From Tony Durkin
BIRTHDAY BEST: He was born 15 years before Headland Golf Club was established, and it was not HIS birthday on Saturday, but octogenarian John Miller celebrated the club’s 69th anniversary in spectacular fashion. A club member for just on two decades who moved into the neighbouring Crest Apartments three months ago, the former Bingara farmer broke 100 for the first time (a round of 93), to score 45 points, and win C Grade. “I had been topping everything, so I just decided to slow it all down,” said the 33 handicapper, who regularly plays three times a week. A member of the Old Goats coterie (Order of Late Developing Golfers Optimistically Approaching Terminal Senility), John also confessed it was just his second individual win at Headland. He penned two four pointers, five threes and 11 twos on his remarkable card, for the best score of the day by three points. As a result, his new GA handicap is down to 31.6, the lowest it has been for ‘quite a long while’. Former Club Champion Brian Kesby has recaptured some of his old form and won A Grade with 40 points, while Mark Swift scored 42 points to salute in B Grade.
SHOULDER ARMS: After winning the Women’s Birthday Single Stableford on Saturday, Monica Antony decided to cancel an upcoming medical appointment. “I have been suffering from a sore right shoulder since March, which had really been worrying me,” she divulged. “But after a slow start on Saturday – two points in the first three holes – it was like I made a miraculous recovery.” The incredible run started with a five-point birdie at the par-four fifth hole (fourth on the original course) and Monica added 37 of her 42 points on the remaining 13 holes. Her exceptional back nine of 23 points revealed one four-pointer, three threes and five twos, as she scored her first win since victory in the Headland Ladies Handiskins late last year. Now that her shoulder is again ‘healthy’, Monica can work on resurrecting her handicap, which has slipped from 19 mid-last year, to 25, from which she played on Saturday.
THANKS, BUFF: When Gary Martin informed his brother Dennis that he scored 43 points to win Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men, the cynical response was ‘surely there must be two Gary Martins at Headland’. And, as he had managed a pitiful 25 points the previous day, Gary conceded his brother – who is a single-figure member at Tamworth Golf Club – had every season to mock him. “I had a lesson with ‘Buff’ (Head Pro Adam Norlander) before teeing off on Wednesday, and had a fair idea I would hit it ordinary that day. But 24 hours later it all came together,” beamed Gary, a 17-marker who broke 80 (with a round of 79) for the first time. The owner of Direct Timbers, a regular Headland sponsor, Gary had eight three-pointers on his card on Thursday, and while he concedes that following his lesson his modified swing game is still ‘a work in progress’, he is hopeful he can again find the consistent form which won him the March Monthly Medal, with an impressive 64 nett. “The difference in my game in one day, and my confidence, was enormous,” he said.
LESS STRESS: After she had scored 38 Stableford points on Tuesday, Marg Howard decided to ‘take the easy way out’ two days later and play another Stableford event on Thursday, rather than the June Monthly Medal. And the decision proved a winner – another victory, this time with 42 points. “I have not played decent golf for about 18 months, and my handicap has slipped from 21 to 26,” lamented Marg, who practises regularly. “So, I have decided to slow everything down and concentrate on the things I can control.” Her superb winning round featured a four-point par at the tough par-five 16th (15 on the original course), five three-pointers, 11 twos and a single one-pointer. “I thought playing the Stableford would be less stressful, and I must admit I felt very relaxed, and happy,” she said after her round of 90 which, incidentally, would have given her easily the lowest score in the Medal field.
HOO-RAY: Semi-retired Ray Menyweather is still mystified that how, on the day before his 74th birthday, he shot 79 at Headland from his 17 handicap and beat 224 others to win Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford. “I came home, shook my head, and said to my wife Angela ‘how did I do that’,” divulged Ray, who joined Headland three years ago after a 12-month ‘trial’ playing Maroochy River. Not only did he break 80 at his new club for the first time and pen three birdies in a round for another golfing first, but he started terribly with three bogeys and a double in his first four holes. He then found his rhythm, reeling off his three birdies, five pars and four bogeys in his next 14 holes, for 43 points and a win in B Grade. “Maybe I’m like a good racehorse, coming back fresh from a spell,” quipped Ray, who was having just his third start in a competition since October. After spending much of his working career as a cattle exporter, Ray has accepted a part-time role in the cotton industry since retiring three years ago, a position that has grown into almost a fulltime job for the ex-11 handicapper at Brisbane’s Pacific Golf Club. Steve Rose (42 points) won A Grade on Wednesday, and Brian Hermeston (40) won C Grade.
