From Tony Durkin 

JACK’S MEDAL: He has been a Headland member for five years, but until two weeks ago schoolteacher Jack Reginato played only socially with mates. His first competition round was a month ago, scoring 34 Stableford points, before taking the plunge and challenging himself in the February Monthly Medal. “It was a fluke,” quipped Jack after scoring 84 from his 19 handicap, winning the C Grade Medal and returning   the best nett round – 65 – in the big Saturday field of 228. A Sunshine Coast local, Jack had been teaching on North Stradbroke Island for the past three years, making it difficult to commit to competition golf. However, a move to Caloundra State High this year has opened the opportunity to play more, although following his winning round – nine pars, three bogeys and six doubles – Jack now harbours some doubts. “After that round, I might retire,” he jested. Geoff Sawyer (66 nett) won his first A Grade Medal and Ty Pilcher continued his brilliant start to 2024, winning the B Grade Medal, also with 66 nett. Chris Goundrey (72) returned the best gross. 

JUSTICE FOR ANNE: She returned the best score in the January Monthly Medal, but was not awarded the silverware because of a technicality (not sufficient players in the field). So, being the fighter she is, Anne Callanan returned serve, and won Saturday’s Monthly Medal for Women, scoring six better than her round in January. “I was a little miffed at missing out last month,” said Anne, who reckoned it was at least ‘a couple of decades’ since she last won a Medal. “Thirty years ago when, obviously, I was much younger, I was a tidy player and won quite a few Medals. So, it was somewhat frustrating to learn the January field was too small to fulfil the terms of competition.” Anne scored nett 70 on Saturday, and won by two strokes, although she thought she had ‘lost it’ when she finished her round with six over on the final three holes. “I’m striking the ball quite well at the moment, so those last three holes were disappointing,” she added. The win was Anne’s second win on successive Saturdays at Headland. 

NINE IS ENOUGH: Having strung together two wins, two second placings and a third to start 2024, Narelle Hollowood was confident her golf game was coming together quite nicely. And even though the 2021 SWING graduate managed a third win – in Thursday’s A Grade Monthly Medal after surviving a three-way countback and returning the best score in the field – she carded an ugly quadruple bogey at the par-five eighth hole (the seventh on the standard course). “The long grass in the rough caught me, as it did on 10A where I had a triple bogey,” said Narelle, who celebrated her first-ever Monthly Medal win. But apart from those slip-ups, her card was impressive – a birdie, three pars, 10 bogeys and two doubles – and she still managed to score 72 nett. One of the most improved Women golfers at Headland, Narelle has whittled her GA handicap down from 28, from which she started two years ago, to a current standing of 16.6. 

JANUARY DAVE: Although his handicap has slipped out recently, consistency has long been the feature of Dave Sims’ golf. And January has certainly reflected that, with the former public servant appearing on the winner’s dais three times in the space of three weeks. Dave won Wednesday’s A Grade Medley Single Stableford with 38 points, hot on the heels of the previous Saturday’s A Grade Stableford, and two weeks after victory in the A Grade Vets. And, to add to the impressive tally, he was second in the A Grade Monthly Medal for January. “I’ve been trying to keep the rubbish off the card,” quipped Dave, whose Wednesday card revealed 14 pars and four bogeys. And although he missed a short putt on his final hole on Wednesday, he says a new putter acquisitioned from the Pro Shop has given him added confidence on the greens. Despite the deluge a day earlier, Dave praised Headland’s ground staff, describing the course on Wednesday as ‘brilliant, given the wet conditions’. Mark Postles (36 points) won B Grade, while Ian Russell (33) saluted in C Grade. 

PURPLE PATCH: Currently in the middle of a purple patch of golf, Ian Harper longs for that round when he can put two nines together. After scores in 10 days of 36 points – twice – 34 and then 38 to win Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men, the retired boilermaker is happy with his success rate. “But I’d be happier if I could be more consistent,” said Ian after scoring 24 of those Thursday-winning 38 points on the back nine, his first nine of the round. And remarkably, the back nine of one four-pointer – a birdie at the 11th – four threes and four two-point holes, is not his best effort as a Headland member since 2016. “I have had 28 points previously, scored 44 overall in that round, and was beaten.” Having never been a member of a club previously, Ian loves his golf and now plays ‘three or four times a week’.

