From Tony Durkin
TRIPLE TROUBLE: Had it not been for a triple bogey at the par-three eighth hole during Saturday’s Monthly Mug round, Denis Orr would have broken 80 for the first time since October 2024. But it wasn’t all bad for the retired Maroochy High Business Manager who says he has not played well for most of the past 12 months. He still managed 81 from the Championship tees, netted 67 with the best score of the day, and won the B Grade Medal. “It was my only fail of the day,” said Denis, who otherwise penned a birdie, nine pars and seven bogeys on his card. “After missing four months of golf following surgery, I have really struggled to find any kind of form. In fact, most of my golf has been absolute rubbish. Even today, I only hit three greens in regulation.” Saturday’s ‘comeback’ came seven years and one month since his best-ever Headland round of five-over 77 for the 32-year member. Glen Walker, with a nett 70 from his handicap of four, returned the best gross and won the A Grade Medal, while Gary Savill (68) won C Grade.
NOT TRUDI: At times during her round on Thursday, two-decade member Trudi Russell could not believe the shots were coming from her clubs. “I’m thinking to myself, ‘I can’t play this well. This not me’,” she jested after combining with Kay Campbell to win the Women’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford on Thursday, with a fabulous score of 50 points. “It was kind of an out-of-body experience.” Rating it the best golf she has ever played, Trudi said that although her playing partner Kay contributed only 11 of the 50 points, she and the other pairing (Marion Dennis and Kaye Simmons) had been tremendously encouraging during the round. Kay added one four-point hole and one three to the winning card, while Trudi, who scored 39 points from just 13 holes and claimed she missed two ‘very gettable’ putts, penned three fours and seven threes. And it was a financial bonanza too for Trudi, who ‘lost’ eight of her 20- membership years because of breast cancer. She collected $90 for the victory, and $32 for a Pro Pin. “Before my medical issues, I was just playing social golf, but now I’m a two-rounds-a-week girl, and really enjoying my golf,” she revealed. And Kay admitted she relished Thursday’s ride. “Trudi played so beautifully. It was a pleasure not just to be her partner, but to see her enjoy herself so much. Everyone loves Trudi,” she quipped.
THANKS, BUFF: Somewhat disillusioned that his handicap had slipped out by two shots, drinks cart chauffer Sam Henricks did what all golfers are advised – consult a Golf Professional. “Recently my best-behaved club, my driver, has been playing up on me,” said Sam after he and playing partner Lyle Robbie scored 50 points to win Thursday’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford for Men. “I had a lesson with Buff (Head Pro Adam Norlander) and he sorted me out. It was a simple case of a few tweaks, and generally me trusting my swing.” And his swing was certainly in the groove on Thursday, with Sam contributing 30 of the team’s 50 points, including two four-point birdies, from his handicap of 15. But it wasn’t just a one-man show. “On quite a few holes either of us could have scored, but in many cases, I putted first. We really did complement each other,” he conceded. While winning the event with such a good score was pleasing, beating opponents Todd Petrie and Rory Hanley was just as satisfying. “We had teamed against each other twice before recently, and the score was one-all. This was the decider,” Sam goaded.
SUPER DAY: Vicki Oxley reckons Saturdays don’t come much better than the one just gone. Not only did she win her first Monthly Medal as a six-year Headland member on an ‘absolutely beautiful’ April day, but Vicki also spent time in the morning at the beach with her daughter and grandchildren. “And, I finished first, and my husband (Neil) finished third in his grade, so that gave me bragging rights,” Vicki proudly beamed. Despite conceding her golf was not the ‘prettiest’ part of the near-perfect day, Vicki revealed that much of her pre-game plan did come to fruition. “My goal was to stay on the fairway and stay out of bunkers,” she said. “I mostly did that, and although I found myself in a couple of bunkers, I managed to extricate my ball successfully.” Vicki’s nett 73 from her handicap of 28 beat Colleen Berger on a countback.
