From Tony Durkin
SLASHING DEBUT: Rarely does a new member make a more headline-grabbing debut than Sarah Gardner did at Headland on Wednesday. On a day when two separate competitions were played to honour the late Dr Daniel Lane, week-long member Sarah won both competitions, adding $230 to her brand-new House Account. The retired Financial Adviser scored 42 points to win the C Grade Medley Single Stableford, and she also teamed with Lindsay Blair and father-and-son Ken and Nick Reed to win the associated Irish Foursomes, with the team beating two other teams on 93 points. And it was a fluke that Sarah joined the winning team. “Originally, I was down to play later in the day, but because I was keen to walk and beat the heat, when the early spot became available, I jumped in,” she said. A member at Cooroy before joining Headland, Wednesday was Sarah’s first competition round as a member and she made an immediate impression. “Sarah was the star,” said long-time member Ken Reed. “She hits it down the middle and chips very impressively.” Playing from her handicap on the day of 39, Sarah penned three four-point scores and five threes, and finished in a blaze of glory with four-pointers at 17 and 18. And she said she missed the NTP at the 18th by a ‘whisker’. But she has paid the penalty with the handicappers for her performance. Her new mark is 31.9. Chris Pace (39 points) won A Grade and Gordon Russell won B Grade with 43, the best score of the day. NOTE: Sarah’s mother, Sue Gardner, is a former Headland member.
BASIC VICTIORY: With just five points after five holes in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men, Wayne Hutcheson decided it was time to get back to ‘basic’ golf. “Lately, I have been in the horrors from the tee, and nothing good comes from that,” the Business Consultant confessed. “So, after three wipes in my first five holes, I decided on the tried and trusted ‘stand upright, watch the ball, and don’t swing too fast’ theory.” And it worked a treat, with the 15-marker compiling a birdie, seven pars and five bogeys in his next 13 holes, with a notable two-over 37 on the back nine. Wayne recently took a 12-month sabbatical from golf, returned to Headland in March with an early win, but has been generally struggling since. However, Thursday’s win, where he collected a total of $195 in prizemoney after also scoring victory in the Fraser Follies comp, he feels he might be back in sync with the game in which he once held a single-figure handicap. “It feels good when it feels good,” he quipped.
JUBILANT JENNY: Thrilled at two brilliant rounds and successive Headland victories, Jenny Stokes is even happier that her GA handicap is finally receding. “That is my goal,” said the former Australian Masters Hockey rep and accomplished snow skier, who scored a massive 45 points to win Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women. And that score came on the back of 67 nett the previous Thursday, to return the best score of the day in the Women’s Single Stroke, and collect the annual Rabbits Cup. Remarkably, Jenny only returned to golf last Tuesday week following a three-month lay-off following major surgery. “I must admit, I was surprised by how well I have played on resumption,” she said, reflecting on two magnificent rounds of golf. Playing from a daily handicap of 33 in the Thursday Stroke round, Jenny scored 100, and won Division Two. Five days later she penned 94, the lowest-ever round by the 2019 SWING graduate, with three four-point holes and six threes on her winning card, and a resultant three shots shaved from her handicap. “My lowest mark has been 24, which was in November last year,” she revealed, after seeing her new GA drop to 24.7. “And that’s where I want to be again.” Jenny’s playing partner on Thursday, Joy Murray, was runner-up with 43 points.
WEDDED BLISS: After winning the Vet’s Mixed American Foursomes on Monday alongside Marg, his wife of 46 years, David W Smith had a word of advice for other Headland married couples. “The secret is not splitting up on the golf course when playing a fourball,” he recommended. “That way, you either celebrate together, or mourn together. Neither gets individual bragging rights.” And celebrate the Smiths did after scoring 78, for nett 66, with two birdies, eight pars and eight bogeys on their imposing card. In an American Foursomes event, each player tees off, hits their partners’ ball for the second shot, and both play the selected ball from there. “Marg was often hitting from the trees for her second, while I was on the fairway, where she usually puts her drives,” he praised. But Marg assessed their round differently, with ‘we both played well, combined excellently, and everything just fell into place’. Adding to their victory, which gave them both a $50 Pro Shop credit, was NTPs at the fifth (David) and 18th (Marg). Jan Langdon, who has had a lean trot of late, discovered a sure way to find a spot on the dais. “Find a good partner,” she said after she and Geoff Walker (GA handicap 3.9) scored 68.75 to finish runners-up.
