From Tony Durkin
MEN’S MATCH PLAY: Adam Rydswanski has won his third Headland Men’s Match Play Championship and rates the thrilling victory ‘up there’ alongside his best golf performances. In what he described as a topsy-turvy 35-hole match, Adam beat fellow Headland A Grade Pennant team member and mate Adam Richards 2&1, after parring the 17th hole the second time around to clinch the title. “We both played really well, and no hole on the day was won with anything less than birdie or parr,” he said. “It was a truly great match.” Adam Richards, who was attempting to win the 2025 Men’s Championship treble following earlier victories in the Club Championship and the Foursomes (alongside Shane Muller), was 2-up after the morning 18 holes and extended that lead to 4-up after 21 holes. But the new Champion fought back in brilliant fashion, winning six of the next seven holes. “Considering the quality of golf that was played, what Adam had on the line and what he has achieved at this club, I rate that one of the best matches I have played,” said the winner of the title back in 2014 and 2015. The golf produced, in testing windy conditions from the Championships tees, was exceptional, with Adam Rydwanski shooting even par for the 35 holes and Adam Richards just two over. “We worked out afterwards that had we been playing a fourball, as a pairing we would have been 10-under the card,” said the Champion. In true Championship style, the B and C Grade finals were also classics. Druce Fielding fought back from eight down after the morning 18 holes against Geoff Bland to clinch B Grade one-up after winning the 35th hole, while Anthony Larchin took Peter O’Brien down the 37th (first hole) before winning the C Grade Championship.
WOMEN’S DAY: Wednesdays at Headland are, traditionally, a time for the male members to shine. But Wednesday last week was women’s day when two females literally shot the lights out to return winning scores in Medley competitions. Lining up in the Men’s Mid-Week Medal field, Kate Wilkie returned the best nett score of the day (minus 7) with a superb 81 from her 15 handicap, playing from the Women’s red tees. And Lyn Mansfield returned easily her best score as a four-year member to table 45 points in the accompanying Medley Single Stableford, winning C Grade by a whopping six points. “And that included a wipe,” chirped Lyn, who played from a handicap of 40, despite her GA being 34.5. “I’m not sure how that worked, but it obviously helped today.” Yet while Lyn’s score was super impressive, Kate’s effort as one of only two women in the Medal field of 99 was outstanding. She registered 10 pars and eight bogeys in a stellar round, and was just four shots short of her PB (77). “I chipped close, and came out of seven bunkers to within a metre each time, which resulted in only 30 putts,” she divulged. And October seems to be a special golfing month for Kate who, almost to the day in October of 2021, became the first women since Medley events on Wednesdays were introduced, to win both the gross and nett. Also, in October last year, Kate registered her lowest GA handicap, of nine A Mt Coolum visitor, Ben Thomson (68 nett) won A Grade, Braden Anderson (71) won the B Grade Medal and Kurt Lawler (71) won C Grade, while Peter Gablonksi (40 points) won the A Grade Medley Stableford and Glen Flowerday B Grade. And Brendan Duncan, for the second time in four months, returned the best gross (76), and also won a Pro Pin, for $140.50 – the biggest collect of the day.
ADAM’S WEEKEND: Not content with winning the Men’s Matchplay Championship on Saturday, Adam Rydwanski backed up 24 hours later to win the coveted Patron’s Trophy. And to make the victory even sweeter, he teamed with his rookie-golfing wife Emily to snatch the Mixed American Foursomes annual event, and pocket $150 each, courtesy of Club Patron Simon Whittle. “Emily played really well,” praised Adam. “She drove the ball great and her putting was awesome.” Emily, who played off a ‘handy’ handicap of 45, started golf only this year and had played in just five 18-hole competitions prior to Sunday. The husband-and-wife team scored 63.125 nett, to win by almost three shots from the field of 98. The winning couple were invited by Simon and Sandy to play in their group, and Headland’s Patron was high in his praise of the victors. “Emily played really well, but Adam was near-faultless today,” he said. Another married couple to share some major financial success was Sandee and Ross Brimblecombe, who won $50 each for snaring the Pro Pin at the par-four sixth hole. NOTE: Adam Rydwanski’s financial bonus from the weekend was further boosted by $25 for the NTP at the 18th on Sunday.
KING KONG: Being ‘pulled along’ by Match Play finalists Adam Rydwanski and Adam Richards has helped Darryl Kong clinch his first-ever A Grade Monthly Medal double. Playing alongside the two Adams during the second 18 holes of their 36-hole Championship round on Saturday, Darryl shot two birdies, eight pars and eight bogeys, for six-over 78, and a nett 73 to earn a one-shot win over Rob Van Delft. “Obviously I was dragged along in their slipstream,” quipped the Town Planner, who joined Headland when he arrived on the Sunshine Coast 13 years ago. “The guys played amazing golf, and it was great just to be a spectator. And them not playing in the Medal field was no doubt a bonus for me.” Although Darryl’s lowest round at Headland has been two-under 70, and his best from the black tees par-72, he was delighted with Saturday’s result. “I am pretty much stunned. I didn’t think my score was that good, actually.” Gary Marr (68 nett) continued his excellent form of late to win the B Grade Medal, Graeme Brown (69) saluted in C Grade, while Ivan Fortmann (38 points) and Roger Van Ginkel (36) won their respective divisions in the accompanying Single Stableford event.
