From Tony Durkin
DENIS DOUBLE: Like his beloved NRL Wests Tigers, wins in recent times have been few and far between for Denis Clifford. But the retired surveyor found an elixir on Saturday, not only returning the best score of the day to win the B Grade Single Stableford event with 41 points, but also teaming with regular playing partner Dennis Farmer for victory in the associated Medley Fourball. Denis had a day out on the par threes, birdieing three of them for an aggregate of 11 points, an added four pars to his winning card which, unfortunately, also revealed a triple bogey seven at the par four 11th. Playing from a handicap of 17, he blitzed the front nine with 23 points for his first win since he scored 43 points back in July last year, and broke 80 at Headland for the first time. On a low-scoring day, Glen Teakle won A Grade with 39 points, while Dave Wickham also broke a long drought, with his 38 points leading the C Grade field.
MOJO RETURNS: Although she admires him immensely, Catherine Peterson can relate to the recent loss of form by Aussie great Cameron Smith, and is in fact somewhat buoyed by his recent failures. A super-competitive athlete who is a gold medal-winning Masters rower, Catherine has experienced a ‘rubbish’ golfing year, but feels she may have finally found her mojo with a win in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women. “When someone of Cameron’s ability has a rough trot, I think everyone who struggles on the golf course understands just how tough the game is,” said the former Phys Ed teacher, who scored 39 points on Thursday, with a wipe and three doubles on her card. “When I last won back in February, my handicap was 13.6. My GA is now 17.9. But I still love to play twice a week.” Catherine won A Grade, Libby Hall (38) won B Grade and 36 points was enough for Mary Ann Sanderson to salute in C Grade.
JONNY’S BEST: Twelve months to the day since he matched his best-ever round of golf, Northern Ireland native Jonny Clarke has beaten that mark by eight shots. Jonny’s 76 to score 43 points in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford was the best in the field of 206, for a win in B Grade by a massive five points. But had it not been for an off day with the putter, his score could have been anything. “I four putted the 16th green, and overall had seven birdie putts, but holed just one,” said the National Sales Director who has twice scored 84 in his three years at Headland. Despite his win, Jonny says he has been playing ‘yo-yo’ golf of late. “When I scored my 84 on November 29 last year, I was playing from a handicap of 14. In August last year, when I scored 84 for the first time, my handicap was 22, and on Wednesday I was off 16. I need to be more consistent,” he declared. Glenn Kelly was another to have a day out on Wednesday. He scored 41 points to win A Grade, and partnered Jay Gourlay for victory in the associated Fourball, with 48 points.
STILL PROUD: Three weeks ago, when Bev Kelly won the Sunday Medley Single Stableford, beating 62 others including her husband Ross, she was chuffed, and rightly so. And although the field in Saturday’s Single Stableford for Women was less than half the size, the 22-year Headland member was again proud of her victory when she blitzed the field by five points. Both times Bev scored 39 points and had it not been for a wipe at the par-four ninth on Saturday, her front nine would have been near-perfect. She started – in points – 3,3,2,3,1,2,3,3 before, as she explained, ‘I came to a red light’. “But I was generally pleased with my round. My handicap has been gradually creeping out, so those two wins have thankfully put a halt to that,” she said. NOTE: Of the 235 players on Saturday, only Denis Clifford (41) scored more points than Bev.
GUS AGAIN: Radiologist Gus Ferguson has won back-to-back C Grade events for the first time in his 15 years as a Headland member, but Wednesday’s Single Stableford victory is certainly his most memorable. Not only did the 84-year-old score 40 points to beat former Club President Malcolm McColm by a point, but his 82 off the stick is the first time he has shot less than age. “It is an unforgettable milestone,” said Gus, whose 58-year-old putter bladed a miserly 26 putts during his memorable round. Once a Rugby scrumhalf for Otago University in New Zealand as well as an accomplished pianist, the talented Gus is now struggling with his decision to buy a new set of Pings from Head Pro Adam Norlander. “Obviously my old clubs are working okay,” said Gus, who a week earlier scored plus four to return the best score in the Single Par event. “But If I make a commitment, I stick to it. I will still be buying the new clubs.”
LINDA’S DOUBLE: Linda Cannon broke a three-year drought at Headland during the week, and broke it twice in successive days. The former Oxley Golf Club member won Monday’s American Foursomes Overflow with Monica Knowles, then turned around on Tuesday to be the leading woman in the Single Stableford event, winning with 37 points. “That is my first win since my very early days as a member,” said Linda, who joined Headland because of Head Pro Adam Norlander. “I was a member at Oxley for more than 20 years, and Adam was there before he moved to Headland.” Her steady round on Tuesday included four three-point holes and 12 two-pointers, and the win came as a big surprise. “I haven’t been playing very well of late,” she conceded, with her handicap slipping out from 19 to 23 in her three years since joining. Pik Chong and Peter Leggo (65.625 nett), won Monday’s Mixed Foursomes event.
