From Tony Durkin
THANKS VICCO: So poorly had Peter Francis been putting that on Saturday he returned to an intricate routine introduced to him 15 years ago by former Headland Professional John Victorsen – and he won the A Grade Monthly Mug. And while he was absolutely delighted with his one-over par round of 73 which gave him a nett 65 and also the best gross score of the day, the 72-year-old was bitterly disappointed he just missed shooting his age for the first time. The ‘Serhan’ putting method, named after Australian 70s Professional George Serhan, is aimed at golfers suffering from the dreaded yips and involves a precise six-step routine which is time consuming. Peter went away from the system for many years, but because he had been putting ‘like a dog’ of late and had even contemplated giving the game away, he reverted to the method on Saturday and shot his best round in at least two years. A Headland member for 25 years, the former building company owner had four birdies in his superb round, three of them in four holes from the 12th to the 15th. Needless to say, his putter worked a treat. Saturday was a day for the ‘oldies’ to star at Headland – 81-year-old Don Follent won the B Grade Mug with 69 nett and Trevor Gourlay, who recently turned 60, saluted in C Grade with 67 nett in his first game back from a six-week layoff.
VICKY WINS: Relative Headland newcomer Vicky Sheridan has captured her first Monthly Medal, scoring 71 nett on Saturday to win by two shots. Joining Headland along with two friends from Maroochy River last October, Vicky registered her best round since becoming a member, and won despite having four sevens on her card. However, a birdie at the par-three eighth – her nemesis hole – triggered a bogey, par, bogey, par, bogey, par run over the next six holes for the 19 handicapper, which ultimately gave her the confidence to go on and win her second event in three weeks. Vicky, who plays twice a week despite a full-time job as an advertising sales rep, says she loves the Headland course, and also greatly appreciates the friendliness of the members.
WHAT BREED? Despite the intervention of the Queensland Police Service, the origin and breed of Headland’s newest member continues to be strongly debated. Two months ago, two large ducks suddenly appeared on our course and one – a white duck – has vanished as mysteriously as it appeared. But the other ‘newbie’ has stayed, and has become the popular topic of conversation among members, even tempting Detective Senior Constable Chris Duhig to investigate. A Headland member and bird watcher – but only out of curiosity – DSC Duhig consulted his copy of ‘The Slater Field Guide to Australia Birds’ and deduced the remaining duck to be a Mallard. However, there is also a train of thought he may be a Khaki Campbell, or a ‘dinner duck’ – a hybrid of a number of ducks based on the Mallard. While his investigations have failed to deliver a conclusive breed, DSC Duhig has noted that ducks should not be fed bread. Members wanting to placate/befriend our new member – let us name him ‘Mallard’ – are advised vegetables and fruits – such as zucchini, peas, leafy greens, corn, vegetable peels and non-citrus fruit – are suitable fodder.
DUCKLING WINS: While Mallard parades around Headland as though he is king, the aptly- named Gary Duckling prevailed among the hot scores in Sunday’s Medley Monthly Medal. Gary (handicap 9) was in one of the final groups of the day and his par, par, par finish was enough to win the event, beating low markers Jaidyn Dalziel (5) and Jamie Duffy (4) on a countback, with all three playing four under their respective handicaps with scores of minus four (nett 68). On a hot scoring day in near-perfect conditions, 13 players in the field of 84 played to their handicaps, or better. The top three finishers scored eight birdies between them with Jamie Duffy recording four in his par impressive round. Winner Gary penned a five-over 77 on his scorecard.
STUNNED PHIL: When he walked off the course on Tuesday, retired architect Phil Kornmann was well aware that despite a wipe at the par-five 13th hole, he had just turned in one of his better rounds of recent times. But not only was the 26-handicapper surprised to learn his 41 points was the best of the day by a clear three points, he was stunned his name was listed on the scoreboard as winning the A Grade Medley Single Stableford event. Phil, in his mid-70s, says he has been ‘toying around’ with golf since a teenager but has never quite mastered the great game. His lowest handicap has been 19, but that only lasted a month. Yet despite his generous handicap and some confessed flaws in bis game, he loves golf as a form of relaxation and exercise, and usually plays at Headland three days a week. Tuesday’s card revealed seven three-point holes and a four-point par at the fourth and, according to Phil, a putter that ‘worked’.
BODY SCIENCE: She may be recovering from an injured shoulder, but putting that to the back of her mind on the advice of Head Pro Adam Norlander worked a treat for 2015 SWING Graduate Kym Mason on Thursday. A run of poor form which took her handicap from 25 to 32 in six months, prompted Kym to call on the services of Adam who noted a simple and common fault – she was not turning her body through the shot. The result – just five days after her lesson – was 40 Stableford points, the best score of the day and a win in C Grade. But, more impressively, Kym scored three points on 11 of the 18 holes including each of the five par fives. Recently retiring following the closure of the Noosa Campus of CQ University where she was a part-time lecturer, Kym is turning her attention to lowering her handicap, although playing more than twice a week is not yet on the agenda.