IN THE PINK: Finally, after a difficult six months on the course, Barb Marrington hopes her game might be back on track following a win in Thursday’s Monthly Medal – her second at Headland. “My GA handicap has slipped out from 31 to 37 in the past six months, and I have really been struggling. I think it was about my turn today,” said Barb, who won the C Grade Medal with her 67 nett, and returned the best score of the day. A Headland member since she and husband John sold their Brisbane newsagency and retired to the Sunshine Coast in 2015, Barb ‘absolutely loves’ her golf, plays twice a week and has set herself the goal of returning to her earlier GA mark of 31. “Putting was my ally today. I did not miss too many I thought I should get,” she revealed after parring four par three holes. Two consistent Medal winners of late, Annabel Harris and Anne Callanan, won A and B Grade respectively, with 69 nett.
NOT LUCKY: Stewart Clover understands the correlation that could be construed between his surname and luck, but says there was no ‘four-leaf’ leverage in his win on Tuesday. Stewart, who once played off scratch at The Coast Golf Club in Sydney and was a Pennant team mate of Matt Jones, scored his first par round at Headland to win Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men with 42 points. His 69 featured four birdies, 10 pars and four bogeys, and was the best at Headland for the retired Qantas Engineer who joined his new club in January last year following a 20-year golfing hiatus. Just back from a three-week overseas trip which included a round of golf in Hawaii, Stewart said some bad luck may actually have cost him a better score. “I consider myself a good putter, but on Tuesday I missed a couple I should have drained,” he said. The win was Stewart’s third at Headland, and he said he was loving the changes to the course, although the greens were not as receptive as his Sydney club. NOTE: Hundreds of years ago in Ireland, the four-leaf clover became a symbol of luck with the four leaves representing faith, hope, love, and success.
CALM CARMEL: ‘Much calmer’ was how Carmel Visser described her demeanour in Tuesday’s winning round, compared to her last victory in October last year. Her lone double bogey back then was when her ball finished on an ant bed and, not aware of whether she could take relief, Carmel played from the spot, despite being bitten. “My only double on Tuesday was when I ended in a bunker – thankfully my only one for the round,” confided Carmel, who scored 38 points to win on a countback from Marg Howard. Living adjacent to the 17th fairway, Carmel had not played golf until she joined Headland in 2013, more than a decade after their home was built. She now regularly plays in two weekly competitions, and she and husband John take advantage of their proximity to the course by playing nine practise holes ‘every now and again.’ Her winning card included five three-point holes, and 11 twos.
MEN’S PENNANT: Headland’s A Grade Pennant team has scored an important 5-2 win over Mt Coolum at Woodford on Sunday, in the second round of the 2004 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse Pennant season. Shining lights were good mates Adam Rydwanski (1-up) and Sean McGill (2&1), who both fought back from three-down at the turn to score vital victories. Although ‘under the weather’ health wise, Club Champion Ben Duncombe won 2&1, Stephen Hudson kept his winning record intact with a comprehensive 5&3 result and Shane Muller won 2&1, while Adam Richards (3&2) and Justin Nicholson (5&4) were beaten. In B Grade, Headland opened the season with a 4-3 loss to Gympie at Cooroy, with Ryan Tomlinson and Brendan Duncan courageous, both fighting back from a deficit of three-down and four-down respectively, to square their respective matches. However, it was not enough for a first-up win. Mr Reliable, Michael Thomas, won 4&2, Damian Moelands won 2&1, but skipper Steve Bell (5&4), Matt Price (5&3) and Spencer Ives (1-down) were beaten. Masters, again captained this season by Mark Henricks, reversed the result against Gympie at Cooroy, winning 5-2. Henricks won his match 1-up, Bryan Haggarty prevailed 2&1, Terry Grogan won 5&3 and Wayne Cassidy scored a 3&1 victory. Neven Daniel and Chris Pace both squared their matches, while Wayne West (down 5&2) was no match for his opponent, who plays off plus one.
