From Tony Durkin
CLOSING DAY: Two Club Champions, a rookie and a 66-year member have combined like a well-oiled machine to engineer victory in the final event on Headland’s stacked 2025 golfing calendar. With a generous handicap of 7.25 – aided substantially by golfing newcomer Emily Rydwanski (39) – Club Champions Adam Rydwanski and Sean McGill joined Club Patron Simon Whittle to score nett 51.75, and win Saturday’s Four-Person Ambrose by a single stroke. “It was exciting to be part of the team and watch these guys play,” said Simon, who joined Headland back in 1960. “Adam was just brilliant. Some of the shots he played to get us out of trouble were amazing.” Simon said he had caddied for Adam on several occasions in big events during the year, and unreservedly puts him among the elite of Headland’s champion golfers. The winning quartet scored 12 birdies and six pars, but Simon claimed the score could easily have been a few better. “For instance, Emily’s putt for eagle from off the green at the sixth hit the pin, but stayed out,” he revealed. “I can honestly say it felt as though we did it as easy as pie.” And the Club Patron took some credit for assembling the team, if not for the score. “I put the team together because I have been desperate to receive a call this year from Headland Headlines. I worked out the only way that would happen was to assemble a good team around me,” he quipped. The final event for 2025 attracted a capacity field of 256 players, with runners-up Bernie Duncan, Chris Weier, Rhett Charlton and Michael Zeckomske (52.75) pipped by a shot after a sensational front nine of 10 under, with eight birdies and an eagle. And for Chris Weier it was a particularly fruitful day. Apart from the $60 he won from sponsor Earl Hicks (SIRCL) as a member of the runner-up team, he collected $143 for the Pro Pin at the sixth.
WALTZING WINNERS: Playing the unfamiliar four-person Waltz Stableford event to end their 2025 season, Headland women dressed in an array of comedic costumes, with one group waltzing away with an impressive score. And it was one particular woman who starred for the winning team, with Gay David contributing 22 points in the total of 47 returned by her and teammates Bev Barnes, Libby Hall and Shirley Eggleton. “Gay was outstanding today,” said Bev, with the 16-handicapper scoring five three-pointers and three twos. “But Libby and Shirley were also very good. It was the first time I have played this event, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a lot of fun.” Gay’s team won the front nine section of the competition with their excellent score, while Jenny Stokes, Roz Brandt, Marg White and Lynn Deacon ‘danced’ to victory on the back nine, albeit on a countback when the team of Carmel Dwyer, Laura Mason-Baierl, Nicola Whitmore and Ellen Bloxsome matched their score of 42 points. But the luckless player on 2025 Closing Day was 29-marker Barb Birks, who scored seven three-pointers in her total of 24 points on the front nine, yet came away empty handed. NOTE: Scoring method in the four-person Waltz Stableford is: hole one, best individual score; hole two, best two individual scores; hole three, three best scores; hole four, reverts to the best individual score, with the scoring process repeated every three holes.
NOT AN ACE: The female voice message answering Geoff Hayman’s mobile says ‘Geoff is currently unavailable – he is out trying to hit a hole in one’. And while the former Buderim newsagent did not score an ace during Wednesday’s final Mid-Week Medal round for 2025, he did win his first Headland Medal, and parred three of the four par threes on his way to a nett 67 from his 18 handicap. A Headland member since May of 1993, Geoff disclosed that he does not play his home course ‘that often’, but does hone his game at other coast courses. “I have a group of mates who like to mix it up, which appeals to me,” he said. And Headland certainly appealed to him on Wednesday, with his round of 85 the best in a ‘long, long time’. From the black tees he penned seven pars, eight bogeys and three doubles, with five-over 41 on his card coming home. “My golf over the past three months has been terrible. I have no idea what happened on Wednesday, or how I turned things around,” he quipped. Along with Denis Orr and Mark Postles, Geoff was one of three B Graders to score 67 nett, while Matt Folker (A Grade) scored 68 and Drew Grant (C Grade) 73, to win their respective grade Medals. Club Senior Champion, Wayne West, scored 77 to return the best gross.
NO WORRIES: Liz Halyday approached Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women with the attitude of ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m just going to enjoy myself’. And, for the first time since January of 2023, the former host of ‘stay n play’ golfing holidays on the Sunshine Coast had an affirmative reaction, and result. “It all fell into place,” enthused Liz, who won the event with 41 points. “I decided not to be serious about my golf, and had absolutely no expectations.” In fact, so ‘casual’ was Liz that her only major blunder on the day – which led to her lone wipe – was hitting the wrong ball. But otherwise, it was an impressive card, highlighted by a four-point par at the first hole and eight three-pointers. Originally a social member from 1996, Liz started playing golf six years later and until her victory back in January two years ago, had never won an individual event. And she only just scraped in on Tuesday with her second victory – Liz beat both Jenny Campbell and Rhonda Parry on a countback.
LOGAN’S RUN: Unlike the TV series of the late 70s, John Logan’s ‘run’ as a golfing also-ran has lasted much longer than 14 episodes. “I turn 80 next year and my memory is not what it was, but I genuinely cannot recall my last win,” revealed the devoted NRL Sharks supporter after victory in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford. “To be truthful, I have really struggled since the bunker renovations have finished, so hopefully this rare win can be a confidence booster.” A member for 18 years, John played off 26 on Wednesday, a far cry from his early Headland days when his handicap was in the late teens. But the additional shots helped his winning scorecard of 42 points, with a four-point birdie at the par-three 14th, plus six three-pointers. “I have always had a pretty good short game, and that helped today,” said John, who was formerly a member at Kareela Golf Club, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. “But these days I play golf for the enjoyment and the social side, not for the prizes.” John won C Grade, while George Stoufis (38 points) won A Grade and Paul Richer (37) topped the B Grade ladder.
