From Tony Durkin
VETS WARM UP: Headland Veteran Golfers played the opening round of their 2017 championships last Monday, with Dennis Taylor (42 points) and Lisa Ramen (40) the respective leaders. Dennis has a handy three-point gap with a pack of four – Tony Coad, Ross Carvell, David Munns and Bruce Reid – in hot pursuit, while Lisa is just one point ahead of the in-form Carmel Visser. The final round of the champs will be played on Monday, November 27. In the interim the vets will be warming up for Headland’s three-day Living Choice Classic, which kicks off next Sunday (November 19). Just on 200 golfers representing 40 clubs from Rockhampton to Byron Bay will play for 56 trophies. The Classic gets underway with a mixed 4BBB Stableford on Sunday with the main event, single stableford eclectics for men and ladies, to be played on Monday and Tuesday. A presentation dinner will follow in the clubhouse next Tuesday night. Living Choice has been naming-rights sponsor of the event for the past 14 years.
CUP WINNERS: Helen Fraser and Rod Besley did not send the bookies broke on Melbourne Cup Day, but both had a day out at golf. Helen was placed third in the single stableford with 34 points and was nearest the pin on holes five and 14. Rod, a relative newcomer to Headland, was runner-up in the men’s division with 38 points, and scored another bonus with the pin shot on eight. Both agreed the entry fee for golf was a better investment than a punt on the Cup.
ROUNDS OF THE WEEK: Saturday’s single stableford winners – Kirsten Kaergaard and Peter Leggo – both destroyed the course rating, with 44 points respectively. Kirsten’s 85 is her best-ever gross score by five shots, although she previously had 44 points playing off a greater handicap than her 20 on Saturday. But for Peter, a member since 1988, his exceptional 77 strokes – off 13 – did not produce his top stableford score. He recalls a phenomenal 50-point round ‘about 20 years ago’.
EAGLE BOY: Men’s captain, James Kidd, could inherit the nickname Eagle Boy after his slashing form on the golf course last Friday and Saturday. On Friday, playing in the annual Men of League golf day at Twin Waters, he literally slammed dunked his tee shot on the par three 17th (184 metres) for just his second hole in one. Then, 24 hours later, he eagled the par five 13th hole at Headland. But he wasn’t on his own scoring eagles on Saturday. Joining him were Simon Mitchell – who, ironically, was in the same playing group – Gary Ehsman and Andrew Fisher – all on the 13th. And current club champion, David Rattray, scored an eagle three on the second.
JUNIOR BONUS: Every Sunday from two weekends ago a special nearest the pin prize has been struck for juniors, and – appropriately in this technological age – it is an ITunes voucher worth $20. But the prize jackpotted after the first week and James Daniel yesterday collected a $40 voucher. As well, a Junior Monthly Medal will be contested on the first Sunday of each month, with a $30 EB Games voucher on offer for the winner. Keita Griffin-Klazema was the inaugural recipient last weekend. And, as an added bonus, any junior Headland member who plays in a club competition will receive a new golf ball of their choice from the pro shop.
WHOOPS: Feeling apprehensive about the approaching rain is not conducive to good golf, something fourball partners Wayne West and Nev Daniel can confirm after last Wednesday’s round. Playing the 18th with 45 points already on their 4BBB stableford card, the duo needed a birdie to finish second or a par for third. But because the much-needed rain had started falling, both rushed their putts and the best they could muster was a single point from the blade of Westy, who plays off four. So they scrambled for fourth, potentially both losing $20 apiece. Sad, but true.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Veterans championships, round one, Men (69 players): A grade – Dennis Taylor (42 points), Ross Cavell (39); B grade – John Logan (41), Laurie Inglis (40); C grade – Dick Gibberd (39), Pat Beston (37); Ladies (46 players): A grade – Lisa Ramen (40), Carmel Visser (39); B grade – Kathy Walker (39), Lyn Forbes (36).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Men (55 players): John Kamm (39 points), Rod Besley (38), Tim Rees 37); Ladies (16 players): Raewyn Anderson (38), Christina Claxton (34), Helen Fraser (34).
Wednesday, Men’s 4BBB Stableford (154 players): Gus Walker and Neil Dougherty (49 points), John Bourke and Liberal Bonel (48), Ken McGuire and Len Dawson (46).
Thursday, Ladies, American Foursomes (102 players): Kym Mason and Kathy Petrie (74 nett), Robyn Boreham and Raewyn Bissett (75), Jodie McDonnell and Kathy Atkins (75.25).
Men, Single Stableford (86 players): Tony McDonough (40), Nate Smyth (39), Ian Dennis (38).
Saturday, Men’s Single Stableford (220 players): A grade – Peter Leggo (44), Jack Pyke (40), Scott Walker (40); B grade – George Rodman (41), Tony Kelleher (41), Scott Roush (40); C grade – Peter Creese (43), Laurie Inglis (43), Graeme Brown (42). Ladies Single Stableford (31 players) – Kirsten Kaergaard (44), Sharon Purnell (40), Pam Vincent (38).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (23 players) – Peter Holt (43 points), Bruce Reid (38), Darryl Kong (37).
