From Tony Durkin
ADAM AGAIN: Adam Richards has won Headland’s 2023 Men’s Match Play Championship and, reflecting a superlative career, his name will be added to the club’s Honour Board for the 20th time. In an engrossing 36-hole final on Saturday, grandfather Adam sealed a 2&1 victory over teenager Ben Duncombe with a par at the par-four 17th after the contest had been on a knife edge all day. And the standard of play was deserving of what has been a high-quality Match Play Championship series. Adam, who beat Justin Nicholson and Club Champion Adam Rydwanski en-route to the final, shot seven birdies on Saturday, while 19-year-old Ben penned an eagle and three birdies on his impressive card. It was Adam’s sixth Match Play title. In B Grade, Michael Thomas beat Denis Mikolic, also over 36 holes and also 2&1, while C Grade Club Champion Ross Itzstien continued his incredible recent run of success, beating Bruce Heseltine 8&7.
POOL SCOOPED: Sharon Thomas has won every Honour Board trophy on offer for a female golfer at Headland in 2023, with her final title the Women’s Match Play final on Saturday, which she won in a nailbiter against Fiona Munro. Played over 18 holes, Fiona led for most of the round, but Sharon pulled back to win the 17th, for the match to be all square at the 18th tee. And lining up for her fourth Championship title of the year, Sharon called on her new-found confidence to win with a par, after Fiona’s tee shot ran into the rough at the back of the green. Adding to her second successive Club Championship and the Match Play title, Sharon has also won the 2023 Women’s Foursomes with Annabel Harris and the Mixed Foursomes with her son Chris. In B Grade, Foursomes rookie Liz Dunford is the Champion after taking down veteran Monica Antony 5&3, and Ree Condon (6&5) scored a huge win over Sue Hadenham.
KEVIN’S FIRST: Back to golf following a two-year hiatus, Kevin MacDougal scored his first Saturday win at Headland after joining the club five years ago. Kevin won B Grade in Saturday’s Single Stableford, returning the competition-best score of 41 points. “Since returning to golf this year, I have been practising quite a lot and only hit a few poor shots today,” revealed the ABC IT specialist. Those poor shots resulted in wipes at two par threes, but he covered those mistakes with seven three-point holes and a four-point birdie. Kevin and his partner, fellow member Kristin Griffiths, moved to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney five years ago, and his only other wins have been in Vets events. And Saturday was a most profitable day for Kevin. As well as collecting $85 for his win – courtesy of sponsor Ash Reck of Definitive Finance – he snared $59 for a Pro Pin. Steve Bell (40 points) won A Grade and Brett Beaumont (39) was best in the C Grade field.
ALMOST BACK: She may have won the Women’s Single Stableford event on Saturday, but perennial Headland Champion Josie Ryan says she is nowhere near the golfer she once was. In her tenth month of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, Josie has struggled to be competitive on the golf course yet has rebuffed her illness, a fact epitomised by her 4&3 loss in the semi-final of the A Grade Women’s Match Play 10 days ago. And despite two wipes, two doubles and four bogeys on Saturday’s card, she managed 37 points to win her first event since May. “I had 27 putts, but almost as many duffs,” joked an embarrassed Josie, who played from an 11 handicap, the first time she has been in double figures since the mid-90s, shortly after she arrived at Headland. But, typical of her refusal to surrender, Josie will head to Lake Karrinyup in Perth next week to defend her Over 70s title at the Australian Seniors Championship.
TAYLOR MADE: Rarely can a club golfer claim to have won an event, and in doing so relegate two professionals to the minor placings. But that is exactly what retired teacher Dennis Taylor achieved at Headland on Thursday. Dennis, who scored 40 points from his 14 handicap to win the Men’s Single Stableford by two points, left the club’s own Mitch Jacobson (also 40 points) and Adam Norlander (38) in his wake. But while the ‘conservative’ card of Dennis – nine pars, eight bogeys and one double – was good enough to win, it paled somewhat when compared to the professionals. Mitch, the Assistant to Head Pro Adam, shot his best round at Headland with his two-under 65 beating his previous best of 66, while both he and Adam had four birdies on their respective cards. “It’s good to know I can beat the pros,” jested Dennis, whose handicap has ballooned from nine to 14 in recent times. “I’ve had a few injuries of late, and old age doesn’t help, but I am really embarrassed to be playing off 14.” NOTE: Adam did not finish his round on Thursday. He was 77 metres from the green at nine – his final hole – when the siren sounded to warn players of the impending storm.
