From Tony Durkin
STUNNING WIN: Headland’s A Grade Pennants team has won its way into the final against Maroochy River next Sunday following a thrilling 5-2 win over Noosa at Mt Coolum yesterday. The result was in the balance throughout the morning with two contents going to the 19th hole for decision. Captain Sean McGill led the way in the most decisive result – 4&2 – while both Adam Rydwanski and David Rattray won their matches on the 17th hole, 2&1, with Rattray chipping in for an eagle three. Mat Walkenhorst took his clash 1up and Ryley Martin prevailed on the 19th hole. Headland last won the A Grade Sunshine Coast District Pennant in 2012, with current team members McGill, Rydwanksi and Rattray members of that winning team.
TEN FOR KEN: Seven years after first beating his age on the golf course, 77-year-old Headland veteran Ken Anderson has done it again with 74 off the bat in Saturday’s Single Stableford round. His 41 points, which won A grade from a gun field including Pennant players Scott Walker, Sean McGill and Mat Walkenhorst, included four birdies among his six bogeys. Ken first beat his age in a five-under par round of 67 in 2011 when he was 70 and estimates he has since either bettered or equalled his age on 10 occasions – most recently three years ago. The octogenarian, who says he has been tampering with his swing and has not been playing well of late, has one very simple tip for those wanting to improve their game. “Practise, practise, practise,” advises the former roughrider and horse breaker who can be seen honing his skills on the practise range most days.
MEDLEY MIX: Tuesday’s Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford event produced the near-perfect result. Not only did an excellent field of 127 players take part, but the first three placings were filled by two men, two women and a husband-and-wife team respectively, much to the satisfaction of Headland’s match committee, which schedules the year-long program. The strategy of a scheduling regular medley events is to have a strong mix of both male and female members, each with an equal chance of winning. On Tuesday regular partners Ray Morrison and Russell Cooper won the event with 50 points, on a countback from recent SWING graduates Barb Marrington and Dianne Kean, with couple Ian and Marion Dennis third on 48 points. While Ray and Russell have been perennial winners of late, Tuesday is the first time Barb and Dianne and Ian and Marion have been saluted on the dais as teams.
PURPLE PATCH: It was a case of two players in the midst of a purple patch combining superbly when Kathy Atkins and Christina Claxton streeted the field to win Thursday’s Ladies’ American Foursomes. Despite having the smallest handicap (9.75) in the field, they returned the lowest gross score (81) by 14 shots and with a nett 71.25, easily won the event by 6¾ strokes. Both have been in top form of late and won A Grade Monthly Medals in March – Christina the Thursday Medal and Kathy the Saturday Medal. Kathy also recently parred the back nine and Christina, a SWING graduate from two years ago, last weekend made her Weekend Pennant team debut for Headland.
ROUND OF THE WEEK: Mick Kinnear reckons the new set of TaylorMade clubs, bought from Adam Norlander’s Pro Shop a few weeks ago, is the chief reason for his memorable round on Thursday that put some sizeable dollars in his pocket. Mick won the competition with 43 stableford points, and along the way picked up two nearest the pins and – as a member of the Fraser Follies – pocketed more cash for leading home that group. A former pro tennis player who recently moved to Buderim from South Australia and joined Headland in October, had only played socially previously but has been well bitten by the golfing bug. And scoring a birdie on the 18th on Thursday – where the previous weekend he had an unattractive eight – was a fitting return on his investment in his new clubs. Already, in less than 20 competition rounds, Mick has reduced his handicap from 28 to 24, and now has a long-term goal to reach single figures. THREE DUCKS: Although only a small field of 41 contested the monthly Wood Duck Challenge yesterday, three players broke their handicap and walked away with $70 apiece. Playing off the black tees, Alexander Dwyer – handicap 22 – shot an impressive 88 to record a nett 66 nett, while Jacob Mimnaw (68) and Chris De Bruyn (69) were others to break their handicap and share in the spoils provided by Director of Golf James Kidd and his company EKO Financial.
PENNANTS UPDATE: Following five successive wins, the B Grade team missed a berth in the finals after being beaten 5-2 by Noosa Springs yesterday. Plans were thrown into confusion on the morning of the match when the team’s No.1 player, Dan Diachkoff, withdrew because his wife Emma went into labour and later in the day gave bith to their his first child, a boy named Archie. Winners for Headland were Brendan Duncan (3&2) and Dean Jones (4&3) while the six-week unbeaten run of Michael Thomas – like his NRL team the Dragons – came to an abrupt end with a 5&4 defeat. Although out of finals contention, the Masters team finished its season celebrating a 4-3 win over Cooroy. Ian Moore scored a crushing 8&6 win, Tony Killey won 3&1 and Warren Selvage 4&3, while Brian Kesby and captain, Peter Perrett, both squared their matches. Headland’s Juniors also finished their season on a high note with a 2-1 win over Gympie. Captain Patrick Walsh, who won five of his six matches during the competition, continued his good form with a 6&4 smashing of his opponent, while Ethan Vong registered the same score. It was a fitting finale from Patrick and Ethan who will be ineligible to play Juniors next year.
LADIES PENNANTS: Hosting the final round of the Division One Pennants, Headland finished the season in a blaze of glory with a 4½-½ win over the second-placed Bribie Island, knocking the visitors out Pennant calculations. Sharon Thomas, who almost holed out on the 18th to win her match 1up, has been the star of late with five successive victories, while Kate Wilkie maintained her stunning form by thrashing her opponent 6&5. Sandy Whittle came back fresh from a three-week break to win 3&2, the ever-reliable Josie Ryan triumphed 2&1 and Collen Berger squared her match. Headland finished fourth of the eight teams, with the Division One Pennant going to Pacific Harbour for the first time. Division Two ladies, also out of Pennant calculations going into the final round, finished the season in third place following a 2½-2½ draw with Twin Waters. Mouna Humzy (4&3) and Susie Fenton (3&1) were the victors, while Robyn Boreham squared her match. Unbeaten until two weekends ago, Headland’s Weekend Ladies Pennants team suffered its second successive loss, going down 3-2 to Gympie at Peregian Springs. Kate Wilkie maintained her winning form with a 1up victory, while Kirsten Kaergaard won 3&1. But, with four matches remaining, the weekenders are still very much in Pennant-winning calculations.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (127 players) – Ray Morrison and Russell Cooper (50 points), Barb Marrington and Dianne Kean (50), Marion and Ian Dennis (48).
Wednesday, Men, Irish team Stableford (80 players) – Greg Wareham, Bruce Haseltine, Jack Brown and Paul Stephens (92 points); Peter Gablonski, Robert Rowan, Graham Cartledge and Ivan Fortman (89).
Thursday, Ladies, American Foursomes (82 players) – Christina Claxton and Kathy Atkins (71.5 nett), Kay Campbell and Ann Dykstra (78), Helen Mulholland and Rosalie Brandt (78.25), Wendy Derrick and Christine Hall (80.125). Men, Single Stableford (63 players), Mick Kinnear (43 points), Greg Jellis (42), Graeme Warne (40), John Sims (39).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies, (20 players) – Monica Knowles (39 points), Leanne Ptak (35); Men (206 players) – A grade, Ken Anderson (41 points), Scott Walker (40), Mat Walkenhorst (39); B grade, Scott Roush (41), David W Smith (38), Tony Pattinson (38); C grade, Morgan Winton (40), John Nagel (39), Mark Priest (39).
Sunday, Wood Duck Challenge, Medley Single Stroke, (41 players) – Alexander Dwyer (66 nett), Jacob Mimnaw (68), Chris De Bruyn (69).
