From Tony Durkin
DROUGHT ENDS: Three fruitless years have passed since Matt Folker won his first event as a Headland member – and that was in his first week. But the drought ended in the best possible way on Saturday, with his lowest round at the club, and the A Grade Monthly Medal. The Civil Engineer and son of long-time member Peter Folker, Matt shot 76 from his nine handicap to score 67 nett and return the best score of the day. And it was not until one of his playing partners scrambled for a nine on the par-four 11th hole that he realised he was playing in a Medal round. “I wasn’t able to get in the field earlier in the week, but because of the overnight rain a few guys pulled out, and at 5am on Saturday morning I scored a spot,” Matt revealed. “And it was one of those rounds where I seemed to put everything together, with some good putts holed and no doubles.” The losing streak ended because of a birdie at the par-five second, 10 pars and seven bogeys, and his new GA handicap is 7.9, impressively much lower than the 18-mark when he first joined in 2021. Mark Postles (69 nett) won B Grade, Sam Fisher (69) saluted in C Grade and Anne Callanan (76) won the Women’s medal, while Adam Richards, playing off plus one, shot 70 to return the best gross score.
JOSIE IS BACK: Having not won an event at her home club during 2023, 19-time Headland Women’s Champion Josie Ryan is back in the winner’s circle – and is a very happy camper indeed. “So keen have I been to get back to somewhere near my best, I actually had an air swing two weeks ago I was trying so hard,” bemoaned the doyen of Headland women’s golf. But things fell into place during Thursday’s official opening day for Women members, with Josie scoring 36 points to win A Grade, and return the best score of the day. “Even though my game is nowhere near where it should be, I was very happy with my round. I hit seven greens in regulation and chipped and putted pretty well,” she said, reflecting on her 11 pars, five bogeys and two doubles. But Josie won’t be able to ‘defend’ next Thursday – she continues chemo treatment for her Multiple Myeloma cancer. Diane Gilmour (34 points) won B Grade, Brenda Smith-Gittings (34) won C Grade and Josh Poole was the best of the Men, with 35 points.
SAVILL SHOW: Iconic London Street, Savile Row, is known as the mecca for upmarket men’s tailoring, and Headland member Gary Savill put himself among the elite during Wednesday’s opening Medley Mid-Week Medal event for 2024. The former owner of an Adelaide packaging business who is in his ninth year as a member, played 10 under his handicap to return the best score in B Grade by a remarkable 12 shots. And not only was his nett 60 the best on the day by eight shots, but his 76 off the bat – 12 pars and six bogeys – is the 16-handicapper’s second-best best round at Headland. “I played with my son at Ashgrove the previous Saturday, and turned in a shocker. All I was hoping for today was a respectable score,” said a stunned Gary, who only recently returned from his annual two-month sojourn to his native South Australia, fishing for King George Whiting. Barry Newton (68 nett) won the A Grade Medal and also returned the best gross score (75), while Wayne Chugg (72) eagled hole 10A on his way to winning C Grade.
SUE’S ACE: Having not swung a club for 14 weeks because of a trapped femoral nerve in her right leg, Women’s Director of Golf Sue Jones was merely hoping to ‘get through’ nine holes of golf during Thursday’s official opening day for Women members. But not only did the 2014 Headland Women’s Champion play nine holes, she finished the 18, scored $5 in the rundown with 26 points – and scored her fourth hole in one. “At the par-three fifth hole I swung a five-rescue very easily, and popped it in the hole,” quipped a delighted Sue, who said she had approached her comeback round as ‘quite a trepidatious golfer’. “I have been rehabbing like a crazy woman, but I had no idea whether things would hold up. They did, and I am ecstatic.” Initially joining Headland in 1986, Sue reverted to country membership status in 1988 when her role in the Navy took her interstate, but on retirement two years later she became a full member again. Thursday’s ace was her second at the fifth, with the par-three eighth remaining for her to conquer.
