From Tony Durkin
DUCK WINDFALL: Twenty-one Headland members have shared in one of the richest prize purses on offer for a club event, with more than $2000 dispersed following Saturday’s first Medley Wood Duck Challenge Stroke for 2024. Justin Walsh (nett 66) shot three less than his 14 handicap to finish atop the big field of 254 players, beating Spencer Ives (handicap 10) on a countback. But under Wood Duck conditions, any player who beats their handicap on the par 69 course shared equally in the prize pool, and all 21 had $59 added to their House Account. But the big winners on the day were Brad Reed (long drive, 270 metres) and Jack Pyke (NTP at 18, 184 cm), who collected $250 from sponsors Greg Edgar (Rapid Equipment Hire) and Nelson Valderrama (Absolute Building) for just the single shot. And NTP ($43) and Pro Pin ($73) winners were also generously rewarded because of the big numbers in the field. The names of all 21 Wood Duck winners appear in the results (below).
JUDDY’S BACK: Justin Walsh, affectionately known at Headland as ‘Juddy’, has returned to the winning list following ‘quite a while’ in the golfing wilderness. “I haven’t played well for at least 12 months, but managed to hole a few putts, and that always helps,” said Justin, who led the field in Saturday’s Medley Wood Duck Challenge Single Stroke with nett 66. Playing these days with a rather ‘inflated’ handicap of 14, Justin penned eight pars – six in succession from holes nine to 14 – nine bogeys and a disappointing double at the tough par-four 16th (15 on the original layout). “The course is playing really tough at the moment – the hardest it has been in my 31 years as a member,” he said. Justin is Managing Director of Walsh Consulting Engineers, which will again sponsor the 36-hole Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open at Headland over the upcoming Easter weekend. “This will be our 25th year sponsoring the event, something of which we are very proud,” he said.
VICKY’S VICTORY: When she moved to Headland from Maroochy River in September 2019, Vicky Sheridan was keen to play more golf, and hoped her game would improve on a course she has become to love. But she didn’t expect to improve as much as she has, with victory in Thursday’s March Monthly Medal her ninth in 4½ years. And not only did Vicky (handicap 12) win A Grade on Thursday with nett 68, she also returned the best gross (80) and won an NTP, for a collect on the day of $86. “It came down to putting,” said Vicky, who revealed she practices at home, putting to a five-cent piece on a special mat. “I had just 23 putts, and that was the difference.” Although naturally pleased with her win – and her round in general – the Sales Director for My Weekly Preview magazine was disappointed with her two double bogeys, both on par fives. “I pride myself on being able to hit the par fives in three, but today I was caught in the rough, which is pretty thick on some holes,” she said. Gail Young (71 nett) won B Grade and Ellen Bloxsome (71) won C Grade.
CRUISIN’ MICHAEL: Like most club golfers, Michael Rutledge cannot explain why suddenly an excellent round has jumped out of the blue. “Maybe it was because I was on holidays, and felt relaxed,” Michael suggested after his best-ever Headland round, three days before he set sail on a cruise to New Zealand. A State Government regional worker, Michael scored 42 points and returned the best score in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford, with his gross score of 80 his lowest since joining Headland as a rookie golfer in 2019. “It was a crazy round. I can’t explain why it happened,” he said, describing his round of a birdie, seven pars and eight bogeys. And he couldn’t explain why a day earlier, he could manage just 31 points. Michael, whose handicap is 17, won B Grade, Lang Pryor (40) won A Grade and a visitor, Egidio Dela Sabina (38) led in the C Grade field.
LASER SIGHT: While serving as a Queensland police officer for 16 years, Bevan Horsnell never used a laser. But the co-principal of Prime Property Buderim certainly used one at Headland on Wednesday – and with outstanding effect. The eight-handicapper became a rarity at the club when he snared both Pro Pins – at holes seven (the original sixth) and 13 (original 12th) – resulting in a $115 ($57.50 at each hole) unexpected boost to his House Account. Playing in the Medley Single Stableford event, ironically sponsored by fellow estate agent Chris Pace of McGrath Real Estate, Bevan confirmed he used his laser to judge the distance of his second shot to each par four. He hit it to 106cm at the seventh and 228cm to the 12th, but could convert only one to a birdie. “It is the first time I have won two Pro Pins in the one round,” confirmed Bevan, who joined Headland in 2007.