EAGLE SIX: Because of a nagging knee injury caused by her love of running, Suncoast Care worker Di Gilmour almost didn’t play in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women. Had she not, one of the most notable events in recent years – a six-point Stableford score on one hole – would have failed to materialise. Playing the 16th hole – the original 15th, and a par-five for women – 23-handicdapper Di ‘smoked’ a four-iron from adjacent to the new bunker to score her first eagle in just on three decades as a Headland member. “I hit it so well that when we arrived at the green and could not see the ball, we thought it must be in the long grass at the back. Then one of the girls suggested I look in the hole, and there it was,” beamed an extremely-chuffed Di. But that was not her only great memory of the special round. Di also penned seven three-point scores on her B Grade winning card, which revealed 43 points, the highest of the day. Helen Venter (41 points) continued the excellent scoring with victory in A Grade, as did Jill McAndrew (40 points) in C Grade.
FIRST WIN: Retired Longreach grazier Rod Ross scored his first win as a Headland member in Tuesday’s Medley Fourball Stableford, but conceded his playing partner, Trish Marsden, was the shining light. “Trish shot the lights out, and was a pleasure to play with,” said Rod, who joined Headland in 2017 but had played only half a dozen competition rounds before Tuesday’s outing. The pair scored 47 points, with Trish penning nine three pointers and a four-pointer, while Rod added three three-point holes and four-point birdie. However, had they not spoiled their card with three one-pointers, the magical 50 was a real possibility. A former nine-marker on the sand greens at Longreach, 18-handicapper Rod has had some issues with his swing because of back surgery, but lessons from Headland Professional Adam Norlander has the qualified engineer playing more, and enjoying golf again.
BACK TO GOLF: After an absence of more than 12 months, self-employed accountant and former Dalby Junior Champion Chris Eccles is back on the golf course – and back with a bang. Chris won A Grade in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford, scoring 70 off the bat for 42 points, and his first win in almost two years. Work, helping to look after his small boys Nate and Koby and caring for his wife Carissa, who has recovered from cancer of the appendix, has taken the nine handicapper away from one of his favourite pastimes. “I’ve been back for the past three months trying to play once a week,” he revealed after Wednesday’s round of three birdies, 10 pars and four bogeys. “It didn’t feel as though I was playing well, but keeping those dreaded double bogeys of the card always helps.” Malcolm Webster (38) won B Grade, Glen Williams scored 40 points to win C Grade and Kevin George and Don Teague (48 points) teamed to win the associated Fourball.
MICHAEL, FINALLY: Formerly the ‘outcast’ of Headland’s most talented golfing family, Michael Thomas has finally scored a berth on the club’s Honour Board. Michael, whose company Zenfind Accounting sponsors the Fourball Best Ball Matchplay Championship which tees off on Saturday, has won the B Grade Match Play Championship with a 2&1 victory over Denis Mikolic. “Maybe now I will no longer be recognised as Sharon’s husband,” Michael joked after Saturday’s win, referencing his wife’s 11 appearances on the Honour Board. But it was not just Sharon who had upstaged him. Both his sons, Blake and Chris, have teamed with their mum to win Headland’s Mixed Championship. And the glory days for the Thomas family are not over. In July Michael and Sharon became the first husband-and-wife to win the Sunshine Coast Coastline BMW Golf Classic, with an all-expenses trip to Fiji the prize. Playing in separate Single Stableford competitions, Michael won the men’s event with 38 points, while Sharon headed the women’s field with 37 points, and they will compete in the National Final at Fiji’s Natadola Bay on October26.
