From Tony Durkin
CHAMPION MATES: Best mates Adam Rydwanski and Sean McGill are Headland’s 2024 Men’s Foursomes Champions, after engineering their second title on Saturday. The Headland A Grade Pennant team members scored 154, 10 over par, for the 36-hole event, with the Championship victory set up by a three-over 75 in the morning session. Their second nine of the day – par 36 – was their most impressive, while their final nine of four-over 40 the most expensive from the pair. Their 36-hole card revealed four birdies, 18 pars and 14 bogeys. It is the eleventh time the mates have contested the Foursomes Championship, with their earlier win a decade ago, in 2014. “It was tough out there today,” said Sean, who won the first of his three titles with Aaron Shaw in 2010, shortly after he arrived at Headland from Bargara, for university studies. “The wind was strong, and gusty, and the greens were very slick. We were a few over par, but in the conditions, we played well.” Sean and Adam are both engineers, and Adam who also won the Foursomes title with Chris Weier in 2012, was best man at Sean’s wedding in January. Adam Richards and Shane Muller, the lowest handicapped pair in the field, finished second (158), on a countback from brothers Paul and Mark Henricks. The Henrick brothers were, however, crowned Foursomes nett winners.
THANKS SUE: Headland’s new Fourball Best Ball Matchplay Champions, Cathy Roberts and Robyn Muir have – indirectly – former Women’s Director of Golf, Sue Jones, to thank for their historic 2024 Honour Board victory. Cathy and Robyn became the first female pairing to win in the eight years of the competition, continuously sponsored by Michael Thomas of Zenfind Accounting since 2018, after they beat Barry Newton and Gary Martin 2&1 in Sunday’s nail-biting final. However, had it not been for Sue, who stepped down as Women’s Captain 10 days ago, the Champions would not have been in the field. “Sue used her Captain’s spot to enter us in the event,” revealed Cathy, who sank the winning putt on the par-four 17th hole. Barry Newton sank a ’monster’ putt at the second hole to give the boys an early lead, but the women hit back immediately squaring the next, and after winning the fourth hole they were never headed, turning 3-up. “I was the only one to have a stroke at the 17th, and after Barry sank his par putt I needed mine for a nett par, and the win,” said Cathy, who admitted she was ‘as nervous as hell’ standing over the ‘tiddler’. But she was, according to Robyn, the star of the day. “Cathy’s golf was hot today,” she quipped. To make the victory even more special, the Champions – both retired nurses – had never previously played together.
HEADLAND WINS: Three members of Headland’s A Grade Pennant team have combined to win a team’s event at the 2024 Queensland Mid-Amateur Championship on the Gold Coast. Adam Richards, Shane Muller and Adam Rydwanski returned the best accumulative nett score over the 54-hole event, played at Royal Pines on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of last week. Playing the layout for the first time, five-time Headland Club Champion Adam Richards finished 10th overall in the Mid-Amateur (age 30 and over) event with a score of 224, and second in the Upper-Mid (44 to 54). Shane Muller (226) finished 16th overall and ninth in the Upper-Mid division, while Adam Rydwanski (231) was 24th and Sean McGill (237) finished with a two-over 74 to claim 49th spot in the field of 233. The event was won by Mitchell Salmond (Pacific Golf Club) with three-under 213. NOTE: As only three players from one club were eligible for the team event and those names had to be listed prior to tee-off on day one, three of the four Headland players had their golf ball drawn from a hat. Sean says luckily for the team – as he finished 49th – he did not make the cut.
SPLITTING WIN: On Saturday, Jack Lambalk scored his first win as a 2½ -year Headland member, and said he played ‘really well’. But an unusual occurrence at the par-four third hole, which resulted in a wipe, was the hot topic of his round. “I hit my trusty driving iron from the tee, and the ball split in half,” revealed a bemused Jack who moved from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast with his family just on four years ago. “The two pieces actually went forward, about 20 metres, but I was uncertain of the rules so I took a penalty and hit my third shot from the tee.” Apart from that glitch, and a triple bogey at the 15th where he salvaged a point courtesy of his 19 handicap, Jack’s card was impressive. He scored 42 points to win the Medley Stableford, with nine pars and seven bogeys. Employed by the Fair Work Commission, Jack spends three days a week in Brisbane and the other two working from home, and is enjoying the opportunity to have ‘parenting’ duties on the weekend playing with his 14-year-old son Flynn, who was a member of Headland’s Junior Pennant team this year. NOTE: Rule 4.2b states that if a ball splits in two while a playing stroke, the shot can be replayed without penalty.