WOMEN’S PENNANT: A ‘very credible draw’ against the strong Maroochy River team, at Maroochy River on Sunday, has given Headland’s No.1 Women’s team, Diamond, one last chance to qualify for the finals of the 2024 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s ICMP (Inter Club Match Play) competition. Diamond’s top seed, Lisa Ramen (handicap eight) took Maroochy’s Kimberley Crawley (one) to the 18th hole in a brilliant match, before losing 1-down, while seeds two and three, Charlotte Ridley* and Vicky Sheridan, were beaten 5&3 and 4&3, respectively. But the very-reliable trio of Annabel Harris (2&1), Kate Wilkie (3&2) and Sharon Thomas (1-up), prevailed, with next weekend’s return bout, at Headland, set to be another thriller. It was also a close match at Mt Coolum, where Emerald was beaten 3½-2½ by Beerwah. Narelle Hollowood scored a slashing 7&6 victory, Julie Welsh won 4&2 and Lynn Deacon fought back from four-down to square her match. Jan Langdon (7&6), Di Gilmore (4&3) and Odette Day (3&2) finished their season on the wrong side of the ledger and, as Emerald has the bye next weekend and missed the finals, will not have another chance to turn the tables. On Monday, Pearl scored a convincing 4½ -1½ win over the strong Caloundra team at Bribie Island, finishing second on the table and securing a finals berth. Jenny Stokes (3&1), Deb Bennetts (3&1), Kath Barford (2-up) and Sue Bolton (1-up) were winners, Wendy Burnie drew her match and Rene Condon lost, 2-down.Also on Monday, Amethyst had a win, 3½-2½ against Twin Waters at Woodford. Marg Smith (3&2), Mary Young (6&5) and Althea McLean (5&3) were the victors, Gwen Nancarrow halved her match and Monica Antony (5&4) and Wil Sprake (2&1) were beaten. Amethyst has one match remaining, at Maroochy River on Monday, and need to win to remain in finals contention.*With skipper Josie Ryan unavailable, Sunday’s outing for Diamond was 14-year-old Charlotte Ridley’s first match in the Senior grade, after earlier competing in the Junior Division.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets – Medley Two-Person Ambrose (103 players) – Steve Rose and Barry Mapes (62.5 nett), Dennis Taylor and Frank Coleborn (64), John Halbert and David Werner (64.25), Graham Newlove and Des McNee (64.75), Ross Itzstein and Glen Teakle (64.75), Phillip Thistlewood and Steve Nash (65.5).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (40 players) – Carmel Visser (38 points), Marg Howard (38 points), Jenny Stokes (37).
Men (38) players) – Stewart Clover (42), Colin Cross (42), Mark Garcia.
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – (225 players) – A Grade, Steve Rose (42 points), Matt Price (41), Tex Teixeira (40); B Grade, Ray Menyweather (43), David James (43), Peter Raymond (42); C Grade, Brian Hermeston (40), Graham Clarke (40), John Halbert (39).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal (56 players)– A Grade, Annabel Harris (69 nett), Pik Chong (70), Colleen Berger (71), gross – Annabel Harris (82); B Grade, Anne Callanan (69), Vicki Maynard (72), Gwen Nancarrow (72), gross – Anne Callanan (89); C Grade, Barb Marrington (67), Sue Bolton (69), Lee Heseltine (70), gross – Sue Bolton (102).
Single Stableford (28 players) – Marg Howard (42 points), Gillian Thomas (34), Roz Brandt (31).
Men, Single Stableford (78 players) – Gary Martin (43), Steve Walters (41), Chris Klazema (40).
Saturday, Club Birthday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Dave Mansley, Mooneys Insurance Brokers – Women (29 players) – Monica Antony (42 points), Marg Smith (39), Vicky Sheridan (38).Men (213 players) – A Grade, Brian Kesby (40 points), Justin Nicholson (40), Brendan Duncan (38); B Grade, Mark Swift (42), Terry Lawlor (40), Warren Selvage (38); C Grade, John Miller (45), Cooper Hulsman (42), Terry Forsyth (41).
