From Tony Durkin

BLAKE FIRES: Last week, when Sharon Thomas realised that she and son Blake would be defending their Headland Mixed Foursomes title in less than six weeks, she threw down the gauntlet to her partner. Blake, who now works and lives on the Gold Coast, has played golf only half a dozen times since he and his mum won the mixed title last year. Concerned that his game might not be up to scratch, Sharon called on Blake to produce some form and he certainly delivered yesterday. Not only did Blake win the Medley Single Stableford event with 44 points, he scorched around the Headland course in a one-under par 71, shot four birdies and streeted the field by five points. And his mum played okay too. Playing off eight, Sharon had 37 points.

CHAMPS BEATEN: Headland’s past three club champions suffered losses in A grade Pennants yesterday in a 4-3 first-up defeat at the hands of the strong Caloundra team. Captain Sean McGill (4&3), Scott Walker (6&4) and Brad Butler (3&1) were the first members of the seven-man team to complete their matches on the Maroochy River course and, each sporting a victory, were feeling confident of a win for Headland. But the remaining four players – including past club champions Dave Rattray (2017), Adam Rydwanski (2016) and Ryley Martin (2015) – were beaten, as was reigning Queensland Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion, Mat Walkenhorst. Rattray and Rydwanksi were beaten 3&2, Martin went down 4&3 and Walkenhorst, who was one up through 16 holes, lost the next two holes and was also beaten. Headland will seek revenge when the star-studded team meets Hervey Bay at Noosa Golf Club next Sunday morning.

PENNANTS LOSS: The Pennants tale of woe for Headland continued in the Masters and Juniors grades, with both teams also suffering losses yesterday. Following their impressive win last weekend, the Masters went under four matches to three against Mt Coolum while the Juniors lost two and one to Maroochy River. Ian Moore (2&1), Peter Perrett (1 up) and Tony Killey (4&3) were Headland’s victors, while Brian Kesby (1 down), Peter Holt (3&2), Col Pledge (2&1) and Michael Collins (3&2) went under. Junior captain Patrick Walsh, with dad Justin on his bag, recorded an outstanding 7&6 win over his Maroochy River opponent, but James Daniel (6&4) and Keita Griffin-Klazema (6&5) both suffered defeats.

NEXT SUNDAY: Headland’s B grade team will make a belated start to the Sunshine Coast Zone Pennants competition when they clash with Caloundra at Gympie next Sunday. Captained by Brad Downes, the Headland team of seven will come from: Brad Downes (c), Matt Prince, Michael Thomas, Dean Jones, Matt Hetherington, Brendan Duncan, Arthur Soanes, Daniel Diachkoff, Matt MacAulay and Matthew Pyman. Also next Sunday, Headland Masters play Maroochy River at Cooroy, and the Juniors meet Caloundra at Headland. All matches are played in the morning.

SECOND COMING: Former Woolworths’ store manager Greg Wareham reckons early retirement was never sweeter than last Wednesday, when he had ‘a blinder’ and combined superbly with Lawrence Hireme to easily win the fourball event. The pair scored 51 points when – because of green renovations – they played the front nine twice, and won by three points from fellow morning players Peter Birt and Neil Oxley. Greg may have scored on only five holes the first time round, but still racked up 18 points with three three-pointers, a four-pointer and an eagle on the par-five second, which returned the team five points. He then had three more three-pointers the second time, plus four points for a par on the seventh. A member at Headland for four years more than a decade ago, Greg resigned because of work commitments but re-joined in April last year after taking early retirement from his 42-year career with Woolies. His AGU handicap has shrunk to 17 from 25 and he is now keen to snare more of those elusive eagles, with Wednesday’s coming 12 years after he eagled the first hole at Headland.

SAD FAREWELL: Fellow Headland members and those close to Mick Passey were among the estimated 200 people who congregated in the Garden Bar surrounds on Friday to celebrate the life of the popular tradie. Mick, who was 58 and religiously played golf every Wednesday and Saturday, was tragically killed earlier in the week in an accident while at work. He was a Headland member for more than four decades, having played as a junior and then re-joining in 1987 after a stint in the Army. For the past 15 years Mick, whose home backs on to the 17th fairway, worked for Stegbar, one of the many generous Headland sponsors.

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Tuesday, Medley Fourball Stableford, (64 players) – Ian Harper and Bob Trevor (45 points), Rod McKinnon and Rick Bronson (43), Jock McLaughlin and Garry Thomas (43).

Wednesday, Fourball Stableford (116 players) – Greg Wareham and Lawrence Hireme (51 points), Peter Birt and Neil Oxley (48), Gary Savill and Robert Rowman (47), Tony Killey and Peter Creese (47).

Thursday, Single Stableford, Ladies (competition abandoned because of rain); Men (43  players), Trevor Simpson (40 points), Garry Thomas (40), Tony Flint (40).

Saturday, Medley Fourball Stableford (228 players) – Peter Elsworth and Matt Doyle (49), Peter Nash and Peter Raymond (49), Russell Thistlewood and Brian Callaghan (48), David Wickham and Michael Gregora (47), Adam Montgomery and Dennis Taylor (47).

Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (41 players) – Blake Thomas (44 Points), Daniel Diachkoff (39), Dominic Geeves (37).