DEBBIE’S FUN: She may have been unaware of the intricacies of an electric competition, but Debbie Bennetts has described the 2024 Vets Living Choice Classic as ‘a fun couple of days’. And fun it certainly was for Debbie – she won the Women’s 36-hole eclectic, and in doing so collected a $300 Pro Shop voucher. “I didn’t realise how the format actually worked, and was stunned when I was announced the winner,” she said after sculpting 46 points over Monday and Tuesday of last week, the best of any competitor. After scoring just 31 points on Monday, Debbie covered her errors superbly the following day, replacing her four wipes with three, two, one and three points respectively. And her only real blunder on Tuesday when she penned 37 points – a 5/1 at the par-three eighth hole – was covered by a 3/3 the previous day. Debbie and her partner, John Halbert, became official Headland playing members in October last year after being on the waitlist for two years. They had previously been members at Pelican Waters and Beerwah. And the family celebration – which resulted in John providing dinner as part of a regular challenge – was not just for Debbie’s outstanding win. John also shared in the spoils, collecting $150 for winning Men’s Division One with 45 points, beaten on a countback by the overall eclectic victor, Graham Maund of Burleigh Heads. The 21st annual Headland Vets Classic was once again sponsored by Living Choice and Perry and Oster Funerals.
ROONEY RULES: Having overseen the recent redevelopment and improvements at Headland as Course Director, it would be reasonable to suggest Gavin Rooney would know the course like the back of his hand. And even though he suggests otherwise, the 14 handicapper certainly came to the fore on Wednesday, winning B Grade in the Medley Single Stableford with 43 points, the best score of the day by four points. “I blotted my copybook at the end, finishing double bogey, bogey, bogey,” revealed Gavin, who last week was elected to serve another three-year term as Course Director following five years at the helm. Starting on the tenth, Gavin parred the back nine for 25 points and after 15 holes was only three over par and looking at his best-ever round at Headland. “But it was a beautiful day, the course is in great condition and I played with the President of Nambour, who was very impressed with our development, so I could not be anything else but satisfied,” was his pragmatic reaction to the bumbling finish. The victory ended a long drought for the 27-year Headland member – his last win was the B Grade Mid-Week Medal in December last year, with 63 nett. Anthony Larchin (39 points) won A Grade and Graham Pitt (38) won C Grade.
ELLEN’S YEAR: With two Monthly Medals and C Grade nett in the Women’s Club Championships on her CV, 2024 has already been a memorable golfing year for Ellen Bloxsome. But the 35-handciapper, who has played competition golf only for the six years she has been a Headland member, received her biggest thrill on Thursday when she beat Headland’s female golfing guru, Josie Ryan. “I know our handicaps are miles apart and I would never ever dream of being anywhere near the golfer Josie is, and has been, but to top the field that included Josie, was something very special,” said Ellen, who scored 40 points to win C Grade, and beat Josie (38 points) who won A Grade. “Josie is a legend, and everyone at Headland looks up to her.” Ellen had two four-point holes – both on par fives – and five threes in her winning score, with an impressive 23 of those points on the back nine. Her two Monthly Medals this year were in March and August, both in C Grade. Wendy Burnie (37 points) won B Grade on Thursday. NOTE: The same week in March that Ellen won her first-ever Monthly Medal, Josie was in Tamworth winning the 70 years and over Medal at the NSW Senior Women’s Amateur.