FAST VICTORY: Annabel Harris ‘hated’ her slow round on Saturday and, subsequently, scored a miserly 29 Stableford points. Move forward 24 hours and the 2023 Women’s Foursomes co-Champion, playing a quick round, won the Medley Single Stableford event with 42 points. “I play much better when I’m not always waiting to hit my next shot,” reflected Annabel, who calculated she had played to a handicap of 3.6. “I had 76, which is my second-best round at Headland. My lowest score has been 75.” Annabel had just the one blemish on her card – a double bogey at the par-four fourth after visiting the water – but regained her composure and followed that with successive birdies. And, adding lustre to the result, she parred the front nine, for the first time in her five years as a member. Women completed a rare Sunday quinella, with Gwen Nancarrow (39) finishing runner-up to Annabel.
PATRON’S DAY: Entries have opened for Headland’s 2023 Patron’s Day, to be held on Sunday October 22. The event is a Mixed American Foursomes, with a shotgun start at 12.30pm. Sponsored by Club Patron Simon Whittle, the event is planned as ‘a fun afternoon of golf’, with additional prizes on offer, and snacks in the Clubhouse after the round. An exciting new Future Fund initiative will also be announced. Entry fee is $15 per player, and nominations will close at 5pm on Wednesday, October 18. No overflow competition will be played in conjunction with the mixed event, so any member seeking a partner for the day should contact the Headland office.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Medley Two-Ball Ambrose (116 players) – Anne Callanan and Kathy Atkins (58.75), Simon Whittle and Ron McMahon (59.75), Maureen Lyon and Lisa Ramen (60.25), Dave Sims and Brian Garnett (60.5), Dave Parker and Ross Wedmaeir (60.75).
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (112 players) – Trish Marsden and Rod Ross (47 points), Bill Boucaut and Glenda Bates (45), Narelle Hollowood and Kirsten Kaergaard (45).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (228 players) – sponsor, Justin Scattini, Ord Minnett Private Wealth – A Grade, Chris Eccles (42 points), Bevan Horsnell (40), Gary Marr (37); B Grade, Malcolm Webster (38), Wayne Chugg (37), Ross K Thompson (36); C Grade, Glenn Williams (40), Don Teague (37), Hans Raaschou (36). Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford, Kevin George and Don Teague (48 points).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women (103 players) – sponsors, Lesley Johnston, Del Whittaker, Lorraine Mazerolle, Marie Flegler – A Grade, Helen Venter (41 points), Julie Halliday (40), Helen Fraser (40); B Grade, Diane Gilmour (43), Maria Hireme (41), Ree Condon (40); C Grade, Jill McAndrew (40), Jenny Hartwig (39), Margot Easton (37).
Men (78 players) – sponsor, Mal Galletly, AJ Steel – Dennis Taylor (40), Mitch Jacobson (40), Adam Norlander (38).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Women (22 players) – sponsor, Dave Talbot, iPLUMB AUSTRALIA – Josie Ryan (37 points), Di Stark (35), Helen Fraser (32).
Men (190 players) – sponsor, Ash Reck, Definitive Finance – A Grade, Steve Bell (40), Rob Cunningham (37), Simon Richardson (37); B Grade, Kevin MacDougal (41), Ian Scobie (39), Darcy Brown (38); C Grade, Brett Beaumont (39), Ed Hoey (38), Eddie Pucella (38).
2023 Club Matchplay Championship, final, Women – A Grade, Sharon Thomas beat Fiona Munro (1-up); B Grade, Liz Dunford beat Monica Antony (5&3); C Grade, Ree Condon beat Sue Hadenham (6&5).
Men – A Grade, Adam Richards beat Ben Duncombe (2&1); B Grade Michael Thomas beat Denis Mikolic (2&1); C Grade, Ross Itzstein beat Bruce Heseltine (8&7).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (61 players) – Annabel Harris (42 points), Gwen Nancarrow (39), Tristan Scott (38).
