From Tony Durkin
DAVE’S DOUBLE: Men’s 2018 Club Champion, David Rattray, is hot favourite to snare the championship double when he meets biscuit-maker Scott Bromfield in the 36-hole Matchplay Championship final next Saturday. Number one seed Rattray was taken to the 20th hole by veteran Brian Kesby in Saturday’s quarter-final then backed up to beat A Grade Pennant captain Sean McGill 4&3 in the semi-final. But No.7 seed Bromfield is in good touch, beating two former club champions, Adam Richards (2&1) and Adam Rydwanski (4&3), en-route to final. The B Grade final will be played between in-form Justin Walsh and surprise packet Joel Cooney – who eliminated B Grade champion Matt Hetherington – while C Grade champion Graham Cartledge will play recently-retired schoolteacher Tony Kelleher for the title.
IRISH AUTHORITY: Four players with a combined handicap of 111 teamed superbly to win Saturday’s Medley Irish Team Stableford with an equally dazzling score of 102 points, four better than the runners-up. Led by 28-year Headland member Paul Andrews with a career best 45 points, the team consisted of Gary Jamieson (34 points), David Howe (38) and Kevin Woodcroft (38). An example of how well the team combined was that although Gary scored just 11 points on the back nine, he contributed with a four-point birdie on the 11th hole. But Paul Andrews was undoubtedly the star of the day. A 50-year golfer who once played off a career-low 16 handicap in Sydney many years ago, he used his current handicap of 34 to full advantage with a superb 25 points on the front nine, and signed for nine three-pointers and a four-pointer in his round. NOTE: In an Irish Team Stableford the two best scores on each hole count towards the final score.
IN THE MONEY: They may have beaten a small field of only 59 players, but Sunday’s Wood Duck Challenge was certainly an event worth winning for visitor Brian Cunningham and Headland member Neil Oxley. They were the only players to beat their handicap – both with nett 71 – and as such shared in the increased sponsorship spoils and won $233 each. Two businesses owned by Headland members – Eko Financial (James Kidd) and In-line Industries Group (Chris Klazema) – chipped in double the usual prizemoney for this month’s event and will do the same again later in the year. For the monthly Wood Duck Challenge the course is long and pin positions difficult, hence the absence of low scores and the generous rewards for those who beat their handicap.
KEVIN’S QUADRELLA: Just on a month ago Kevin George had a round at Headland he is unlikely to forget when he won the nearest the pin shots on three holes – 8th, 14th and 18th – in the Thursday competition, and finished runner-up in the Single Stableford event with 36 points. His only NTP miss that day was on the par three fifth. But on Tuesday, playing in the Medley Irish Team Stableford, the Mooloolaba plumber righted that wrong by coolly acing the fifth when his six-iron landed on the green, bounced once and jumped in the hole. He had earlier birdied the par-four fourth, harvesting nine points for his team in two successive holes. His 38 points helped teammates Josh Poole, Steve Woolcott and Steve Walters win the event with 94 points.
MEDAL VALIDITY: When Mary Dowling won the 2016 Headland Medal of Medals, she proudly accepted the accolades, as well as the medal and the monogrammed club polo that was part of her prize. But feeling somewhat self-conscious about advertising her win by wearing the emblazoned shirt, Mary preferred to leave it hanging in her wardrobe – until this week. Winning the B Grade Medal for June – with 74 nett – finally gave her the courage, and the conviction, to don the prized shirt when she teamed with regular partners Penny Cooper, Veronica Bassingthwaighte and Jan Miles in Tuesday’s Medley Irish Team Stableford, where they finished mid-field. Mary’s second Monthly Medal since joining Headland a decade ago follows her other recent win, partnered by grandson Sam Howse, in the mixed event on the opening day of the Dragon Country Sand Green Championships at St George Golf Club, where she and husband Russell spent 42 years of their married life before moving to Buderim in retirement 12 years ago.