SCHOOL’S OUT: Nash Hoger is having his most enjoyable and special school holiday – at least in relation to his golf. The Headland Junior Pennant player, who is a boarder at Marist Brothers College Ashgrove, had his first win in open company when he scored a very impressive 44 points in Saturday’s Single Stableford for Men. But not only did he return the best score by six points and win Division Two, Nash shared a cart with Club President Peter Raymond. “Peter met Nash on Wednesday and invited him to play in his group,” said proud mum Karra, who scored 40 points the previous Wednesday to win the Medley C Grade event. But Saturday was all about Nash, who is named after champion jockey Nash Rawiller, who rode Elvstroem to victory in the 2004 Caulfield Cup. The 12-year-old, who has been a member for three years, had 85 from his handicap of 21 with three four-point holes – two of which were birdies – five threes and seven twos. “Obviously he is the best golfer in the family,” joked mum Karra, who is joined by dad Lyndon as Headland members. “Nash only gets to play when he is home from boarding school on holidays, so gets out on the course as much as he can.” And, according to President Pete, Nash is ‘a great kid’.
DISTRICT SUCCESS: Headland women have attained great success in the Sunshine Coast and Burnett District’s Race to the Coast event played at Nanango on Saturday. Nine members took part in the Single Stableford, and six in the field of 58 were prizewinners. Annabel Harris (36 points) won Division One, with Josie Ryan (34) second, while Robyn Boreham won Division Two with 41 points, pipping fellow member Kirsten Kaergaard (39), who was runner-up. And in Division Three, Odette Day (35) finished third, with Colleen Sarquis (33) in fourth place. The previous day, in the district Player of the Year Fourball, none of the Headland member scored a spot on the dais.
RYAN IS HOOKED: He had never played golf until a work experience stint with the greens staff at the end of 2024, and now Ryan Sawell admits to being obsessed with the game. And that passion has borne fruit, with the 19-year-old groundsman winning his sixth event on Wednesday in just 18 months as a member. While it wasn’t his best score – that came two weeks earlier when his 44 points won C Grade – Ryan’s Wednesday round was his most consistent with a birdie, two pars, 12 bogeys and two doubles. “After the Sunshine Coast Open at the weekend, the greens were very quick,” the groundsman noted. “But my short game was good.” He stormed home with 22 points on the back nine to win B Grade after a ‘very busy’ Easter weekend. Ryan worked each morning to help prepare the course for the Easter Open, then caddied later in the day for Shane Muller. Then, on Monday, he and three of his co-workers played Noosa. “Before I came to work here, golf was of no interest. Now, I play and practise as much as I can,” he said. In 18 months, Ryan has reduced his handicap from 30 to 18.5. John Harris ended a lean trot on Wednesday with a win in A Grade (also 41 points), while Daniel Manning (40) won C Grade.
DONKEY GOLF: After saluting in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men, FIFO sparkie Bill Hegarty confessed it had been ‘donkey’s years’ since his last win. “I recall it was a Mid-Week Medal, but how long ago that was I have absolutely no idea,” said the 30-plus-year Headland member. And while Bill was delighted with the win, he was disappointed his son Luke was not there to witness the ‘miracle’. “Luke intended to play, but was called to work and had to withdraw,” Bill explained. “He knows how poorly I usually putt, and would have been astounded with my work on the greens. The hole was like a bucket – I couldn’t miss.” One instance of this was a ‘ripper’ at the par-four 17th, for birdie, and four points, to go with his nine three-point holes. Bill reckoned the issue for him now is to recall what triggered his 40-point round, and how to replicate that form in the future. “I’m fortunate that I have one week on, and three weeks off, so the opportunity to play more than once a week, and maybe even practise, is certainly there,” he said.
