From Tony Durkin
AMBROSE AMBUSH: Josh Vearing (handicap 15) and Bruce Heseltine (31) had never clapped eyes on each other before Saturday’s two-man Ambrose event, but the accidental pairing proved to be the best in the capacity winter field of 256 players. With a combined handicap of 46 – 11.5 for the event – Josh and Bruce finished at two-over par to return a nett 62.5 and win by a quarter of a shot from Richard Eppelstun and Mark Gersbach, collecting $80 each for their morning’s work. Bruce is a new member who commutes from Brisbane and Josh was paired with him when looking for a spot in the field late on Friday. Before teeing off Bruce confided in Josh that he was a poor putter, averaging around 44 putts a game in recent rounds, but Josh said they both putted and scrambled well to have just three bogeys plus a birdie in their excellent Ambrose round. On a day of very hot scoring, 92 of the 128 pairs shot less than nett par and the newly-introduced event, which proved extremely popular with members, is likely to become a regular on the Headland calendar.
MEN’S CHAMPS: Following his recent heroics on the final hole at Cooroy to clinch the A Grade Sunshine Coast Zone Pennant for Headland, defending champion Dave Rattray will start favourite to win his fifth club championship in 11 years when the event kicks off next Saturday (May 19). A star-studded field including all members of the victorious Pennant team will contest the championship in what is expected to be one of the closest in recent years. Rattray, who won six of his eight Pennant matches in 2018, has played scant other golf recently because of his Saturday work as a Traffic Controller but says he is confident of again challenging for the title which he has previously won in 2009, 2011 and 2012, as well as last year. He expects other recent champions Adam Richards, Ryley Martin and Adam Rydwanski to provide the toughest opposition, along with the big hitting Mat Walkenhorst. Other defending champions are Sean Hanna (B Grade), Arthur Soanes (C grade), Barry Newton (Senior) and James Daniel (Junior). The championships will be played this coming Saturday and Sunday, and will conclude the following weekend.
PERFECT COMBO: One has been a Headland member for 27 years, the other a member for only 27 months; one is a retired builder, the other an Emeritus Professor; and the two have developed a close friendship since becoming recent regular Wednesday playing partners. Now, finally, after a long run of outs where they could not even beat their high-handicapped in-group opposition, Mal Bradshaw and Paul Burnett combined brilliantly in Wednesday’s fourball best ball stableford to tally 46 points and win the event on a countback. Not only was this their first fourball victory as a team, but Paul’s breakthrough win since he joined Headland just on two years ago after taking a sabbatical from golf for almost a decade. The duo scored a respectable 21 points on the front nine but rattled home with 25 on the back, which included two birdies, two bogeys and five pars. Neither had a wipe during the round and both tallied 41 individual points in what they declared to be their best rounds ‘in an age’.
HEATHER HUMS: Scoring well on one nine and poorly on the other is the frustration of most club golfers, and Heather Lum is no exception to that foible. But Heather gave the jinx a short shrift on Thursday when her 20 points on the front nine at Headland was followed by 19 on the back, with the resultant 39 points giving her a four-point buffer from the rest of the big field of 102, and a win in A Grade. Heather, whose husband Merv first coached her when they were both members of Beerwah more than 20 years ago, said the conquering of both nines on the one morning was the most pleasing aspect of her consistent round of 89, which featured four-point birdies on holes eight and 14. She had recently blitzed the front nine with 22 points, but then came home with a miserable eight to exemplify her inconsistency.
CAIRNS COLLEAGUES: An AFL junior carnival in North Queensland is a rather unusual meeting place for Headland members, but that is where club pro Adam Norlander -Queensland PGA Club Professional of the Year – and former Wallaby halfback Brett Johnstone happened to bump into each other during the past week. Adam’s son Mitch was representing Brisbane Met East in the under 15 state carnival in Cairns while Willem Johnstone, son of Brett, was a member of the Brisbane Met North team. The boys clashed in the play-off for third and fourth, with Willem – who attends Nudgee College in Brisbane – prevailing over Mitch (Brisbane State High) 43/29.
LET’S MIX IT: Headland’s 63rd birthday is approaching and a Mixed Fourball Best Ball Stableford will be held on Saturday, June 2, to celebrate – with morning and afternoon shotgun starts at 7am and 12.15pm. The event will be primarily for mixed pairs, although an overflow competition will be held in conjunction. And to encourage mixed pairs, pre-nomination is already available by going to the News and Events link on the Headland website, then following the prompts. However, overflow bookings will not be available until Saturday week, May 26. The $20 fee includes lunch. This is a significant birthday for Headland – 63 is very close to the average age of the club membership. Generous sponsor is Sean Hanna from Image Business Furniture.
WHOOPS: For those wondering, no it was NOT Headland Course Superintendent Ben Tilley who had dinner with billionaire businessman James Packer and select friends at Mr Packer’s beachfront villa in Mexico over the weekend. A story appeared in yesterday’s press that after five weeks in rehab in Boston, Mr Packer had celebrated at a long dinner with a group of friends, who included high school mate Ben Tilley. However, our Ben Tilley says that although he has spent some enjoyable time in Mr Packer’s gambling establishments in the past, he would not consider himself a close friend of the entertainment and media mogul.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (10 players) – Lorell Palmer (37 points), Heather Lum (31), Bev Kelly (27); Men (67 players) – A Grade, William Hegarty (39), Huki Matenga (38), Bruce Horton (36); B Grade, John Ross (37), Dick Gibberd (36), Steve Wikman (37).
Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford – abandoned because of rain.
Wednesday, Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (175 players) – Mal Bradshaw and Paul Burnett (46 points), Nathan Osborn and Cody Laskey (46), Morgan Winston and Drew Walker (45), Stuart Enever and Warren Gee (45).
Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford (102 players) – A grade, Heather Lum 39 points), Christina Claxton (35), Robyn Homans (35); B grade, Tove Larsen (35), Norma Hobson (34), Jodie McDonell (34); C grade, Trudi Russell (33), Cathy Haimes (33), Shirley Eggleton (32). Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (86 players) – Geoff Opray and John Barr (45 points), Barry Suddens and Mark Glassop (45), Mike Donnelly and Gordon Clark (44).
Saturday, Medley Two Ball Ambrose (256 players) – Josh Vearing and Bruce Heseltine ((62.5), Richard Eppelstun and Mark Gersbach (62.75), Patrick Walsh and Coralie Walsh (63.25), Andrew Nairne and Jeff Jones (63.25), Scott Bromfield and Michael Morris (63.75).
