From Tony Durkin
HONEST ASH: He may have shot his best round from the Championship tees for ‘a very long time’, but Ash Reck wasn’t getting too carried away by Saturday’s A Grade Monthly Medal victory. “I’m currently playing off six, which is the highest handicap I have had in my 23 years as a Headland member,” said the Finance Broker, whose lowest handicap has been 0.9. “For various reasons, during the past 12 months or so I have probably averaged a round every three weeks, and my handicap has blown right out.” But he still managed four birdies, nine pars and five bogeys in his round of 70, for a nett 64 and the equal best score of the day. “Even though the course was wet, no run meant the ball wasn’t going into the rough as much, and we also played preferred lies. But it was pleasing to at last have a reasonably good round,” quipped Ash. Adam Richards, five-time Headland Club Champion, returned the best round of the day, with two birdies in his bogey-free 67. Clint Adams (also 64 nett) won his second event for the week when he collected the B Grade Medal, while Mick Morris (65) won C Grade.
MEDAL BREAK: A two-year Monthly Medal drought for Josie Ryan has broken, with the reigning Club Champion winning both the gross and nett event on Saturday. And, in doing so Josie shot her second sub-80 round for just the second time since September last year. “Until recently, I had been struggling to break 90,” shared Josie, who has been receiving chemotherapy for the past 18 months. Her most recent 79 before Saturday was in the final round of the Women’s Club Championships a month earlier, handing her the title for the 20th time. “I’m feeling as though my game is coming back together. My driving was much better on Saturday and I only had one three-putt green,” she said. And a ‘different’ preparation may also have helped. “I usually play in the morning, but with an afternoon tee time I decided to have an early Pilates session, followed by a sleep for an hour or more,” she disclosed. Another plus was sharing a cart with her friend Kate Wilkie, who is currently sidelined with a broken ankle. “Kate was good company, and helped keep me focused,” said Josie.
CHAMPS READY: The past two Headland Champions head the big field of 149 to contest the 2024 Men’s Club Championships, which tee off on Saturday. Reigning Champion Adam Rydwanski (handicap 1) and 2022 Champion Adam Richards (scratch) will again be highly-fancied to take the prestigious crown, although several candidates are expected to be snapping at their heels as the four-round event intensifies on what looms as a soggy course following the recent deluge. Former Junior Champion Ben Duncombe (-3) is the lowest handicapped player in the field, while Sean McGill (1) and two handicappers, Dan Diachkoff, Chris Goundrey and Shane Muller, should not be discounted. And a newcomer to the club, 60-year-old Geoff Walker, has a string of titles under his belt at provincial NSW courses and is currently ranked 11th on the Australian Senior Men’s Order of Merit. Other reigning Champions – Scott Bromfield (Senior), Sam Fichera (Junior), Gary Clarke (B Grade) and Ross Itzstein (C Grade) will also defend their titles. The 72-hole Championships will be played on Saturday and Sunday, over the next two weekends.
JENNY’S PB: Not usually a Tuesday golfer, Jenny Ingham considered she needed some practise to hone her game for upcoming Pennant duties, and decided to play in last week’s Single Stableford for Women. And what a decision it was. Not only did the 27-year Headland member score 44 points to win by the proverbial ‘length the straight’ – seven points – she also shot her best-ever round of 77, breaking 80 for the first time. “Maybe I’m a mud runner,” joked Jenny, who was two-over (37) on the back nine. “I played with some really nice people, was totally relaxed and felt no pressure whatsoever.” There was, however, a smidgin of pressure after Jenny triple-bogeyed the par-four first for the second successive round. “But I hit back with a birdie on the next hole, and that was a good feeling,” she said. Her birdie and triple bogey sat beside 11 pars and five bogeys, and Jenny feels her game is on the improve after playing scant golf during the summer months. Five days earlier – in the rain – she won the A Grade Monthly Medal and also collected the best gross, again her first in the top grade. With 37 points, Kevin George won the Men’s event.
ROLLER COASTER: Clint Adams’ first golf win at Headland in ‘years’ could best be described as a roller coaster ride, but a ride with excellent financial benefits for the retired Accountant. Clint won Wednesday’s B Grade Medley Single Stableford with a meagre 38 points, coming back from a horrible start of triple bogey, double bogey, bogey. “That’s my golf game at the moment,” confessed Clint, who joined Headland four years ago from Indooroopilly. I am a victim of self-diagnosed You Tube swing changes, and have been working on my grip and takeaway with the result, initially, akin to open-heart surgery. But it seems things are finally coming together, because despite some poor shots on Wednesday, there were a few good ones as well.” Clint fought back from his poor start to card two birdies – one at the par-four sixth (seventh on the current course) for the Pro Pin and a $45.50 bonus – and another at the 18th – as well as seven pars. He also collected $75 for the win, joining Jarad Roker (37 points) and David Drinnen (also 37) as podium finishers in A and C Grade respectively. NOTE: Clint continued his great form on Saturday, breaking 80 for the first time at Headland to win the B Grade Monthly Medal with 64 nett, and taking his weeks’ golf earnings to a hefty $210.50.