HANDICAP HOPE: Despite compiling her second-best score in three years, Trish Marsden is still not a contented golfer. “Yes, I did have a good day,” Trish acknowledged after tabling 42 points to return the best sore of the day in Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women, and winning by three points. “But I am disappointed at where my handicap stands. I need a few more rounds like this one, but still have a long way to go.” Trish, who missed 12 months of golf just on four years ago after breaking her arm while on the golf course, and experiencing complications, recorded two four-point holes, four threes, 10 twos and two singles on a card which did not show a wipe. Runner-up with, with 39 points, was 2023 Club Champion Sharon Thomas on her steady climb back to form.
NO FAILURE: Trevor Gourlay may be suffering kidney issues which have led to renal failure, but his golfing prowess did not fail him on Sunday. “Since August last year when my health issues kicked in, I have lost all my strength,” said Trevor, who now requires dialysis three times a week. “And because of that my handicap has blown right out, and this is my first win in more than 12 months. So, it’s nice to know there is still something there.” Trevor scored 42 points to win Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford, and quipped that he beat his groundsman – and much lower-handicapped – son Jay, by a whopping 13 points. “We played in the same group, and while he was happy for me, I don’t think he enjoyed the margin,” joked Trevor, who won $82 from a card which showed one four-point hole, six threes and nine twos. And while delighted by the return to form, Trevor was devastated that he missed Masters Monday at Headland. “I have dialysis Mondays, Wednesday and Friday, and I reckon this is my first miss in at least 15 years,” he confessed.
SIMPLY THE BEST: Shane Muller has continued his outstanding form in last weekend’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open to ‘win’ Headland’s STB award for the past week. Pro Shop Manager Shane shot two-under 70 on Tuesday from the white tees, with four birdies, 13 pars and one double bogey on his card. The best score from the black tees came in Saturday’s Monthly Medal, with A Grade winner Glen Walker firing two-over 74. Each week in 2026, HH will name our ‘Simply the Best’ golfer, an ‘award’ introduced specifically to recognise the club’s low-handicap members.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Medley Single Stableford (63 players) – Nick Page (37 points), Aaron Regan (37), Jarvis Wellington (36).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (43 players) – Trish Marsden (42 points), Sharon Thomas (39), Narelle Hollowood (38).
Men (76 players) – William Hegarty (40), Shane Muller (39), Russell Harris (39).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Earl Hicks, Earthire – (224 players) – A Grade, John Harris (41 points), Rhett Charlton (41), Ben Brown (39); B Grade, Ryan Sawell (41), Sam Henricks (38), Ross Roberts (38); C Grade, Daniel Manning (40), Stephen Notley (39), John Wettenhall (39).
Thursday, Fourball Best Ball Stableford, Women – sponsors, Ali Lamond, Mary Dowling, Penny Cooper, Catherine Peterson, Ruth Broderick, Prue Byrnes, Julie Lewis and Lyn Keogh – (105 players) – Trudi Russell and Kay Campbell (50 points), Raewyn Bissett and Odette Day (48), Pam Vincent and Helen Fraser (47), Marg Smith and Ruth Broderick (47).
Men – sponsor, The Follies – (84 players) – Sam Henricks and Lyle Robbie (50 points), Gary Martin and Terry Ward (48), Jamie Holbrook and Ben Duncombe (44).
Saturday, Monthly Medal, Women, sponsor, Jodie McDonell, Century 21 on Duporth – (18 players) – Vicki Oxley (73 nett), Colleen Berger (73), Sandee Brimblecombe (76).
Men, sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – (155 players) – A Grade, Glen Walker (70), Wayne Taylor (71), Graham Smith (72); B Grade, Denis Orr (67), Neil Playford (70), Graeme Brown (70); C Grade, Gary Savill (68), Kevin Howe (68), Daniel Crabtree (71); best gross, Glen Walker (74).
Single Stableford (77 players) – Division One, Michael Phillips (38 points), Brett Stephenson (38), Neil Oxley (37); Division Two, Nash Hoger (44), Phil Maron (37), Stu Ennever (37).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (62 players) – Trevor Gourlay (42 points), Cathy Roberts (41), Joshua White (40).