NO CROQUET: After thinking he might be ‘done’ with golf and maybe forced to take up croquet or something similarly passive, Brad Reddan came good with an ‘at long-last’ win. The three-decade Headland member scored 77 from the bat for 40 points in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men, with two four-point birdies on his card. “I played in an ultra-competitive group, and none of us was prepared to give an inch. I jagged a few putts, and with an old man’s handicap (12), that always helps,” he said. Runner-up Ed Hoey (38 points) also experienced something special, scoring his first-ever eagle. A Headland member for 17 years, neither Ed nor his playing partners saw the ball disappear into the hole at the par-four 12th (original 11th) hole.
JOSIE WINS: Headland’s most-capped Women’s Champion, evergreen Josie Ryan, has done it again, winning the 70 years and over Medal at the NSW Senior Women’s Amateur at Tamworth. Josie was six strokes behind the leader going into the final 18 of the 54-hole event, shot 81 to beat her closest rival who finished bogey, double-bogey, triple-bogey. “I got lucky after a rain delay, but maybe it was fate,” quipped Josie, who continues to receive chemo treatment for her Multiple Myeloma cancer. The 19-time Headland Women’s Champion also partnered with fellow member, Annabel Harris, in the opening-day 18-hole Foursomes, and the pair was runner-up in the 65 years and over division. Kate Willkie was the other Headland member to attend the four-day Tamworth event.
TODD IMPROVES: When Todd Petrie spoke to HH three weeks ago after winning two events inside two weeks, he claimed his game ‘still needs some work’. And his practise – plus some lessons – has certainly paid off, with the plumber breaking his handicap on successive days over the weekend. Todd (handicap 13) shot two less than his handicap in Saturday’s Medley Wood Duck Challenge and on Sunday broke 80 for the first time and scored 40 points to win the Medley Single Stableford event. “I have been working on my driving, and on Sunday did not miss a fairway,” announced a proud Todd, who moved his plumbing business – Todd Petrie Plumbing – interstate to the Sunshine Coast in 2005, and became a Headland member in October 2022. But what pleased Todd the most was his consistency on Sunday. His card revealed nine pars and nine bogeys, the first time he has been double-bogey free in his fledgling golf career.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (14 players) – Sharon Thomas (34 points), Pik Chong (33), Jenny Stokes (32).
Men (31 players) – Richard Dinkelmann (35), Sam Dangerfield (35), Bob Trevor (34).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Chris Pace, McGrath Estate Agents Buderim (213 players) – A Grade, Lang Pryor (40 points), Barry Newton (39), Sam Dangerfield (38); B Grade, Michael Rutledge (42), Denis Orr (39), Christopher Swan (39) ; C Grade, Egidio Dela Sabina (38), John Hammond (38), Barry Mapes (38).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsor, Jodie McDonnel, Century 21 on Duporth (78 players) – A Grade, Vicky Sheridan (68 nett), Pik Chong (70), Sandy Whittle (71), best gross – Vicky Sheridan (80); B Grade, Gail Young (71), Lynn Deacon (71), Cathy Roberts (72), best gross – Cathy Roberts (92); C Grade, Ellen Bloxsome (71), Sue Keays (74), Margaret Moran (75), gross Ellen Bloxsome (103).
Men, Single Stableford (78 players) – Brad Reddan (40 points), Ed Hoey (38), Dean Smareglia (37).
Saturday, Medley Single Stroke, Wood Duck Challenge – sponsors, Greg Edgar, Rapid Equipment Hire, and Nelson Valderrama, Absolute Building (254 players) – Justin Walsh (66 nett), Spencer Ives (66), Mal Bradshaw (67), Brian Richards (67), John Alsbury (67), Wayne West (67), Tony Dunford (67), Todd Petrie (67), Michael Thomas (67), Chris Goundrey (67), Andrew Hay (68), Bruce Reid (68), Nelson Valderrama (68), Terry Forsyth (68), Stewart Clover (68), Matt Fisher (68), Ted Banaszczyk (68), Deon Breytenbach (68), Peter Francis (68), Chris Klazema (68), Neven Daniel (68).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (47 players) – Todd Petrie (40 points), Max Faulkner (39), Don Caldwell (39).
