From Tony Durkin
FAMILY TRIUMPH: Father-and-son team Matt and Jack Fisher have become Headland’s Fourball Best Ball Matchplay Champions for 2019 after beating Warren Selvage and Warren Sorby 3&2 in the final, which was completed on Saturday. The final was originally suspended on the sixth hole by the vicious storm two weeks earlier, with the Fishers already three-up in the competition which was sponsored by Michael Thomas of Zenfind Accounting. And they continued that form to be five-up at the turn on Saturday, but the experienced Warrens hit back and walked off the 14th just two down. However, 14-year-old Jack (handicap 36), who has been playing competition golf for less than six months, parred the difficult 15th for a nett two and when the teams halved the 16th, the championship for Matt and Jack was in the bag. Warren Selvage, captain of the Headland’s Masters Pennant team, was lavish in his praise of young Jack for his play under pressure, and predicts that before too long he will be playing from a handicap in the teens.
AGE SAVVY: After playing golf for just on six decades, John Marrington reckons he has finally discovered the secret to the ancient game. ‘Don’t swing so hard, and keep it on the short grass’ were John’s words of advice following his best-ever score of 46 points in Saturday’s Single Stableford – a score three better than anyone else in the field of 209. Now 78 and playing off 24 on Saturday, John was originally a member at Headland back in the 70s and rejoined in 2015 shortly after he and his wife Barb retired to the Sunshine Coast. In the interim he played golf in Rockhampton and Carbrook in Brisbane, getting his handicap as low as 12, and on Saturday continued his good form of late following recent scores of 38 and 40 points. Missing just one fairway in 18 holes, his 25 points on the front nine included a birdie, two pars and six bogeys for a five-over 41. Sean Hanna won A Grade with 41 points while Druce Fielding scored 43 points, to win B Grade.
AWESOME FOURSOMES: Fiona Munro and Sharon Thomas have emerged as Headland Ladies’ awesome Foursomes team, winning their second event of the year by a big margin. The duo combined brilliantly (nett 71.5) to win Thursday’s Canadian Foursomes by a whopping six shots from Lesley Johnston and Wil Sprake (77.75). Back in July they paired to win an American Foursomes event by four shots, and both times started poorly and finished in a blaze of glory. Starting from the tenth hole on Thursday, they were six over the card following a four-putt double bogey on 14 and a bogey on 15, but after birdying the 16th went on an excellent run of 11 successive pars. And there was an added bonus – with last week’s competition abandoned because of the condition of the course, the prizemoney jackpotted and the winning purse was $70 each. NOTE: In a Canadian Foursomes, each player hits a drive, the pair select one and play that ball from there. In an American Foursomes they hit their drives, then hit each other’s ball, select the best and play out the hole with one ball.
MATES RATE: They worked together as detectives in the Maroochydore CIB during the late 90s, but good mates Bevan Horsnell and Chris Duhig are not under investigation following their respective wins at Headland on Wednesday. Playing in the same group and travelling in the same golf cart, they both won their respective divisions in the Medley Single Stableford event played on the modified course. Bevan scored 42 points to win A Grade while Chris won B Grade with 41 points. After a wayward start from the tenth hole, Bevan turned with 18 points but was one-under the card on the six holes he played on the front, birdying the ninth to add to his birdie on 11. Chris, playing off 17, was just as impressive with a birdie and six pars on his card. The golfing day for the pair certainly finished better than it started – Bevan’s cart suffered a puncture before they teed off.
LONG WAIT: Kerry Longworth scored a career-best round of 86 at Noosa Springs almost a decade ago and came within two shots of equalling that when she accumulated a cracking 43 points on Saturday. While not the best ladies’ score at Headland this year – Pam Vincent has had a memorable 45 points – Kerry was ecstatic with her wipe-free round which featured nine three-point holes, and paid homage to Club Professional Adam Norlander for a recent lesson in the club’s Simulator. But she did disclose that the odd slice of luck had helped, including a chip-in for par on the 13th hole following two poor shots and a sideways chip from the rough. And most pleasing is that her handicap, which had ballooned out to 22, is now back at 18, one more than her two-decade career low of 17.
DON SAILS IN: Retired boat builder Don Kitson returned his best round in seven years as a Headland member to win Thursday’s Single Stableford for men, cruising in by two points. His 85 off the bat earned him 44 points, with 25 coming on the back nine as a result of a two-over par 38. He collected 11 of those with birdie, par, birdie on the 12th, 13th and 14th holes. After moving from Hervey Bay – where he had played off 13 two decades ago – Don and his wife Cheryl lived on a catamaran (which Don had built) for five years, sailing the east coast of Australia. As a result of his great round – which he says featured some good luck as well as good golf – Don’s handicap is down to 18.4 from the 21.23 he played from on Thursday.
MISSING SENIORS: Despite being outstanding supporters of the club, both Headland 2019 Senior Champions – Josie Ryan and Barry Newton – were among the very few no shows at Friday’s annual Club Presentation Night. And, by a strange coincidence, both were in Thailand. Josie was visiting her son Tom and his family – and celebrating the 70th birthday of her husband Ron McMahon – while Barry, not surprisingly, was on a golf trip.
SUPER GOLF: Spots are still available for Headland’s second Super Golf event of the year – this coming 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 team pass is $120 and bookings are now open for those who wish to play individually on either day. Two different courses will be played over the two days with an overall prize for the lowest two-day aggregate being awarded for the first time. Sponsorship packages are also still available, at $440, which includes entry fees for four players, hole signage and food and beverages on both days. Contact Headland administration (5444 5800) for more information.
JUNIOR CLINIC: A free Come and Try Clinic for junior golfers is being held at Headland Golf Club this coming Friday (December 6). Lessons will include tuition on the full swing as well as chipping, putting and driving, plus time in the club’s golf simulator. This free event, which will be conducted by members of Headland’s Professional Team, will run from 5.30pm to 7pm, is open to children aged from seven to 17, and all equipment will be provided. However, only 30 spots are available for the event so registration at https://form.jotform.co/HeadlandGolfClub/juniorcomeandtrydec19 is essential.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Modified course Medley Single Stableford (108 players) – John Marrington (40 points), Dean Smareglia (38), Grahame Denovan (38), Carmel Visser (38), Stephen Woolcott (38).
Wednesday, Modified course Medley Single Stableford (180 players) A Grade, Bevan Horsnell (42 points), Peter Gablonski (38), Dean Smareglia (38); B Grade, Chris Duhig (41), Gary Holland (40), Tony Durkin (40); C Grade, Jack Williams (43), Doug Morgan (41), Denis Brumby (41).
Thursday, Ladies, Canadian Foursomes (116 players) – Fiona Munro and Sharon Thomas (71.5 nett), Lesley Johnston and Wil Sprake (77.75), Sue Jones and Annabel Harris (78.125), Trish Howe and Colleen Berger (78.625), Robyn Muir and Monica Knowles 978.875). Men, Single Stableford (71 players) – Don Kitson (44 points), Nigel Morrison (42), Wayne Bridgeman (40) .
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (29 players) – Kerry Longworth (43 points), Fiona Munro (37), Sharon Thomas (36); Men (209 players) A Grade, Sean Hanna (41 points), Bob Trevor (41), Dave Mayes (40); B Grade, Druce Fielding (43), Mike McQuarrie (42), John Kamm (40); C Grade, John Marrington (46), Mark Priest (42), Peter Andrews (42). Fourball Matchplay final – Matt and Jack Fisher beat Warren Selvage and Warren Sorby 3&2.