PROACTIVE TEX: Headland Director of Golf, James Kidd, has urged event sponsors to promote their business on the day and has used Lemon and Thyme owner Tex Teixeira as a prime example. Tex and his wife Kellie run Lemon and Thyme Restaurant and their Mooloolaba eatery sponsored Wednesday’s Single Par event. But rather than simply hand over the sponsorship money to the club, Tex made his restaurant a proactive partner by presenting $80 dinner vouchers to the winner of each division, a $25 breakfast voucher for the long drive winners and each of the 169 players in the field received a two-for-one coffee voucher. As well, Tex set up a barbecue on the 18th tee and players were able to sample some of the fare offered at Lemon and Thyme. Tex is so gratified by the positive feedback and response received from his five years as a regular Headland sponsor that he intends supporting two events a year in the future. And while the club is grateful for all sponsorship, James Kidd encourages businesses to become more hands-on in promoting their wares and said he would be delighted if sponsors were keen to think outside the square.
KELLY GANG: Ross and Bev Kelly claim their golf of late has been below average and have escalating handicaps as proof, but that hasn’t stopped the husband-and-wife team from winning back-to-back events during the past week. Bev won Tuesday’s Single Stableford in the Vets with 35 points and Ross saluted the judge the following day with a plus two score in the Single Par competition, and won A Grade. In fact, Bev’s win was her second in successive weeks in the Vets, and complements her Monthly Medal victory in February. So much for her poor form. On the other hand Ross, who once played off six, has been hitting it so poorly in recent months that he actually raised his bat (scored 100) during the recent club championships, but he hopes Wednesday’s round is the start of an upward curve. The golfing-mad couple plays at least twice a week at Headland and up to four times a week on their regular trips to play in Vets’ tournaments.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (30 players) – Bev Kelly (35 points), Lesley Johnston (35); Men (50 players) – David Omahoney (38), Graham Pitt (36). Medley Irish Team Stableford (82 players) – Josh Poole, Stephen Woolcott, Kevin George, Steve Walters (94 points), John Vesser, Carmel Vesser, Peter Colton and Coline Colton (89), Tony Coutts, Malcolm Woods, Wayne Bridgeman and Tony McDonough (88).
Wednesday, Men, Single Par (169 players) – A Grade, Ross Kelly (plus 2), Peter Dickens (+1), Andrew Ebb (+1); B Grade, John Atkins (+4), Simon Lowing (+4), Richard Ryan (+3); C Grade, Neville Schulz (+4), Gerard Brown (+4), John Miller (+3).
Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford (100 players)- A Grade, Mandy Oster (36 points), Gwen Nancarrow (36), Wil Sprake (35); B Grade, Veronica Bassingthwaighte (39), Carmel Visser (35), Mary Dowling (35); C Grade, Deborah Thomas (36), Helen Martin (36), Kathy Walker (36). Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (80 players) – George Eastgate and Phil Kornmann (46 points), Michael Donnelly and Mick Kinnear (45), John Alsbury and Barry Mapes (44).
Saturday, Medley Irish Team Stableford (216 players) – Gary Jamieson, Paul Andrews, David Howe and Kevin Woodcroft (102 points), Darren Walters, Shannon Walters, John Harris, Darren McLeod (98), Russell Harris, Odette Day, Ken Wedmaier, Tony Pattinson (94). Men’s Matchplay Championship – A Grade, quarter final, Dave Rattray beat Brian Kesby (20th hole), Sean McGill beat David Diachkoff (3&1), Scott Bromfield beat Adam Richards (2&1), Adam Rydwanski beat Bailey Murchie (3&2); semi-final, Dave Rattray beat Sean McGill (4&3), Scott Bromfield beat Adam Rydwanski (4&3). B Grade – quarter final, Matt Hetherington beat Brendan Duncan (4&2), Joel Cooney beat Matt Macauley (7&5), Justin Walsh beat Chris Risby (walkover), Brad Downs beat Luke Mitchell (walkover); semi-final, Joel Cooney beat Matt Hetherington (3&2), Justin Walsh beat Brad Downs (4&3). C Grade – quarter final, Graham Cartledge beat David Cekulis (4&3), Druce Fielding beat Mike Radmall (walkover), Harvey Nicholl beat Tony Vickers (2&1), Tony Kelleher beat Mike McQuarrie (6&5); semi-final, Graham Cartledge beat Druce Fielding (2&1), Tony Kelleher beat Harvey Nicholl (5&4).
Sunday, Wood Duck Challenge Single Stroke (59 players) – Brian Cunningham (71 nett), Neil Oxley (71).
