From Tony Durkin
PRO AM STARS: A mixture of big names, up and commers and locals have entered Headland’s Pro Am, to be held a fortnight from Wednesday, on July 10. Sponsored by club members Jamie Holbrook (Property Today) and James Brownsworth (Innovative Planning Solutions), the Pro Am has attracted PGA Tour winner Andre Stolz as well as multiple European Tour winner Michael Sim, who won the 2017 Queensland Open. Young guns nominated include Anthony Quayle, Deyen Lawson, Aaron Pike, Adam Blyth and Tim Hart, while Brett Rankin intends to be back to defend his title. Joining that impressive list will be Sunshine Coast locals Marcus Cain, a former Australian PGA winner, as well as Jacob Boyce, Charlie Dann, Shae Wools-Cobb and Atomu Watanabe. And former Headland trainees, Ben Wedmaier and Shane Miley, will be taking time out of their schedules to support the event. Although the afternoon field has been filled, spots are still available for the morning round, with entries closing on Wednesday at https://form.jotform.co/HeadlandGolfClub/2019pro-am and will close on Wednesday, June 26. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, and those interested should contact Head Professional, Adam Norlander on 5444 5800 or email anorlander@pgamember.org.au.
PUTTING FOR DOUGH: Most golfers are well aware of the idiom ‘drive for show, putt for dough’, and that was precisely the formula for the victory by Chris Eccles in Wednesday’s Single Stableford event. Wielding a new Scotty Cameron putter, the recent first-time dad scored a competition-high 43 points from his 13 handicap to win A Grade – just his second individual triumph at Headland since joining the club six years ago. But the $70 for the win wasn’t the only cash input on the day for the accountant – he also pocketed $53 for snaring the Pro Pin on the 12th. Chris was ecstatic with his new putter which worked brilliantly for a mere 22 strokes on a card that included 12 pars, a birdie, three bogeys, a double bogey and one wipe.
ZONE WINS: Headland members Sandy Whittle and Vicki Maynard have scored victories in the 2019 Ladies North Coast Zone Championships, held at Caloundra on Monday. The championships, rescheduled from earlier in the year when they were cancelled because of wet weather, were played over 27 holes in two divisions – Silver and Bronze. Sandy (145) won the Bronze gross by two shots from Caloundra’s Karen Stansfield, while Vicki (115) saluted in the Bronze nett, again by two strokes, from Lou Blain, also of Caloundra. And Headland’s Josie Ryan was runner-up in the North Coast Zone Championship by virtue of her second placing in the Silver Division, beaten by eight shots by 21-year-old Jess Cook from the host club. Players from 22 clubs in the zone, which stretches from Bribie Island to Gympie and west to Woodford, contested the prestigious championship, which has been won three times by Sunshine Coast product Katherine Hull. NOTE: Sandy’s super form continued in Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford with 36 points, plus three successive nearest the pins for ladies on the eighth, 14th and 18th holes.
ONE-EYED ADAM: Adam Richards has warmed up for Saturday’s A Grade Match Play Championship final with six birdies in Saturday’s Fourball Aggregate Stableford – and he did it with one eye. While teeing off the sixth hole, which he wiped, a foreign object flew into his right eye and for the remainder of the round he virtually played with one eye closed. And while the inconvenience obviously restricted his sight, Adam said there was an advantage – he had to trust his swing. Playing off his one handicap, he birdied three holes on each nine for 38 points and takes good form into Saturday’s final, to be played over 36 holes against Club Champion Jake Crowther. Matt Macaulay and Gavin Terry will play the B Grade final, while Druce Fielding takes on Michael Goodluck for the C Grade crown.
BENTWOOD CUP: On home soil, Headland ladies have convincingly won the Bentwood Cup in their annual challenge against Redcliffe Golf Club. Ladies from both clubs play a Single Stableford event, with the leading 12 individual scores from each club aggregated to decide the victor. Headland’s best 12 players scored 407 points, Redcliffe 335. Highest stableford score on the day came from Helen Venter, with a superb 40 points. Playing off a 21 handicap in Thursday’s event, 17-year member Helen – in her best round for ‘a very, very long time’ – had four pars, 11 bogeys and three double bogeys but, proudly, no wipes. She blitzed the field by five points and although she had no actual motive for her improved form, Helen reasoned that a new set of golf clubs had finally started to work for her.
WHOOPS 1: Three weeks ago HH exposed a massive drive by David Mayes – a tee shot on the 16th that measured a majestic 315 metres. The journey of the ball was, however, strongly assisted by a visit to the cart path. But, as all club golfers appreciate, diamonds can often turn to rocks, and Dave – handicap nine – experienced the reverse in Saturday’s Fourball Aggregate Stableford round. Teeing off the tenth, his first hole of the day, the No.1 national salesperson for U Blinds Australia had a garden-variety duff, moving his tee shot just a few centimetres, much to the chagrin of partner, Greg Doolan, who had struck his drive down the middle. But it was Dave who had the last laugh. Despite his almost air swing on the tee, he finished with bogey for two points while Greg, via a visit to the bunker, wiped the hole.
WHOOPS 2: So poorly had former Army General John Kingston been hitting the ball until Saturday, that he had won nothing in the 2019 calendar year – not even a $4 prize in the rundown. But his form turned around dramatically on Saturday when he scored 40 individual points in the Fourball Aggregate Stableford event, with 10 three-point holes on his card – and he was finally among the prize winners. Ironically, John, who is 77 and recently served six years as Headland Vice-President, walked away with $4 in the rundown while his partner, Dave Mansley, who contributed only 28 of their 68-point total, banked $65. Dave won the Pro Pin on the sixth hole which paid $61 but, feeling a pang of guilt, the insurance broker has generously donated the Pro Shop voucher to John.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (57 players) – Anna George (34 points), Lesley O’Leary (33), Althea McLean (32); Men (69 players) – Peter O’Brien (42 points), Tim Res (39), Tony George (38).
Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (207 players) – A Grade, Chris Eccles (43 points), Tony Pattinson (42), Peter Brown (41); B Grade, Warren Gee (39), Gus Walker (38), Jeff Jones (38); C Grade, Peter Corney (41), Dave Whalley (39), Trevor Beall (37).
Thursday, Ladies, Bentwood Cup, Single Stableford (115 players) – A Grade, Helen Venter (40 points), Bev Kelly (35), Monica Knowles (35); B Grade, Vicki Maynard (35), Kerrie Tibbits (35), Christine Look (32); C Grade, Chrissy Eggins (34), Trish Murphy (32), Sue Haddenham (32). Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (82 players) – Rick Popic and Dennis Schloss (48 points), Graham Molineux and Gary Haddenham (47), Alexander Jamieson and Josh Poole (46).
Saturday, Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford (247 players) – Daniel Hurst and Earl Hicks (73 points), Glen Kelly and Matt Macaulay (72), Scott Bromfield and Mick Morris (71), Garry Marr and Gus Walker (71), Adam Richards and Wayne Hutchison (71).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (57 players) – James Daniel (40 points), Kevin McDougal (39), Ossi Laurikainen (39).
