From Tony Durkin
CHAMPS POSTPONED: Persistent rain over the past few weeks has caused the 2025 Headland Men’s Championships to be postponed. To be again sponsored by Tim Reed of the Neubau Group, the Championships are now likely to be held in September. “There was honestly no option but to postpone the Championships, which were to have been played on Saturday and Sunday this past weekend, and finalised next weekend,” explained Headland Golf Operations Manager, Ian Hepburn. “Not only was the course just about unplayable, but this event showcases our finest talent and it needs to be played under the best possible conditions.” While other scheduled events, including the Sunshine Coast Men’s Golf Zone Pennant competitions, will block out many weekends between June and August, Ian said two other important factors were at play when the decision to delay the Championships until, most probably, September, was made. “One was to cause the most minimal inconvenience to members with consideration to already-scheduled events, and the other was the anticipated conditions of the course,” he said. “The Championships are held in May each year because that is when it is considered the course is at its best, condition-wise. The next best time, we believe, is September.” New dates for the Championships are expected to be announced within the next few weeks.
JACK’S RECORD: In wining just his second event as a 3½-year Headland member, Jack Lambalk may well have created a rare club record. Jack’s visit to the victory dais in Saturday’s Medley Single Stableford was the first by any golfer at the club for a period of nine days, and Club Patron Simon Whittle believes that could well be the longest period between completions in the 69-year history of the club. “Back in the day, anyone keen enough to play, despite the conditions, played,” Simon said. “A nine-day break, without anyone on the course, is something I don’t ever recall happening.” And 14-handicapper Jack, who had not played for three weeks, was smart enough to play ‘safe’ golf, leaving his driver in the bag to avoid the long rough. “The only time I didn’t hit my driving iron – apart from the par threes – was at the par-five 13th, when I went with a three-wood,” he revealed. “I pushed it into the trees on the right, and finished with my only wipe of the day.” Jack, who spends three days a week in Brisbane where he is employed by the Fair Work Commission, scored 37 points on a low scoring day, and collected his biggest-ever golfing pay packet of $125, plus $13 for his NTP at the fifth, where he scored his only birdie for the round. Jack and his family, which includes his 14-year-old son Flynn, a Junior member, moved from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast just on five years ago. Jack won a countback from Barry newton, with Gary Martin (36 points) third in the field of 92.
SPEEDY GOLF: So keen to finally play a round of golf on Saturday, Glasgow-born Marc Egan was booked for speeding en-route to Headland on Sunday. But eight-month member Marc, who moved from Melbourne to Mooloolaba four years ago to work for insurance giant Youi, says the $80 prize for winning the Medley Single Stableford helped cushion the blow. After being on the waitlist for almost three years, Marc finally received the invite to play competition golf in October last year, but for various reasons, including the recent spate of wet weather, he is yet to play competition 20 rounds. Sunday’s winning effort, to score 40 points, was not just initial victory, but also his best round – 77 from his nine handicap, with a birdie, 12 pars, four bogeys and a double at 13 on his card. “Except for my double, I played well. Hopefully the weather has cleared, and I can get out and play more often,” he enthused. The Project Portfolio Manager for Youi says he has ‘never looked back’ since moving north. And one of the reasons for his positive feedback has been joining Headland, where he scored his first-ever golf victory on Sunday. “Although I was born in Scotland and only moved to Australia in 2014, I never really played much serious golf back home,” he revealed. “It is an expensive game to play too, so I have never been a member of a club until I came here.”
WOMEN’S PENNANT: As has been the case for most golf events on the Sunshine Coast in recent weeks, the 2025 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Pennant competition has been interrupted. However, the competition resumed on Sunday (yesterday) and Headland’s Weekend team has been eliminated, beaten 4-2 by Caloundra, at Maroochy River. Victors were Narelle Hollowood and Carol Quin, 2-up and 1-up, respectively. Vicky Sheridan (3&2), Kate Wilkie (2&1) and Wil Sprake (4&3) were the vanquished. The Weekday Division Two team will play Bribie Island in its final next Monday week (June 2) at Cooroy, while the Weekday Division One team failed to qualify for the finals, despite winning three of their five games. Headland’s Pennant Co-ordinator for Women, Kirsten Kaergaard, has uncovered an incredible statistic regarding the three teams fielded by the club in 2025. During the season, each team has landed on an individual match-winning percentage of 58. And while that narrow winning margin assisted the two finals’ teams in reaching the play-offs, the statistic came against Weekday Division One. NOTE: Headland 2025 Pennant team members were: Weekend, Division Two – Vicky Sheridan, Kate Wilkie, Karen Wilson (captain), Narelle Hollowood, Robyn Muir, Wil Sprake, Carol Quin, Cathy Roberts (co-captain) and Angela Pearson; Weekday, Division One – Lisa Ramen, Josie Ryan, Kirsten Kaergaard (captain), Helen Venter, Leeanne Ptak, Linda Cannon, Sue Briffa, Gwen Nancarrow, Jan Langdon and Althea McLean; Weekday, Division Two – Sue Bolton, Deb Bennetts, Carol Sinclair, Laura Mason-Baierl, Wendy Mosley (captain), Ree Condon, Jenny Stokes, Kath Barford and Leigh Derigo.
JUNIOR PENNANT: Following a break for Mother’s Day, the Sunshine Coast Junior Pennant competition resumed on Sunday, with Headland’s No.1 team scoring a decisive win over Gunabul at Mt Coolum. Playing in Division Two, Headland kept its unbeaten record intact with a 3½-½ victory. Finn Darlison won 7&6, Max Faulkner won 6&5 and Lewis Mathewson scored a walkover, 10&8, while Matthew Bothma squared his match. In Division Three, Headland halved its match against Noosa, 2-all. Winners were Keaton Fox (7&6) and Peter Hall (2&1), while Nash Hoger was beaten 9&8 and Noah Sergeant lost, 5&3. Headland No.2, also competing in Division Two, had the bye. Next Sunday in Division Two, Headland (1) plays Caloundra, Headland (2) plays Maroochy River and in Division Three, Headland has the bye.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Medley Two-Ball Ambrose (course closed, no competition).
Tuesday, Single Stableford (course closed, no competition).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stroke and Men’s Mid-Week Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (course closed, no competition).
Medley Single Stableford (course closed, no competition).
Thursday, Women, Medley Single Par Plus – sponsor, Josie Ryan (course closed, no competition).
Men, Single Stableford (course closed, no competition).
Saturday, Medley Single Stableford (92 players) – Jack Lambalk (37 points), Barry Newton (37), Gary Martin (36).
Juniors, Six-hole Stroke, Finn Darlison (30), Matthew Bothma (30), Max Faulkner (32), William Springall (33).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (58 players) – Marc Egan (40 points), Damian Moelands (39), Richard Stone (39).