TWIN FIRSTS: As a young sparkie, Scott Ingham waited 13 years playing social golf before finally being in a financial situation to join Headland Golf Club. Now, working in Cyber Security, Scott has not only had his first win as a member, but also scored his first eagle in the same round. In extremely heavy underfoot conditions, the 40-year-old won Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men with 41 points from his 13 handicap, the highlight a three-point (par), five-point (eagle), four-point (birdie) start on his second nine, Headland’s front nine. “I chipped in for eagle at the second from in front of the bunker on the right, but didn’t see it go in. But some of the greens staff were watching, and when they cheered I realised I had scored my first-ever eagle in a comp round,” he said. A member of Headland’s B Grade Pennant squad last season, Scott hopes playing more often, and more consistently, might earn him a permanent spot in the team in 2024.
KANGAROO READY: Super-competitive Narelle Hollowood is warming up for the annual Kangaroo Challenge against Caloundra, with successive victories in her first two outings for 2024. Although her scores were not outstanding – 35 and 33 respectively on Saturday and Tuesday – considering the heavy on-course conditions, the 2021 SWING graduate was pleased with her form and was in no way daunted by the weather. “I will play no matter what the conditions are. “As I have my own business (Skirt Sports Australia), I can plan golf around my work schedule,” said Narelle, who will play as often as four times a week. A former professional in a sport known as Adventure Running – which is navigating a map while trail running, mountain biking and kayaking – Narelle says that while she remains competitive, it is the camaraderie of golf she now enjoys. The Kangaroo Challenge – a Fourball Match Play for Women – will be played at Headland on January 31, and Narelle will partner Althea McLean in one of the five teams representing Headland.
BIRDIE LEADER: The day before he returned to Caloundra High School – where he has taught for the past five years – Dan Hurst assumed equal lead in the Birdie Board standings for a Headland group of like-minded 30–40-year-olds called the Headland Hustlers. In Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford, Dan bagged two birdies for the second successive week – one to start each nine – and added 11 pars and five bogeys to his card to score 39 points, and win the event. Having played little golf for the past 12 months, Dan’s breakthrough victory in ‘at least a year’ has urged him to play more rounds and win back the green jacket after he was crowned the inaugural Birdie Board winner in 2018. He currently shares the lead – with four birdies – with Chris Eccles.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (14 players) – Narelle Hollowood (33 points), Vicky Sheridan (32), Annabel Harris (31).
Men (35 players) – Scott Ingham (41), Dan Hurst (37), Don Caldwell (37).
Wednesday, Medley Mid-Week Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (198 players) – A Grade, Barry Newton (68 nett), Dave Sims (69), Chris Weier (69); B Grade, Gary Savill (60), Denis Mikolic (72), Brian Richards (72); C Grade, Wayne Chugg (72), Peter Hayman (72), Gary Young (74). Best gross – sponsor, Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australia – Barry Newton (75).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsors Sharon Thomas, Vickie Maynard, Lisa Ahern and Judy Farmer – (84 players) – A Grade, Josie Ryan (36 points), Narelle Hollowood (33), Rebecca Masters (32); B Grade, Diane Gilmour (34), Bev Kelly (30), Maria Hireme (29); C Grade, Brenda Smith-Gittings (34), Laura Mason-Baieri (32), Patrice Jenkins (27).
Men (65 players) – Josh Poole (35), Brad Reddan (35), Brian Balocca (34).
Saturday, Monthly Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – Women (18 players) – Anne Callanan (76 nett), Annabel Harris (77), Dora Habgood (77), best gross – Annabel Harris (88).
Men (159 players) – A Grade, Matt Folker (67), Brendan Duncan (68), Darren Walters (69); B Grade, Mark Postles (69), Graham Newlove (69), Chris McArdle (71); C Grade, Sam Fisher (69), Deon Breytenbach (69), Barrie Whelan (70). Best gross – sponsor Brian Kesby – Adam Richards (70).
Juniors – Nine-hole Single Stroke, Finn Darlison (orange, 42), Dominic Manning (orange, 42), Matthew Bothma (green, 47), Blake Rydwanski (orange, 47), Rowan Scott (green, 48), Keaton Fox (green, 48).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (60 players) – Dan Hurst (39 points), Anthony Fichera (38), Allan Mullan (38).