SECOND WIN: While Matt Jones struggled with five bogeys and a double bogey in his final round of the Australian Open on Sunday, Stewart Clover, his former Pennant team mate from Kareela Golf Club in Sydney, was tearing up Headland – well, almost. Apart from a triple bogey six as the result of a ‘shank’ at the par-three 15th (original 14th) and a double at the next, Stewart’s round of four birdies, 10 pars and two bogeys was very satisfying for the six marker who once played off plus one in Sydney. After moving north, the retired Qantas Engineer joined Headland in January last year and his win in Sunday’s Medley Single Stroke – with 70 off the bat for nett 64 – was his second victory since recently taking up the game again following a 20-year break. Immensely impressed with his new course, like many members Stewart cannot wait for the renovations to be completed.
SANDY PHIL: Having not played out of bunkers for such a long time, Phil Kornmann has been struggling of late to extricate his golf ball from the sand. “Sometimes it has been taking me two and three shots before I get out,” said Phil, who turned the tables on the sand traps on Thursday. He scored a four-point birdie at the par-three 18th when he holed out from the bunker, giving the retired Architect his most satisfying moment in the 39-point round, which won him the Single Stableford for Men. With another four-pointer on his card and no wipes, Phil rates his round the best since 41 points won him his last event, back in August of 2020. The 80-year-old, who plays three days a week, said that although golf of late but had often been ‘hard work’, it has always been enjoyable.
‘OLD MAN’ PRIZE: It may not have been the life-changing experience Jack Pyke forecast, but playing the Australian PGA ProAm at Royal Queensland alongside Geoff Ogilvie two weeks ago, was still ‘very special’. Jack won a start in the ProAm – plus passes to the four days of the tournament – in a Foxtel competition. “I was actually on the phone planning to cancel my Foxtel subscription,” the recently-retired business owner explained. “And while I was on hold, I heard about the competition. I had to tell them in 20 words or less why I wanted to play in the ProAm, and said it would be a life-changing experience for an old man.” Jack was paired with Major winner Ogilvy, tennis champion John Millman and hockey great Jamie Dwyer. “Surprisingly, I wasn’t daunted by the experience. The fairways at RQ are much wider than Headland, and I actually played okay,” he said. NOTE: Following a ‘special offer’, Jack has decided to retain his Foxtel subscription.
BOB SPARKS: Retired electrician Bob Hayward hopes his recent lean trot of golf may be coming to an end following a win in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men – his first victory in at least 12 months. “I have had a few health issues, and maybe I’m just starting to come good,” said Bob, who moved to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney, and joined Headland in 2005. The 83-year-old, who is a valued member of Headland’s Volunteer group, scored 41 points in a very steady round which included a birdie, four pars and 11 bogeys. “I’d scored nine points after three holes,” revealed a chuffed Bob, who 30 years ago played off a handicap of 11, but was a 19-marker on Tuesday. And it was a Vollies quinella in the event, with John Jamieson running second with 37 points.
Monday, Vets, American Foursomes, Mixed (64 players) – Pik Chong and Peter Leggo (65.625 nett), Jane Boaler and Bruce Reid (66.5), Robyn Boreham and Steve Nash (66.5), Susie Fenton and Dave Sims (66.75). Overflow (48 players) – Linda Cannon and Monica Knowles (67), Nick Cox and Errol Greiner (68.375).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (20 players) – Linda Cannon (37 points), Deb Prince (36), Barb Marrington (35).
Men (48 players) – Bob Hayward (41), John Jamieson (37), Nev Kenzler (36).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (206 players) – A Grade, Glenn Kelly (41 points), Peter Gablonski (40), Neil Oxley (37); B Grade, Jonny Clarke (43), Peter O’Brien (38), Gary Ehsman (37); C Grade, Gus Ferguson (40), Malcolm McColm (39), Greg Edgar (37). Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Glenn Kelly and Jay Gourlay (48 points).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women (110 players) – A Grade, Catherine Peterson (39 points), Rebecca Masters (38), Julie Welsh (36); B Grade, Libby Hall (38), Carmel Visser (36), Dee Davidson (35); C Grade, Mary Ann Sanderson (36), Cathy Haimes (35), Lyn Forbes (34).
Men (78 players) – Phil Kornmann (39), Geoff Sawyer (38), Brad Reddan (38).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Women (26 players) – Bev Kelly (39 points), Fiona Munro (34), Liz Dunford (33).
Men (209 players) – A Grade, Glen Teakle (39), Darren Walters (38), Daniel Brown (38); B Grade, Denis Clifford (41), Greg Stray (39), Don Follent 938); C Grade, Dave Wickham (38), Phil Thistlewood (37), Errol Greiner (36). Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Denis Clifford and Dennis Farmer (46 points).
Juniors, Nine-hole Stroke – Dominic Manning (orange 38), Matthew Bothma (orange, 39), Finn Darlison (orange, 40), Lewis Mathewson (orange, 41), Benjamin Cox (green, 43), Max Faulkner (green, 45).
Sunday, Medley Single Stroke (44 players) – Stewart Clover (64 nett), Toby Halliday (66), Annabel Harris (67).
