From Tony Durkin
POPE BLESSED: Englishman Wayne Pope feels blessed to be regularly playing a golf course as challenging and in such great condition as Headland, but concedes he has been struggling for decent scores during the two years he has been a member. Until his 36 points last Saturday week Wayne had never played to his handicap and thought the disconnection was continuing when he dunked his third shot in the dam on the 10th hole – his first – during Saturday’s Monthly Mug round and took a double bogey seven. But despite two more doubles, including another seven on the seventh, he had by far his best-ever round to break his 21 handicap by six shots and street the field to win the C Grade Monthly Mug. His 87 – 44/43 – was also the best gross score in his grade and the mortgage broker was delighted to walk away with the Monthly Mug, a winner’s shirt and $25 in his club account. Wayne says the secret to his winning round – which included six pars – was slowing down his swing and not trying to play miraculous shots when in trouble.
MR CONSISTENT: George Rodman is a fanatical Manly NRL supporter, but his golf last Tuesday was much more impressive than the recent form of his struggling Sea Eagles. George had his best round in years to score 42 points and win the Single Stableford event. But it was his consistency that impressed – 44 shots on both nines for 21 points on both nines. For George the return to form was most welcome as his handicap had blown out by five shots in recent months after regular scores in the late 20s and early 30s. He now hopes Daly Cherry Evans and the Sea Eagles can soon replicate his return to the winner’s list.
PENNANT WIN: Headland’s Michael Thomas has won the Sunshine Coast Golf Zone B Grade Pennant Player of the Year award. Michael was a member of the Headland team that finished the preliminary rounds atop the points ladder but was bundled out in the semi-finals by Noosa Springs. That 6&4 finals defeat was his only loss of the season after winning six consecutive matches – the smallest margin 1up and the biggest 4&3. And his Player of the Year gong isn’t the first for the Thomas family – son Chris won the same award back in 2014.
SHINING SHARON: Not to be outshone by her husband – for whom she caddied during the Pennant season – on Thursday Sharon Thomas won her third Monthly Medal for the year. Her 74 nett – 83 gross – had to survive countbacks from Helen Fraser and Carol Dwyer to win the A Grade Medal. It sits beside her victories in February and April, but there is no truth to the rumour the ladies will play for the Sharon Thomas Medal in June.
SECOND BEST: Headland’s impressive form in district golf continued on Tuesday when the Ladies’ team of Gail Young (36 points), Maureen Cartledge (28), Leeanne Ptak (32) and Ladies Director of Golf, Vicki Maynard (31), combined to score 127 points in the Team Stableford event, and finished second in the annual Caloundra Challenge Bowl. Sixty lady golfers from Mt Coolum, Pelican Waters, Maroochy River, Beerwah, Peregian Springs, Cooroy, Noosa Springs, Caloundra and Headland contested the event with a team from the home club winning with a score of 130 points. Headland entered two teams but unfortunately Julie Halliday fell ill on Tuesday morning and was unable to play, which meant Headland’s other team of Sharon Thomas, Helen Fraser and Sandy Whittle were a player short. Teams members did not play together in the same four, which added interest to the final countdown.
JUNIOR POWER: Juniors Patrick Walsh and Keita Griffin-Klazema have given Headland members a glimpse into the future by finishing first and third in Sunday’s Medley Monthly Medal. Patrick won with a nett 68 while Keita was third (nett 71), beaten on a countback by – ironically – Patrick’s dad Justin. It was a fruitful day for Year 12 Siena Catholic College student Patrick, who also won the Junior Monthly Medal. Best gross on Sunday came from A Grade Pennant hero Dave Rattray, with a three-over par 75.
ROUND OF THE WEEK: Tony Pattinson took up golf four years ago because he felt exasperated every Wednesday when work colleague, Barry Newton, disappeared to play at Headland. But Barry, who gave Tony the ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’ invitation, says he has created a monster – a monster who last Wednesday shot one of the most incredible individual scores at Headland in recent years. Playing off 16, Tony ripped Headland apart with 77 off the stick for a nett 61, winning the B Grade Monthly Medal by a whopping six strokes. He started on the back nine with four consecutive pars then had four bogeys interspersed by a birdie on the 16th. But it was on the front nine where his golf game totally shone, with eight successive pars and – had it not been for an adrenalin-charged second shot that bounded over the back of nine and resulted in his only double-bogey of the day – a nett 59 was on the cards. Described by his mates as a golf fanatic, Tony says practise is the secret to his great round. He has a Trackman-style monitor and net in his garage, and hits golf balls at least every second day.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (51 players) – Ruth Broderick (39 points), Maria Hireme (37), Donna Rose (37), Linda Hunter (36); Men (75 players) – George Rodman (42), Kevin McLean (40), Rodney Hamilton (39), Richard Thurgood (39).
Wednesday, Men, Monthly Medal (175 players) – A Grade, Wayne Cassidy (64 nett), David Richards (70), Peter Gablonski (70); B Grade, Tony Pattinson (61), Lex lane (68), Bruce Reid (71); C Grade, Dave Kelso (69), Stuart Miles (71), Lindsay Parchett (72).
Thursday, Ladies, Monthly Medal (87 players) – A grade, Sharon Thomas (74 nett), Helen Fraser (74), Carol Dwyer (74); B grade, Kath Kingston (72), Catherine Petersen (74), Mary Dowling (74); C grade, Jane Boaler (73), Vicki Houlahan (75), Barb Marrington (76). Men, Single Stableford (87 players) – Neil Oxley (42 points), Dennis Schloss (40), Ian Busch (39).
Saturday, Men, Monthly Mug (211 players) – A grade, Glenn Kelly (68 nett), Ian Moore (68), Nick Randall (70), Brian Callahan (70); B grade, Ivan Fortmann (66), Greg Stray (67), Harvey Nicoll (70), Bruce Reid (71); C grade, Wayne Pope (66), Morgan Winston (70), John Logan (71), David Parker (71); Gross – A grade, Glenn Kelly (73); B grade, Ivan Fortmann (85); C grade Wayne Pope (87). Ladies, Monthly Medal (38 players) – Rosalie Brandt (75 nett), Dominique Paice (75), Kate Wilkie (75), Josie Ryan (77); Gross – Dominique Paice (82).
Sunday, Medley Monthly Medal (43 players) – Patrick Walsh (68 nett), Justin Walsh (71), Keita Griffin-Klazema (71); Gross, Dave Rattray (75); Junior Medal, Patrick Walsh (68).