MEDAL MOTZA: Those Headland members – like me – who have never won a Monthly Medal, maybe should not read this item. When Women’s Director of Golf, Valerie O’Brien, announced at Women’s Closing Day on Thursday that Annabel Harris had won seven Medals for the 12-month period from November 2024 to November 2025, even Annabel was stunned. “I knew I’d won a few, but did not realise it was that many,” she said. “And strangely, this run has come completely out of the blue because I didn’t win anything in my first few years as a member.” Annabel won Saturday Medals in November and December last year, as well as March and October in 2025, and added Thursday Medals in March, July and August. And to put that number into context, the next best in the same period was two Medals, won by Gwen Nancarrow, Kerry Longworth and Julie Halliday. Annabel joined Headland in October 2018, and had previously won just three Medals in her time as a member at Maroochy River, Horton Park, Peregian Springs and Indooroopilly.
DRUG ASSISTED: Cancer survivor Mal Galletly kidded after winning Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men that steroids had been his secret ally. “They don’t drug test me, so maybe the drugs I am taking have helped,” said the Sunshine Coast Daily’s former Circulation Manager who is undergoing ‘a little more treatment’ following a bout of renal cancer six years ago. Scoring 41 points – his best tally in four years – Mal also had a career-high 22 on the front nine. “I played well, and my irons were particularly responsive,” said Mal, who penned two four-point holes and seven three-pointers. “And I think the reorganised holes helped, with another par three on the card.” While his score won the event by two points, it could have been so much better had it not been for a wipe and four one-pointers.
MONEY BAGS: Wayne Hutcheson claims to have never been berated more following a round of golf than he was after winning Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men. “Some of the names I was called could not be repeated,” joked Wayne as he collected his third Thursday victory spoils in the space of four weeks. “I have averaged around $200 a week in winnings for the past four weeks, and some blokes are filthy with me.” Having taken a 15-month sabbatical from golf before returning nine months ago, Wayne said his game had initially been horrible. “But I’m happy with the steady progress since I came back,” said the former seven marker who played from 14 when he scored 41 points in Thursday’s victory. “My driver is not behaving, but I’m finding a way to get the ball in the hole, which is very satisfying.” Wayne’s card revealed a steady round of nine pars and nine bogeys, returning five three-pointers and 12 twos. While it was his third win in four weeks, he was also in the money on the lone Thursday he missed out on winning, scoring runner-up spot in a fourball beside Matt Doyle. NOTE: Wayne’s winnings have been bolstered by his membership of Fraser Follies, which conducts a supplementary Thursday competition.
JOLLY BREAK: In preparation for the upcoming festive season, the editorial and research team at Headland Headlines will take a break for a couple of weeks. The mobile, computer and word processor will rest, recuperate and regenerate, in readiness for what looms as another stimulating Headland golf program in 2026. HH will return on Monday, January 12, with results and anecdotes from the first week of official competition rounds. HH thanks Headland golfers for their continued support, accessibility, and co-operation, and wishes all members a Happy Christmas and countless pars, birdies and eagles in the new year.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (39 players) – Liz Halyday (41 points), Jenny Campbell (41), Rhonda Parry (41).
Men (70 players) – Mal Galletly (41 points), Sergio Nogarotto (39), Josh Vearing (38).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stroke, Men’s Mid-Week Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (84 players) – A Grade, Matt Folker (68 nett), John Harris (69), Tim Diedricks (69); B Grade, Geoff Hayman (67), Denis Orr (67), Mark Postles (67); C Grade, Drew Grant (73), Michael Gregora (76), John Burnie (77); Best gross, Wayne West (77).
Single Stableford (138 players) – A Grade, George Stoufis (38 points), Steve Rose (38), Stewart Clover (37); B Grade, Paul Richer (37), Andrew Hempsall (36), Kevin George (35); C Grade, John Logan (42), Brian Hills (39), Wyndham Tibbits (39).
Thursday, Women, Closing Day, nine-hole Four-Person Waltz Stableford – (100 players) Front nine, Libby Hall, Bev Barnes, Gay David and Shirley Eggleton (47 points), Trudi Russell, Rhonda Parry, Kay Campbell and Denise Lawson (45); Back nine, Jenny Stokes, Roz Brandt, Margaret White and Lynn Deacon (42), Carmel Dwyer, Laura Mason-Baierl, Nicola Whitmore and Ellen Bloxsome (42).
Men, Single Stableford (93 players) – Wayne Hutcheson (41 points), Ed Hoey (40), Rod Hamilton (40).
Saturday, Closing Day Medley Four-Person Ambrose – sponsor Earl Hicks, SIRCL – (256 players) – Simon Whittle, Sean McGill, Emily Rydwanski and Adam Rydwanski (51.75), Bernie Duncan, Chris Weier, Rhett Charlton and Michael Zeckomske (52.75), Earl Hicks, Josh Vearing, Dean Oster and Chris Risby (53.5), Kurt Lawlor, Ryan Sawell, Kaden Thorne and Brenton Liaropoulos (53.5), Annabel Harris, Narelle Hollowood, James Daniel and Neven Daniel (54.75).