SWING MATES: Since Libby Hall and Shirley Eggleton graduated from Headland’s inaugural SWING program in 2013, they have become regular playing partners and good friends. “With our husbands, we often catch up for social outings,” Libby confirmed after the duo took their close relationship to another level by combining splendidly to win Thursday’s Fourball Best Stableford for Women with an outstanding score of 51 points. “Shirley was the absolute champ, although we did combine well. It was a great day.” The duo scored three four-point holes – each by Shirley – and added another 10 three-pointers, four twos and one single, and each collected $120 for their morning’s work. But there was a feeling of remorse from the winners after Tracey O’Connor and Odette Day, who returned a score of 52 points, were disqualified for a scoring error. “We feel sorry for the girls. They must have played so well,” said Libby. For Shirley, her performance helped reassure her that she is not a 44 handicapper. “I know I can play better than my handicap suggests, but I aways seem to make silly errors,” she said. “I was very happy with the way I played today.” Both winners thanked sponsors Sharon Thomas, Vicki Maynard, Lisa Aherne and Judy Farmer for their generous support.
FINE COTTON: It has taken him three years, but ‘late-bloomer’ Phil Cotton has finally won his very first golf competition. Retired to the Sunshine Coast four years ago from a Brisbane career in Engineering and Construction, Phil had only dabbled in golf before joining Headland in 2022. And on Tuesday his big breakthrough came, scoring 42 points to win the Men’s Single Stableford. “I realise I have my limitations, and don’t expect an invite to join LIV Golf any time soon,” he joked after adding a four-pointer and 10 threes to his card from his handicap of 29. “But I enjoy the company, and the course, and I will continue to try and become a better player. I was happy with Tuesday’s round.” Phil usually only manages one competition round a week, although he does play 18 holes socially on Friday, and practises when time away from grandchildren permits.
LEGGO CHAMPION: Beating the Saturday afternoon downpour was the major challenge Pete Leggo faced as he won his first individual event at Headland since his ‘golden’ four days 17 months ago. With the field condensed to just 114 players because of the storm which hit mid-afternoon, Pete’s 42 points stood as the best of the day, and a win in B Grade. “I have been playing consistently, but not winning,” said the former Royal Melbourne caddy who won three events in a week back in June of 2023. “I am always looking for that ‘magic move’ to try and improve, and it happened today.” Pete had just the one slip-up – a wipe at the par-four 11th – but otherwise added two birdies, eight pars, five bogeys and two doubles to his winning card. And the retired pool builder, who joined Headland in 1988, seemingly has a ‘connection’ with Saturday’s event sponsor, Mick Kinnear of Zero Termite and Pest. When he strung together his three wins 17 months ago, Mick’s business contributed much of his $240 in winnings, while Saturday’s result added another $80 to his House Account, also courtesy of Mick’s company. Chris Weier (40 points) won A Grade, Ben Laycock (41) won C Grade and although not enough Women finished to justify a competition, Helen Fraser topped the field of eight with 37 points.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Mixed American Foursomes (36 players) – Marg and David W Smith (66 nett), Jan Langdon and Geoff Walker (68.75), Debbie Bennetts and John Halbert (69.875).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (40 players) – Jenny Stokes (45 points), Joy Murray (43), Mary Gibberd (38).
Men (77 players) – Phil Cotton (42 points), Charlie Worthy (41), Wayne Bridgeman (40).
Wednesday, Daniel Lane Memorial Day, Medley Single Stableford – sponsors, The Happy Doctors – (234 players) – A Grade, Chris Pace (39 points), Peter Welsh (39), Gary Clarke (39); B Grade, Gordon Russell (43), Denis Clifford (40), Craig Driscoll (39); C Grade, Sarah Gardner (42), Allan Warby (41), Mal Galletly (39).
Irish Foursomes – sponsor, Janette Ritchie – Sarah Gardner, Lindsay Blair, Ken Reed and Nick Reed (93 points), Peter Francis, Steve Rose, Gordon Peak and Barry Mapes (93), Max Maundrell, John Wettenhall, Stuart Miles and Allan Warby (93).
Thursday, Women, Fourball Best Ball Stableford – sponsors, Sharon Thomas, Vicki Maynard, Lisa Aherne and Judy Farmer (116 players) – Shirley Eggleton and Libby Hall (51 points), Helen Venter and Sue Keays (48), Liz Hallyday and Marg Smith (48), Lynn Deacon and Jenny Stokes (47).
Men, Single Stableford (89 players) – Wayne Hutcheson (39 points), Peter Moodie (39), Greg Jellis (39).
Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Mick Kinnear, Zero Termite and Pest – Women (competition cancelled because minimum number of entrants was not reached).
Men (116 players) – A Grade, Chris Weier (40), Graham Smith (37), Chris Pace (35); B Grade, Pete Leggo (42), John Halbert (41), Wayne Cassidy (40); C Grade, Ben Laycock (41), Harrison Lane (39), Ryan Sawell (37).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (competition cancelled because minimum number of entrants was not reached).
