From Tony Durkin
EPIC SWITCH: A last-minute switch of partners on Saturday paid off handsomely for Paul Henricks, who played the final five holes in the Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford two under the card, and won the event. Originally paired on the timesheet with his brother Mark, Paul was ‘relegated’ to partner good friend and ex-cricket teammate, Bryan Haggarty. Mark and fellow teacher Dan Hurst decided to team together because both had recently purchased new Callaway Epic drivers from the Headland Pro Shop, and considered themselves an ‘Epic’ partnership. But there was to be yet another twist – late on Friday Bryan Haggarty decided to ditch golf and attend a property auction, opening the door for new member Peter O’Brien, who was on the wait list. And Peter played his part in the winning score of 47 points – on a countback – adding three three-pointers and five twos to the impressive card. Paul’s major contribution was six three-point holes and a four-point result for the birdie on 15. Incidentally, the ‘Epic’ brothers scored 41 points, and finished 58th.
DROUGHT BROKEN: Peter Andrews broke a five-year drought when he won Wednesday’s Single Par event with the outstanding score of plus six – but it could have been much better. A Headland member since 2000 and co-founder of the Old Goats (Order of Late Developing Golfers Optimistically Approaching Terminal Senility), Peter concedes he has struggled with his game of late – a game he enjoys so much he religiously plays twice a week. But a simple tip a few weeks ago from his good mate and regular playing partner, Ross Roberts, has worked wonders and Wednesday’s win in C Grade is hopefully the start of a golfing resurgence. While plus six was an exceptional score in the still-heavy conditions, three wipes on successive holes – 15, 16 and 17 – spoiled the round somewhat. At that stage Peter had not had a negative on his card, and was standing at plus eight. Another plus on 18 – his ninth of the round – steadied the ship and gave him a two-shot victory. NOTE: Peter backed up Wednesday’s effort with five three-pointers and two four-point holes in Saturday’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford event in which he and partner John Miller finished eighth with 45 points.
EAGLE BONANZA: Dave Mayes is the No.1 national salesperson for U Blinds Australia, and now he can certainly add another remarkable achievement to his CV. The former Pom – he emigrated in 2004 – scored an eagle on the sixth hole during Saturday’s Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford event to take his tally in his 13 years as a Headland member to eight. He had previously scored eagles on the first, eighth, ninth and sixteenth holes, while he has eagled the par-five thirteenth three times. In those 13 years as a Headland member, Dave’s handicap has fluctuated between six and 14 and on Saturday he played off nine. And while Saturday’s eagle came from what he described as a perfect drive and a textbook gap wedge from 64 metres, he doesn’t rate it his best eagle. That came a few years ago on the sixteenth when he holed an eight-iron from the middle of the 17th fairway.
OPEN RESCHEDULED: Entries are now being taken for the Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship, cancelled from the Easter weekend because of near-constant rain. Almost 200 millimetres was dumped on the Headland golf course in 10 days prior to the event in April and the capacity field for the two-day, 36-hole event, was advised on the first morning that the championship would not go ahead. But following consultation with event sponsor, Justin Walsh of Walsh Consulting Engineers, the new date set is the weekend of September 21 and 22. The cost is $75, which includes a breakfast or lunch roll each day, and entries should be lodged at https://www.jotform.com/HeadlandGolfClub/2019menssunshinecoastopenamateur
SEVEN DUCKS: Headland’s popular Medley Wood Duck Challenge, contested once a month, had seven winners in Sunday’s July event. Played from the Championship tees, any player who betters their handicap wins part of the prizemoney pool generously donated by EKO Financial (James Kidd) and MOD Bathrooms (Chris Klazema). And the seven winners, headed by Michael Thomas with 68 nett, each took $47 from Sunday’s pool. Others to break their handicap were Dean Smareglia (69), Roger Bryce (69), Brett Johnstone (71), Mike McQuarrie (71), Brian Kesby (71) and Matt Prince (71). Michael Thomas, whose handicap in recent months has snuck out to 12, was pleased with the consistency of his round. He scored 80 gross, 40 shots on each nine with nine pars and nine bogeys.
SPOTS OPEN: Headland’s 2019 Regis Aged Care Senior Eclectic has had an excellent response with just a limited number of spots available for the annual event, which will be staged on Monday and Tuesday, August 5 and 6. The tournament, sponsored by Regis Aged Care of Sippy Downs, is open to ladies and men to play a Single Stableford and entries close next Wednesday, July 31. Cost is $50 for Headland Golf Club members and $65 for visitors and guests, which includes competition fees, lunch from the Halfway House on both days and nibbles at Tuesday’s presentation. Click on https://www.jotform.com/HeadlandGolfClub/2019senioreclectictournament to enter.
STAN’S BACK: Bravery and golf are words not often used in collaboration, but they complement the recent effort of one of Headland’s great characters, Stan Meers. Stan, who celebrated his 95th birthday on Saturday, played his first competition round in 18 months in Wednesday’s Single Par event and despite finishing at the tail of the field with minus 16, was justifiably proud of his effort. The recently-retired Aircraft Instrument Technician underwent hip replacement surgery in December – surgery that was not recommended because of Stan’s age. However, the surgeon pressed ahead when Stan protested, informing him that if the Duke of Edinburgh recently endured the same surgery, so could he. In his comeback round Stan, playing off 36, squared the par-three fifth and thirteenth holes.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (116 players) – Matthew Brady and Dean Smareglia (49 points), Sergio Nogarotto and John Sims (47), Malcolm Woods and Steve Walters (47).
Wednesday, Medley Single Par (112 players) – A Grade, Chris Eccles (plus 3), Brian Kesby (+2), David Richards (+2); B Grade, Terry Lawlor (+4), Wayne Phair (+3), Burgess Stephenson (+2); C Grade, Peter Andrews (+6), Clive Glover (+4), Syd Shilling (+3).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Ladies (110 players) – A Grade, Kristin Griffiths (36 points), Robyn Muir (35), Sandy Whittle (35): B Grade, Gay David (38), Judy Farmer (36), Doreen Davidson (35); C Grade, Pam Vincent (41), Kay Campbell (38), Trudi Russell (36). Men (86 players) – Tony Kelleher (40 points), Rob Hayward (39), Lance Lancaster (38).
Saturday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (234 players) – Paul Henricks and Peter O’Brien (47 points), Ross Carvell and John Ross (47), Geoff Bland and Glenn Kelly (46), Dean Smareglia and Matthew Brady (45), Scott West and Gordon Peak (45).
Sunday, Medley Wood Duck Single Stroke (61 players) – Michael Thomas (68), Dean Smareglia (69), Roger Bryce (69), Brett Johnstone (71), Mike McQuarrie (71), Brian Kesby (71), Matt Prince (71).