RESTRICTED SAM: Sam Fisher may be not yet be a full Headland member, but that has not stopped the ‘serious’ two-year golf rookie from collecting a few wins, most notably the C Grade Monthly Medal in January. Number 220 on the waitlist when he first applied for membership two years ago, Sam’s only restriction is that he cannot book into the Saturday field until the afternoon prior, an invitation of which he took full advantage when he won Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men with 39 points. And in doing so, he had his best round by three shots – 84 – with six three-point holes and 10 two pointers on his card. Sam played some junior golf at Horton Park but did not take the game seriously until his dad – fellow Headland member Andrew Fisher – gifted him a set of clubs two years ago. “Almost immediately I started to enjoy the game,” said 26-year-old Sam, who not only won the C Grade Medal in January, but was runner-up in March. “I thought I was headed for another Medal, but had a nine at the par-fourth 15th, and was beaten on a countback,” he lamented.
EAGLE THREE: Chris Weier has described his current golf as ‘mostly rubbish’, but has still managed three eagles in successive Headland rounds. A former Headland Pennant player, Chris moved away from the Sunshine Coast for eight years and although he maintained his membership, played very little golf. He returned almost two years ago and now, with a ‘generous’ handicap of seven, is feeling his way back into the game with some ‘so-so’ results, highlighted by the three eagles. His first was on April 13, when he hit driver, five-iron to 120cms at the par-five 14th (original 13th), and sank the putt. Last Saturday he eagled the par-five third hole (2nd) after hitting a two-iron from the 4th fairway (3rd), over the trees to six metres, and rolled in the downhill putt. Then on Saturday he was at it again, smashing driver to within 18cms of the pin at the par-four 12th (11th), and again sinking the putt. “I’ll be happier when I can get the rest of my game together,” said Chris, who penned two eights on his card in Saturday’s Monthly Medal round. Another Chris – two-handicapper Chris Goundrey – eagled the third (2nd) on Saturday.
WOMEN’S PENNANT: Amethyst was the only Women’s Pennant team to play in the 2024 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s ICMP (Inter Club Match Play) competition this week, and finished with a 3-all draw on Monday. Playing against Bribie Island on a wet Twin Waters course – with carts on paths – Headland winners were Wil Sprake (3&1), Althea McLean (3&1) and, playing her first-ever inter-club match, Helen Venter thrashed her opponent 5&3. However, Jenny Ingham could not continue her good recent form and lost 6&4, as did Mary Young (5&3) and Gwen Nancarrow (3&1). This coming weekend Diamonds play Beerwah composite at Headland and Emeralds play Mt Coolum at Noosa, while on Monday Amethyst clash with Woodford at Bribie Island. Headland’s fourth team, Pearls, will not play again until the following weekend.
SHORT BREAK: Overworked staff at Headland Headlines are to take a short break, and no edition of the column will appear week Monday (May 20). However, any brilliant results/scores from the next seven days will be backdated, as will news/updates from the first two rounds of the 2024 Men’s Championship.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (49 players) – Jenny Ingham (44 points), Julie Halliday (37), Vicky Sheridan (34).
Men (59 players) – Kevin George (37), Mark Glassop (36), Steve Rose (35).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – (163 players) – A Grade, Jarod Roker (37 points), Jack Hourn (36), Spencer Ives (36); B Grade, Clint Adams (38), Peter Gablonski (38), Wayne Phair (38); C Grade, David Drinnen (37), Barry Mapes (36), Stu Ennever (36).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women (45 players) – Dora Habgood (35 points), Jenny Stokes (33), Lynn Deacon (32).
Men (52 players) – Sam Fisher (39 points), Barry Newton (36), Dean Smareglia (35).
Saturday, Monthly Medal, Women – sponsor Jodie McDonell, Century 21 on Duporth – (20 players) – Josie Ryan (69 nett), Sue Jones (72), Kathy Atkins (73); gross – Josie Ryan (79).
Men– sponsor Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (143 players) – A Grade, Ash Reck (64 nett), Warren Sorby (65), Adam Richards (66); B Grade, Clint Adams (64), Mark Postles (66), Terry Grogan (68); C Grade, Mick Morris (65), Barry Potter (67), John Miller (68); best gross – sponsor Brian Kesby – Adam Richards (67).
Juniors, nine-hole pare – Matthew Bothma (plus 2), Dominic Manning (+ 5), Rowan Scott (+7), Finn Darlison (+7), David Groom (+9).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (21 players) – Max Pasterfield (37 points), Haydn Garner (36), Chris Klazema (34).
