIME: Linda Cannon, nicknamed ‘Boom Boom’ by Head Pro Adam Norlander when they were both at Brisbane’s Oxley Golf Club, fired some big shots in Monday’s Vets’ event at Headland. Playing off a 27 handicap and after a period of ‘not such good results’, Linda scored 41 points to win the Women’s Single Stableford by four points. “It was my lucky day,” said Linda, who cherished the fact she played alongside 92-year-old Brian Anderson, a visitor from Pelican Waters. “He was such great company, and made his playing partners feel so relaxed.” Out of the winner’s list since October last year, Linda was delighted with her overall game, although four-pointers at holes eight and ten were her ‘loudest’ results. A keen golfer, Linda backed up the following day to score a less-impressive 27 points, and then accompanied a prospective member seeking a handicap, while she played her nine holes late on Tuesday. Ted Banaszczyk (39 points), returned the best score among the Vets’ Men, winning Division Two, while Bruce Heseltine (37) won Division One and Pelican visitor, Trevor Gladwin (37), won Division Three.
SWING CHANGE: Undergoing a swing change because of a shoulder injury, Stephen Woolcott found some success on Tuesday, winning the Men’s Single Stableford. The retired Canberra Public Servant penned 38 points in the field of 67 on a low-scoring day to beat ex-Club Captain Tony Kelleher by a point. “There was no mid-round slump today, which is often the case with my golf,” said Stephen, who has been battling a rotator cuff injury which has forced him to alter his swing. “But as is usually the case when I score well, the putts fell today.” Stephen returned a solid card of five pars, 11 bogeys and two doubles from his 17 handicap, but his gross score of 87 was six shots shy of his best Headland round of 81, back in May 2023.
NO BRIDESMAID: Gwen Nancarrow has been a prolific winner – and popular member – at Headland since she joined in November of 2004, but was a disappointed runner-up in the Women’s B Grade Matchplay and B Grade nett during the Championships earlier in the year. However, the former Darwin golfer came through on Tuesday, scoring a notable 40 points to return the best score in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women. Playing from a handicap of 23, Gwen penned 92 with seven three-point holes on her card, as well as eight two and three singles. She came home with three of those three-pointers in her final five holes to overrun leader Anne Callanan (38 points) and win Division One. Deb Price (37 points) won Division Two.
AGE BECKONS: After shooting 79 on his 59th birthday on Sunday, builder Chris McArdle was mocked by his mates about soon shooting his age. “It is the first time I have broken 80 in a long while,” said Chris, who scored 41 points from his handicap of 12 to win the Medley Single Stableford in a field of 56. “You could probably describe my golf, of late, as being as different as salt and pepper.” When Chris last won at Headland, the former Twin Waters member started with a quadruple bogey and two double bogeys in his first four holes, yet went on to score 40 points. And despite two birdies and nine pars, on Sunday he also signed for five bogeys and two doubles. A Headland member for eight years, despite a busy work schedule Chris still manages to play most Saturdays and Sundays, mainly for the enjoyment and relaxation the game offers him.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Women (25 players) – Linda Cannon (41 points), Leeanne Ptak (37), Monica Knowles (37).
Men (94 players) – Division One, Bruce Heseltine (37 points), Glen Teakle (36), Peter Wark (35); Division Two, Ted Banaszczyk (39), Steve Nash (38), Brian Hermeston (38); Division Three, Trevor Gladwin (37), Colin Williamson (37), Peter Hayman (37).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (56 players) – Division One, Gwen Nancarrow (40 points), Anne Callanan (38), Vicky Oxley (35); Division Two, Deb Prince (37), Julie Lewis (38), Marion Dennis (35).
Men (67 players) – Stephen Woolcott (38 points), Tony Kelleher (37), John Marrington (36).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Lachlan and John Moffatt, Moffatt Family Pharmacies (237 players) – A Grade, Neil Oxley (41 points), Sean Hanna (41), Steve Rose (40); B Grade, Eddie Pucella (39), Ian Scobie (38), Greg Wareham (38); C Grade, Richard Ryan (40), Dave Kelso (38), Gordon Peak (37).
Thursday, Women, Foursomes Championships, 27 holes – sponsor, Narelle Hollowood, FlipBelt – (64 players) – 2025 Champions, Narelle Hollowood and Kate Wilkie (133), runners-up, Josie Ryan and Annabel Harris (133); 27-hole nett, Robyn Boreham and Di Stark (109.5), runners-up, Lynn Deacon and Joy Murray (111.5); 18-hole gross, Lisa Ramen and Sharon Thomas (88), nett, Margot Easton and Coralie Snowball (72.5); nine-hole gross, Colleen Berger and Julie Halliday (51), nett, Marg Howard and Mary Dowling (35.5).
Single Stableford (38 players) – Elizabeth Goodhew (38 points), Monica Knowles (37), Odette Day (37).
Saturday, Monthly Medal, Women – sponsor Jodie McDonnel, Century 21 on Duporth – (14 players) – Kate Wilkie (76 nett), Di Stark (78), Gwen Nancarrow (78), gross – Kate Wilkie (91).
Men – sponsor Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (142 players) – A Grade, Will Millroy (65 nett), Bryan Haggarty (69), Darren Macleod (69); B Grade, Keaton Fox (68), Mike McQuarrie (68), Terry Grogan (70); C Grade, Kevin Howe (71), Simon Lowing (74), Paul Anderson (74); gross – Will Millroy (73).
Single Stableford (53 players) – Stewart Smith (37 points), John Mannix (33), Tony Coad (32).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (53 players) – Chris McArdle (41 points), Steve Ridley (39), Anthony Fichera (39).
