From Tony Durkin
GOLD MUG: Despite finishing the back nine with a birdie and two pars, Dennis Mikolic walked off the course on Saturday morning resigned to the fact his 72 nett in the Single Stroke event was not good enough to win him the prized Gold Mug. But his score stood for the entire day and he beat the 28 other qualifiers – including Mal Bradshaw on a countback – to secure the 2019 best-of-the-best trophy for the first time in his three years as a Headland member. Dennis has become somewhat of a Mug/Medal specialist – he has won two Monthly Mugs and two Mid-Week Medals in the past two years, much to the chagrin of his wife Kim. A member at Caloundra, Kim won the C Grade Monthly Medal in her very first competition round at Caloundra two years ago and chided Dennis who, at that stage, had a barren Mug/Medal record. Now, says the Air Force Engineer, the ribbing has been reversed.
MATT’S BACK: Former Headland Assistant Professional, Matt Fisher, has been appointed Headland’s Junior Golf Co-ordinator and Junior Pennant Team Manager. Matt, a teacher at Brightwater State School, is an ex-PGA professional having served his apprenticeship at Strathfield in Sydney and then spending three years (2001 to 2003) as Headland’s Assistant Pro. Matt replaces long-serving Junior Golf Co-ordinator David Smith, who will remain on the committee. One of the driving forces behind Matt’s decision to accept the honorary role was the progress through the junior system at the club by his 13-year-old son Jack, who he says is enjoying his golf immensely. “When I see how much Jack loves the game, and is so eager to play, learn and become better, I hope my involvement can help other youngsters in our system to be equally as enthusiastic,” he said.
TRAINER TIM: Personal Trainer Tim Diedricks has never been happier to take $75 – plus a free game of golf and post-golf snacks – from good mate Bryan Haggarty. Along with Roger Van Ginkel and Jeff Lovell, Tim returned an excellent 67 nett to win A Grade in Saturday’s Single Stroke event, which was sponsored by Bryan’s company R2G Communications. Playing with former Maroochydore cricket teammates Bryan, Troy Martin and brothers Mark and Paul Henricks in the sponsor groups, Tim shot 79, his best round since a par 72 three years ago. His golfing has been sporadic during the past 18 months since he started his PT business, Coast Fitness, which is based at Jetts in Maroochydore and where one of his star pupils is popular Headland staffer, Jenene Nicholson. Roger Van Ginkel beat Jeff Lovell on a countback to win C Grade while Gary Rugless (69) had to survive two countbacks to snare the B Grade prize.
HAPPY HOBSON: She may not have won the comp, but Norma Hobson certainly won the plaudits after her brilliant scoring round in the Ladies Fourball Aggregate Stableford event on Thursday. Playing alongside Maureen Cartledge, the duo finished fourth in the field of 49 pairs with 72 points – with Norma scoring a phenomenal 45 to register her best score in more than two decades as a Headland member. Her superb round featured three four-point holes, five three-pointers – and a wipe on the 12th. Buoyed by her score, Norma – who from her teaching role at Coolum Beach State School retired five years ago – intends to continue playing twice a week and is keen to cut her current handicap of 23 back under 20, where it once was. Thursday’s event was won by the pairing of Lesley Johnston and Wil Sprake, who scored 76 points.
ACCIDENTAL PAIR: Not only had Matt Prince (handicap 6) and Richard Senior (14) never played golf together before last Wednesday’s Two-Ball Medley Ambrose event, but they had never met. And, had Richard’s intended partner not been a late scratching and handing Matt a last-minute start, their brilliant score of 57.5 nett would not have won the rarely-staged event. The pair combined brilliantly, scoring nine birdies and nine pars in their round and missing just two greens in regulation in the windy afternoon conditions. And for Matt, a regular Headland Pennant player in recent years, it was a welcome return to form after 12 months of tinkering with his game. On Wednesday he reverted to his old swing, and suddenly his game fell into place.
JOSIE’S JOURNEY: In saluting yet another success for Headland’s 17-time Ladies Champion Josie Ryan, Head Professional Adam Norlander has described her as the ‘absolute competitor’. “Put it this way, I have seen players with far more natural ability achieve much, much less than Josie,” he praised. During the Australian Senior Women’s Championships at Newcastle’s Nelson Bay last week, Josie won the 65-70-year division, beating Victorian Heather Harley 3&2 in the final. The victory also contributed to Josie claiming the Gold Medal for the Super Senior Section of the annual Golf Australia Order of Merit for 2019, with the final being her 11th round of golf in 12 days. In saluting Josie’s competitive spirit, Adam – who has been coaching her of late – added: “Josie possesses a never-say-die attitude and simply gets the job done, irrespective of her opposition”.