FOURTH MEDAL: Annabel Harris finally conquered her nemesis hole – the par-five tenth – in winning her fourth Women’s Monthly Medal for the year. Starting on the tenth in Saturday’s event, Annabel shot par 37 for her first nine holes, featuring three birdies, including one at the tenth. “I have had a shocking run at that hole this year,” she bemoaned. “I estimate that for the past four-to-five months prior to today, I have had nothing better than an eight at that damn hole.” But even though the birdie at the tenth was the springboard for a superb first nine, Annabel struggled coming home, with three doubles, three bogeys and three pars on her card for 45, and a gross score of 82. It was still good enough to win both the nett (68) and gross in the Women’s Medal, with Annabel beating Margie White on a countback. NOTE: Annabel says she is still recovering from her beloved Canberra Raiders being eliminated from the NRL finals, bowing out in straight sets after finishing minor premiers.
PREMIER GOLF: Russell Cooper is rejoicing in two ‘out of the box’ rounds during the past week, but he is not getting carried away by his conquest. “I just loved the feeling of success after such a long time. But golf being golf, I know it will put me back in my box very soon,” rationalised the former LNP Queensland Premier, who won Thursday’s Stableford for Men with 41 points. Two days earlier he scored 39 points to be runner-up in a similar event, and said he was non-plussed by the two results. “Since the redevelopment of the course, if I came close to scoring 30 points it was a miracle,” he said. “And while I supported the improvements, I have found scoring very difficult. Getting some faith back in my game this past week has been very satisfying.” In the shotgun start, Russell teed off on the third with a par, then had a triple bogey followed by another par and three bogeys. And he finished his round in a blaze of glory, reaping 10 points from holes 18 to two, and praised his new driver, and Head Pro Adam Norlander, for his success. “Very rarely have I been able to get to the front of the dam on the tenth hole in three shots,” he confessed. “But thanks to Adam, a new Ping G440 driver is getting me there, regularly, in two and, in general, has helped my driving no end.” Rusell’s financial bonus from the two rounds, which included an NTP on Tuesday, was $154.
ESCAPEE LYN: After two wins on successive days, Lyn Mansfield has left the country. Lyn stunned Headland’s male members on Wednesday when she scored 45 points in the Medley Single Stableford, and on Thursday teamed with Carolyn Fisher, Liz Dunford and Fiona Munro to win the Breast Cancer Day Scrambled Ambrose, by 5.25 shots. “She certainly carried her good form over from the previous day, and played very well,” reported playing partner Liz. “And so did Carolyn but, as is always the case in a team effort, everyone contributed.” Despite a ‘healthy’ handicap and four birdies, a bogey and 13 pars on their card for nett 56.75, Liz said she was surprised by the margin of their win. “We thought we needed a couple more birdies,” she admitted. For Lyn and rookie Carolyn, it was not their first victory as a team. They paired together to win Patron’s Day back in August with 49 points in the Fourball Stableford event. Thursday’s ‘pink’ charity day raised just on $10,000 for the Cindy MacKenzie Breast Cancer Program, a cause which Headland women support annually. NOTE: A delighted Lyn, who was concerned her handicap would be sliced following her victory on Wednesday, played off her GA of 35 in the Ambrose. And she did not ‘flee’ following the back-to-back wins. She and husband Leigh, also a Headland member, flew out on Friday on a long-planned holiday.
WORKED WELL: A stint with the greens staff on a work experience trial from Mountain Creek State High last year has paid handsome dividends – on and off the course – for Ryan Sawell. The 18-year-old, who took Horticulture as one of his subjects and ‘loved it’, scored a job at the club as a result, and has won three competitions in his first year – and that is also been his first year of playing golf. “I had never played golf before I came here to work,” he revealed after scoring 43 points to win the Kings’ Birthday Medley Stableford on Monday. “Golf just didn’t interest me, but it does know.” And that reaction is understandable. Ryan won a Single Stableford event in late June (39 points), backed up in August as one of the winners in the Wood Duck Challenge (69 nett), and beat the field by three points on Monday. He smashed the front nine, carding six-over 42 from his 26 handicap for 25 points, before coming home with a solid 18 points. Despite penning two four-point holes, six threes, seven twos and three single-pointers, Ryan said his putting had let him down. “The greens were a bit slow,” the teenager quipped. Ryan says he loves his job and could not ask for a better work crew, or bosses.