SYD’S LATE CALL: Unable to score a spot in Saturday’s field, Syd Shilling again joined the waitlist for Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford before receiving a late call up. And he was so pleased he did, not just because he won the event, but for whom he played alongside. “Leon Faulkner, who coaches our juniors, was such a delight to play with. He is a magnificent golfer, and an even better person,” said Syd, who was also impressed with the golfing form of Leon’s teenage son, Max. Syd turned with 17 points but ripped the back nine apart, scoring one four-pointer and five threes on his way to 23 points, and a winning score of 40. “I reckon that is my first win in an individual event for about a decade,” said the 15-year Headland member, who recently sold his Sunshine Coast sign business and now has his sights on touring, both overseas and in his new caravan. Kate Wilkie (39 points) finished with three pars in her final four holes, but fell agonisingly short.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Living Choice Classic, Single Stableford – sponsors, Living Choice and Perry and Oster – Women (42 players) – Division One, Lesley Hart (37), Rebecca Masters (35), Annabel Harris (32); Division Two, Ree Condon (35), Jo McDougall (35) Marg Moran (34).
Men (46 players) – Division One, Tim Nunan (36), Ed Hoey (32), Simon Whittle (31); Division Two, Mal McDougall (35), Paul Hepher (32), Ken Maynard (32).
Tuesday, Living Choice Classic, Single Stableford – sponsors, Living Choice and Perry and Oster – Women (41 players) – Division One, Gail Young (35), Marg Smith (34), Jill Marrinan (33); Division Two, Mary Gibberd (32), Penelope Hepher (30), Tove Larsen (30).
Men (45 players) – Peter Francis (37), Bruce Reid (36), Bob Hayward (35).
Eclectic, Women – Division One, Robyn Boreham (45), Kirsten Kaergaard (42), Jenny Pirini (42); Division Two, Julie Lewis (44), Noela Evans (43), Di Stark (42).
Men – Division One, John Halbert (45), Lawrence Hireme (43), Tony Coad (42); Division Two, David Munns (45), Doug Hart (43), Phil Martin (42).
Overall Winners, Women – Debbie Bennetts (46 points); Men – Graham Maund (45).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (205 players) – sponsor, Drew Grant, Safe T Electrical – A Grade, Anthony Larchin (39 points), Brian Kesby (37), Rob Cunningham (37); B Grade, Gavin Rooney (43), Darren Padgett (39), Peter Blackford (39); C Grade, Graham Pitt (38), Sid Ryan (37), Steve Makin (37).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsor, Claire Watson family – (95 players) – A Grade, Josie Ryan (38 points), Marg Smith (36), Robyn Muir (34); B Grade, Wendy Burnie (37), Julie Lewis (35), Kath Barford (35); C Grade, Ellen Bloxsome (40), Laura Mason-Baierl (36), Helen Sedgman (33).
Men (40 players) – Matt Doyle (40 points), Mark Garcia (38), Mick Kelsey (38).
Saturday, Men’s Foursomes Championships – sponsor, Mick Kinnear, Zero Termite and Pest – (112 players) – Champions, Adam Rydwanski and Sean McGill (78,80-154); runners-up, Adam Richards and Shane Muller (78,80-158). Nett, Mark Henricks and Paul Henricks (146), Mick Kinnear and Mick Kelsey (147).
Morning gross, Dan Diachkoff and Chris Goundrey (77); nett, Graeme Nicholas and Barry Hudson (66). Afternoon gross, Wayne West and Ash Reck (81); nett, Mick Garske and Nelson Valderrama (70).
Medley Single Stableford (52 players) – Jack Lambalk (42 points), Bernie Duncan (38), Brian Richards (36).
Juniors, Nine-hole Fourball Best Ball Stroke – Dominic Manning and Dylan Manning (38), Finn Darlison and Ty Swartz (40), Peter Hall and George Jones (40), Max Faulkner and Keaton Fox (40), William Springall and Nash Hoger (47).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (62 players) – Syd Shilling (40 points), Kate Wilkie (39), Wayne Taylor (38).
Fourball Best Ball Matchplay Championship, final – sponsor, Michael Thomas, Zenfind Accounting – Cathy Roberts and Robyn Muir beat Barry Newton and Gary Martin (2&1).