HOT ROUND: Like his beloved Premier League team Tottenham Hotspurs, Alan Ward has been hoping for his form to improve and on Wednesday – out of the blue – it happened. The soon-to-retire business manager returned the best score of the day – 41 points – in the Medley Single Stableford event to win C Grade in his best round in two years. Recently cutting back to a four-day working week, business manager Alan has just started playing Wednesdays and booked himself in to an Old Goats’ group – ironically including fellow Rotarian Jim Macready – which helped him feel comfortable. The 23-handicapper, who once played off 15 in Sydney in the late 90s, pencilled six three-pointers and two four-pointers on his impressive card and is back in the field for this week’s Monthly Medal. NOTE: Brian Kesby warmed up for the Queensland Men’s Senior Championships – played on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of this week at Mt Coolum – with an impressive par round in Wednesday’s event. His four-birdie-four-bogey 72 gave him 40 points, but he was beaten on a countback for the A Grade gong by Mark Selig.
ON THE MEND: Popular member Ken Anderson, who is usually seen on the Headland course seven days a week, will be back in action this week following a recent medical issue. The 78-year-old, who holds an amazing Headland record of shooting less than his age on 15 occasions – including twice this year – has not played golf for six weeks and has lost 5kgs from his already sleek frame. But despite a two-week stint in hospital, he assures HH he is on the mend and has in fact been back at the practise area a few times, albeit still feeling somewhat weak. While he loves his golf, Ken says his daily routine of playing at least a few holes helps keep him fit – something medical staff believe has assisted his recovery. Ken will play in the group with President Jon Welch in Wednesday’s Mid-Week Medal round.
COLONEL SALUTE: Former Lieutenant Colonel Peter Keane saluted the work of Head Professional Adam Norlander following his ‘birthday’ win in Thursday’s Single Stableford. Despite three wipes, Pete scored three points on eight holes and four points on two for a return of 41 points, and a healthy gift of $90 on his House Account. Although uncertain whether he obeyed all orders handed down by his coach, Pete says his round produced by far his best golf in the 18 months since undergoing back surgery. Once a low-teen marker back in the 90s, his handicap has embarrassingly crept out to the mid-30s and – in Pete’s words – his golf has been appalling of late. But he enjoys the game with which he reconnected when retiring to the Sunshine Coast eight years ago, as well as the camaraderie and exercise it offers, and hopes his latest round can help him scale back his handicap to the mid-20s. NOTE: The proud father of five, which includes quads, turns 69 today (Monday).
MEN’S FOURSOMES: Defending Champions and three-time winners, Ash Reck and Wayne West, loom as favourites to win the 2020 Headland Men’s Foursomes Championships to be played on Saturday, August 15. The good mates, who regularly play together each weekend, won it 2012 and 2014 before winning last year’s title by a single shot from the pairing of Dave Rattray and Jamie Hill, who will be challenging again. Entries for this year’s Honour Board event – sponsored by Mick Kinnear of Zero Pest and Termite – close this coming Friday (August 7), with the cost $40 per player, which includes lunch. Other formidable pairings include 2014 Champions Sean McGill and Adam Rydwanski and 2016 winners, Adam Richards and Scott Walker, while Jamie and Josh Holbrook will be aiming for the first father-and-son victory since Herb and Craig Jones back in 1988.
WHOOPS: Gremlins jumped into the scoring system for Thursday’s Ladies Single Stableford, and 2014 Headland Champion Sue Jones was both incorrectly glorified and embarrassed as a result. Although her score of 32 points was correct, Sue was erroneously credited with an eagle at the 13th and birdies at holes seven and 10, as well as a gargantuan 65 on the par-four third hole. Sue, who says the real villain on Thursday was her putter, which delivered nine three putts, is one of a number of members whose phone – for some unknown reason – cannot connect correctly to MiScore.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Medley Single Stableford (110 players) – A Grade, Phil Kornmann (41 points), Richards Senior (38), Warren Gee (37), Andrew Beck (36); B Grade, Ian Lewellin (37), Lesley Pinn (33), Jack Brown (33), Jackie Walkington (33).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (229 players) – A Grade, Mark Selig (40 points), Brian Kesby (40), Steve Norbury (39); B Grade, Scott Simpson (38), Bruce Heseltine (38), Bruce Reid (38); C Grade, Alan Ward (41), David Parker (38), Hans Raaschou (38).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Ladies (119 players) – A Grade, Christina Claxton (36 points), Julie Halliday (34), Amanda Ingham (33): B Grade, Maureen Cartledge (38), Margaret White (36), Valerie O’Brien (35); C Grade, Kym Mason (40), Kerrie Tibbits (37), Deborah Thomas (35). Men (96 players) – Peter Keane (41 points), Shane Muller (40), John Marrington (39), Rod McKinnon (38).
Saturday, Ladies, Monthly Medal (26 players) – Vicky Sheridan (71 nett), Sue Jones (73), Doreen Davidson (74); Men, Monthly Mug (226 players) – A Grade, Peter Francis (65 nett), Justin Walsh (66), Glenn Kelly (68), Warren Selvage (69), gross – Peter Francis (73); B Grade, Don Follent (69), Steve Rose (70), Peter Leggo (70), Peter O’Brien (70), gross – Don Follent (85); C Grade, Trevor Gourlay (67), Barry Kelly (72), Gordon Peak (71), John Waterworth (73), gross – Alan Ward (95).
Sunday, Medley Monthly Medal (84 players) – Gary Duckling (-4), Jaidyn Dalziel (-4), Jamie Duffy (-4). Junior Medal – James Daniel (+3).