PLUMB JOB: Todd Petrie moved his plumbing business – Todd Petrie Plumbing – interstate to the Sunshine Coast in 2005, bought a house near Headland, became a member in October 2022 and decided golf was going to become ‘a big part of my new life’. “I play anywhere from twice a week to every day, and love it,” enthused Todd, who won Sunday’s Medley Single Par with plus three, beating four others on a countback. The victory was Todd’s first as a Headland member, giving him equal status with his 24-year-old son Cody, who made his breakthrough victory last year. Todd’s round was scattered with some good, and some bad – a birdie, nine pars, four bogeys and four wipes – but he was over the moon with the win. “I only started playing comps when I joined Headland, and I’m really enjoying the challenge,” he said. A superb back nine of six pars, a birdie and a bogey, was tainted by a wipe at the par-three 18th. 

RIP GARY EHSMAN: Two-decade Headland member, Gary Ehsman, passed away on Thursday, aged 63. Gary, had recently retired after 25 years in various management roles with Maroochy Shire Council, and then Sunshine Coast Regional Council, having spent his working life in local government, firstly in Inverell, then Maclean, Gunnedah, Manilla, Rylstone and Moree, before moving north with his young family. Gary’s health suddenly deteriorated a few weeks ago, and he leaves his wife of 38 years, Sharon, daughters Kate, Sonja, Laura and their partners and five grandchildren. Gary’s funeral service will be held on Thursday (February 8) at Gregson and Weight Chapel, 159 Wises Road Buderim, from 3pm.   

WEEKLY RESULTS: 

Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (32 players) – A Grade, Marg Smith (32 points), Kath Barford (32), Deborah Bennetts (31); B Grade, Helen Martyn (30), Trish Arden (24), Janette Ritchie (24).

Men (54 players) – A Grade, Dennis Taylor (35), Terry Grogan (34), Kevin Howe (34); B Grade, Mal McDougall (35), Colin Williamson (35), Chris Byrnes (34). 

Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women and Men – course closed because of rain.

Women’s annual Kangaroo Challenge against Caloundra postponed to February 27.

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (94 players) – A Grade, Dave Sims (38), Andy Whitmore (38), Ty Pilcher (36); B Grade, Mark Postles (36), Ian Harper (34), Denis Orr (34); C Grade, Ian Russell (33), Stu Ennever (33), Steven Makin (32). 

Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsor, Jodie McDonell, Century 21 on Duporth – (64 players) – A Grade, Narelle Hollowood (72 nett), Vicky Sheridan (72), Julie Halliday (72); B Grade, Lynn Deacon (73), Vicki Oxley (75), Rebecca Masters (75); C Grade, Deb Prince (73), Wendy Burnie (76), Sue Keays (76); best gross – Vicky Sheridan (84).

Men, Single Stableford (67 players) – Ian Harper (38 points), Fred Muller (37), Gary Holmes (37).

Saturday, Monthly Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – Women (26 players) – Anne Callanan (70 nett), Gail Young (72), Sandee Brimblecombe (73); gross – Annabel Harris (87).

Men (228 players) – A Grade, Geoff Sawyer (66), Matt Griffiths (66), Neven Daniel (66); B Grade, Ty Pilcher (66), Brad Redden (66), Dean Jones (67); C Grade, Jack Reginato (65), Errol Greiner (68), John Mannix (68). Best gross – sponsor Brian Kesby – Chris Goundrey (72).

Juniors – Six-hole Stroke – Finn Darlison (orange, 25), Benjamin Cox (green, 29), Matthew Bothma (green, 29), Dominic Manning (orange, 30), Flynn Lambalk (green, 30), Gurmantar Gill (green, 30).

Sunday, Medley Single Par (61 players) – Todd Petrie (+3), Thomas Harrison (+3), Trevor Simpson (+3).