RONNIE, AGAIN: Just on three years ago, when Rhonda Biggs scored 47 points to win a Single Stableford event, HH queried whether she was actually the notorious British Train Robber, Ronald Biggs, masquerading as a Headland member. And despite a lengthy period of ‘on and off golf’ since due to caring for her dad, Rhonda was at it again on Tuesday, tabling 44 points to easily win the Women’s competition. “This round came right out of the blue. Since that last win, I have been playing pathetically,” she admitted, revealing her handicap had been sliced by five shots following her November 2022 win and had since ballooned out to 34. “And it is now back to 28 after Tuesday’s win.” Conceding her round – which featured 27 points on the back nine – was just as surreal as her best-ever three years ago, 2015 SWING graduate Rhonda was particularly enamoured by her birdie at the par-five 15th hole, which gave her five points. “I hit an eight iron onto the green, couldn’t see where it finished, but thought it was close. My playing partner, Althea McLean, could see, and called ‘that went in’, which was a real thrill.” Her card also showed seven three-point holes and a four-pointer, but two wipes. “It was a fairly wild ride,” she admitted.
FRUIT SALAD: Although Alan Stratford conceded his winning Tuesday round was a mixture of the very good and the ordinary, he was delighted to be back on the victory dais. “It has been at least two years since my last win,” revealed the retired Mechanical Engineer who plays every Tuesday and Thursday. “And I have had some pretty bad scores in between.” Alan’s ‘fruit salad’ round reaped him 42 points and earned him $90, with a mixture of two four-point holes, five threes, four doubles, a triple and a wipe. “That scorecard pretty much sums up my recent golf, although when my scores are bad, they are usually never any lower than the mid-20s,” he said after penning 18 and 24 on the respective nines. Alan, who was a member of Horton Park for two decades before joining Headland 15 years ago, believes extra run and ‘really good’ greens are the major contributors to the recent spate of improved Stableford scores.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Medley Single Stableford (46 players) – Ryan Sawell (43 points), Doc Fleming (40), Peter Wark (38).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (47 players) – Rhonda Biggs (44 points), Christine Hall (41), Liz Halyday (41).
Men (63 players) – Alan Stratford (42 points), Russell Cooper (39), Ted Banaszczyk (38).
Wednesday, Men’s Mid-Week Medal and Medley Stroke – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century on 21 – (99 players) – A Grade, Ben Thomson (68 nett), Rhett Charlton (70), Ian Farrington (70); B Grade, Kate Wilkie (-7), Braden Anderson (71), Anthony Larchin (71); C Grade, Kurt Lawler (71), Graham Miller (72), Russell Ferguson (74). Best gross – Brendan Duncan (76).
Medley Single Stableford (129 players) – A Grade, Peter Gablonski (40 points), Ian Robinson (38), Max Bown (35); B Grade, Glen Flowerday (37), Richard Reiterer (37), David Bone (37); C Grade, Lyn Mansfield (45), Glenn Williams (39), Brian Hermeston (36).
Thursday, Women, Cindy MacKenzie Breast Cancer Day, Four-Person Scrambled Ambrose (118 players) – Lyn Mansfield, Carolyn Fisher, Liz Dunford and Fiona Munro (56.75 nett), Lynn Hayman, Valerie O’Brien, Ree Condon and Jackie Thinee (62), Kath Barford, Margie White and Sue Jones (63.5).
Men, Single Stableford (61 players) – Russell Cooper (41), Ted Banaszczyk (40), Mark Glassop (38).
Saturday, Monthly Medal, Women (23 players) – Annabel Harris (68 nett), Margie White (68), Carolyn Fisher (72); Best gross – Annabel Harris (82).
Men – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century on 21 – (130 players) – A Grade, Darryl Kong (73), Rob Van Delft (74), Andrew Stirling (74); B Grade, Gary Marr (68), Ian Farrington (71), Ken Wedmaeir (71); C Grade, Graeme Brown (69), Robert McCann (70), Daniel Crabtree (70); Best gross – Darryl Kong (78).
Single Stableford (70 players) – Division One, Ivan Fortmann (38 points), John Halbert (35), Gary Rugless (35); Division Two, Roger Van Ginkel (36), Steve Walters (33), Greg Smith (33).
Men’s Match Play Championship, finals (36 holes) – A Grade, Adam Rydwanski beat Adam Richards (2&1); B Grade, Druce Fielding beat Geoff Bland (1-up); C Grade, Anthony Larchin beat Peter O’Brien (37th hole).
Sunday, Patron’s Trophy, Mixed American Foursomes – sponsors, Simon and Sandy Whittle – (96 players) – Emily and Adam Rydwanski (63.125 nett), Sheree Sydenham and Gary Marr (66), Sharon and Michael Thomas (68), Nicola and Andy Whitmore (69.25), Natalie and Chris Pace (70.5), Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards (71), Jan Langdon and Warren Selvage (71.75).