WELCOME TRACKER: Headland Golf Club has a new VIP member – and he lives on the course. ‘Tracker’ the Koala arrived a few weeks ago and is currently domiciled in the gum trees between the third tee and the fourth green. A three-year-old, Tracker was found at the adjacent Mountain Creek School and Koala Rescue Queensland identified Headland as the closest area for his suitable relocation. At the moment there is no sign of a mate, but because he has been relocated just a short distance from where he was found, the chances of Tracker co-habiting are thought to have been enhanced. His rescuers named him Tracker because they believe he has travelled a fair distance to become a resident member of our club.
FOURBALL MATCH PLAY: Thirteen-year-old Jack Fisher chipped in for birdie from near the practise green on the first hole to win one quarter final of the Headland Fourball Best Ball Match Play Championship for him and his dad Matt on Sunday. The Fishers were two-up with two to play against Club Captain Tony Kelleher and defending champion Mick Kinnear, but lost 17 and 18, which took the match down the 19th hole. Also extended was the quarter final between Warren Selvage and Warren Sorby against Bill Oster and Sean Hanna, with Selvage chipping in on their 20th hole – the second – for a ‘Warren’ win. Bill had earlier aced the fifth hole for his second hole-in-one during his 11 years as a Headland member. And despite shooting a one-over 73, Barry Newton and his partner Gary Martin were beaten 2&1 by Lang Pryor and Tom Burnett, while Lynzey Valianes and Adam Griffiths won through to next weekend’s semi-final courtesy of a walkover handed them by Dan Diachkoff and Matt Macaulay.
SUPER GOLF: Members are urged to ‘save the date’ for Headland’s second Super Golf event of the year – Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8. Super Golf is a four-person Ambrose format played over 10 holes on a specially-designed ‘cross-country’ course, with three separate tee times – 7am, 10.30am and 2pm. Cost of a weekend pass is $120 per team and pre-bookings will be open only to teams of four. Members who only wish to play individually on either day can book via the Members portal when the timesheets open seven days prior, while team nominations will open next week and close on Wednesday, December 4, at 5pm.
SPRINGBOK TEX: Headland member Tex Teixeira received one of those ‘out of the blue’ phone calls last week that helped turn around a tough couple of months for the popular Mooloolaba restaurateur. Born in South Africa, Tex is a fervent Springbok Rugby fan and the call came from the best man at his wedding, an All Black supporter who now lives in Singapore. He had a spare ticket to Saturday’s final in Yokohama, plus accommodation – all Tex had to do was get there. And the quick trip was certainly worth it for Tex, who was one of the 72,000 in the capacity crowd to witness the Springboks cause a massive boilover, beating England 32-12 in the final.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Vets Single Stableford, Ladies (26) – Rhonda Biggs (39 points), Kathy Atkins (37), Marg Smith (36). Men (71 players) – A Grade, Tony Coad (40 points), Mark Fisher (39), Greg Doolan (39); B Grade, Richard Ryan (41), Bob Hunter (40), Peter Birt (39); C Grade, Robert Rowan (39), Sergio Nogarotto (39), Stuart Dykstra (38).
Tuesday, Single Par, Ladies (55 players) Ruth Broderick (plus 5), Joy Logan (+3), Marion Dennis (+2). Men (70 players) – Tim Nunan (+6), Mark Garcia (+5), Greg Jellis (+5).
Wednesday, Medley Two-ball Ambrose (198 players) – Matt Prince and Richard Senior (57.5 nett), Brian Kesby and Richard Hempsall (58.75), Mark Selig and Bob Lane (60), Jamie Hill and Jamie Holbrook (60.25), Anthony Larchin and Brad Butler (60.25).
Thursday, Ladies, Fourball Aggregate Stableford (98 players) – Lesley Johnston and Wil Sprake (76 points), Kathy Walker and Shirley Eggleton (75), Liz Dunford and Naomi Doyle (74), Norma Hobson and Maureen Cartledge (72), Sue Hadenham and Mary Young (72). Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (82 players) – Bob Hunter and Greg O’Connor (54 points), Josh Poole and Aaron Kenzler (50), Peter Moodie and Colin Cross (49).
Saturday, Ladies, Single Stableford (28 players) – Janelle Heaney (37 points), Helen Fraser (37), Trish Howe (35). Men, Single Stroke (224 players) – A Grade, Tim Diedricks (67 nett), Denis Orr (68), Glenn Kelly (69); B Grade, Gary Rugless (69), Dean Jones (69), Terry Lawler (69); C Grade, Roger Van Ginkel (67), Jeff Lovell (67), John Jackson (69). Men’s Gold Mug (29 players) – Dennis Mikolic (72 nett), Mal Bradshaw (72), Tom Burnett (73).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (45 players) – Jay Gourlay (42 points), Chris De Bruyn (40); Fourball Best Ball Match Play Championship, quarter-finals – Matt and Jack Fisher beat Tony Kelleher and Mick Kinnear (19th), Lynzey Valianes and Adam Griffiths beat Dan Diachkoff and Matt Macaulay (walkover), Warren Selvage and Warren Sorby beat Bill Oster and Sean Hanna (20th), Lang Pryor and Tom Burnett beat Barry Newton and Gary Martin (2&1).
