From Tony Durkin
FOURTH TITLE: Ash Reck and Wayne West have had to endure a nail-biting finish to their afternoon 18 holes and then survive a play-off on Saturday to win their fourth 36-hole Men’s Foursomes Championship at Headland. The good mates, who regularly play together on weekends, went back-to-back in the Championship after beating Adam Richards and Scott Walker on the first play-off hole when both teams had tied at 148 after 36 holes. And although the champions won with a par at the 18th – their third successive par on that hole on the day – they struggled on the back nine in the afternoon before eventually forcing the play-off. Both pairs returned scores of 72,76 in the earlier 18-hole rounds – albeit reversing the scores – but Adam and Scott roared home on the back nine in the afternoon scoring three birdies in their flawless three-under 33. During the morning round Ash and Wayne had three birdies, a bogey and a double at the 15th on their card for a par round of 72, but faltered in the afternoon with a four-over 76. Following the intervention of their round when players were called from the course because of an electrical storm, the champions lost some momentum, scoring birdie, bogey, double bogey, par, bogey from holes 11 to 15. However, they recovered with three pars coming home to send the Championship to a play-off. The always-popular Foursomes, sponsored by Mick Kinnear of Zero Termite and Pest, attracted a capacity field of 64 pairs with Ash and Wayne adding to their wins last year, as well as back in 2011 and 2013. Playing off a handicap of three, they also returned the best nett score of the day – 142.
Ash Reck and Wayne West
FOURSOMES FALL: Despite a fall at home two days earlier, Sharon Thomas managed to shake off an injured ankle and chalk up her fourth successive Headland Ladies’ Foursomes Championship, and her third in four years with 22-year-old partner Dominique Paice. The pair won Thursday’s 27-hole event – again sponsored by Marc Venter and Brad Wall of Guide Financial – by five strokes from the formidable Josie Ryan and Annabel Harris, with Lisa Ramen making a comeback to Championship golf at Headland and teaming with Kathy Atkins to finish third. Sharon and Dom, who first won in 2017 and backed up that victory the following year, had scores of 85 (first 18 holes) and 43 (third nine) to cruise home despite finishing bogey, bogey, double bogey. Sharon, who also won the Championship last year partnering Christina Claxton, paid tribute to Dominique who is in the final year of her Occupational Therapy studies. “I was really struggling with my ankle, and Dom held the team together,” praised Sharon. The 27-hole nett was won by Jodie McDonell and Jill Nixey (103). NOTE: Sharon Thomas also holds the Mixed Foursomes title at Headland, winning the event in 2017 and 2019 with her son Blake.
Sharon Thomas and Dominique Paice
THANKS CHRIS: Bryan Haggarty may not have been in the same group of sponsor Chris Pace (McGrath Estate Agents) on Wednesday, but he was still able to share in the generosity of his good mate and regular playing partner by snaring $85 from the prize pool. After months of playing so poorly, and with a total lack of confidence in his game, Bryan had considered throwing his clubs in the dam before returning to form with 42 Stableford points and winning A Grade. But while the $85 on his House Account was an unexpected bonanza, Bryan revealed some controversy when members of his regular group who played on the same day failed to pay the obligatory $20 for his leading score. “I won’t’ name names, but they certainly know who they are,” he said. On a more golf-related note, Bryan heaped praise on Head Professional Adam Norlander for helping with a ‘simple tweak’ to his swing. “I was on the practise fairway a couple of weeks ago and Adam walked over after finishing a lesson. He took a look at my swing, tweaked a couple of things and the rest is history. The difference it made to my game is remarkable. The bloke is a genius.”
PERFECT PRACTISE: Leeanne Ptak is the ideal example of the adage ‘practise makes perfect’, and has 47 Modified Stableford points to prove it. The 2016 SWING graduate not only won the Ladies’ event on Tuesday, she also beat the men for the best score of the day with eight four-pointers and a six-point par at the 15th. The 26 marker concedes she is addicted to golf, playing four times a week including a practise round every Monday with fellow Headland Pennant team member Chris Parkinson. And she says the match-play rounds on Mondays – for which the loser buys a $7.30 Lotto ticket – has helped sharpen her competitive edge. But despite her improved form of late, Leeanne was still stunned by her final tally on Tuesday as the MiScore app was only showing her strokes. “I calculated that I had 38 normal Stableford points, but to see 47 points on the Modified score made me pretty chuffed,” she said. NOTE: The ‘modified’ scoring system is designed to better reward players who score nett eagles and birdies, and penalise players with a minus score for wipes.
COMEBACK WEEK: A win in Thursday’s Single Stableford has helped former train driver Len Dawson erase memories of 30 days of discomfort and inconvenience from radiation treatment. Despite spending almost three decades driving trains in the cool climate of the NSW New England region, Len has recently had numerous sun cancers removed from his face and subsequently missed several months of golf. However, just six games into his return Len scored 38 and 40 points, respectively, within the space of three days last week. The 38 points came in Tuesday’s Modified Stableford and he followed that with 40 points on Thursday, and his best gross score in ages – 88. And although his head was showing the marks of a man who had endured a rough time of late, Len jested that keeping it down was the secret to his good round, especially when putting.
DIRECTOR BEATEN: Ladies Director of Golf, Jane Boaler, was beaten by nine players in Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford, and fittingly four of those were ladies. Headland’s regular ‘Beat the Director’ challenges the field to score better than the nominated board member and those who do share in the accumulated prizemoney. Ladies Director Jane played well on Sunday to score 34 points in difficult conditions, but Bruce Dowling and Sandra Murphy (38 points), Ciaran Fenton (37), Robyn Boreham (37), John Alsbury (37), Rebecca Masters (36), Peter Richardson (36), Jackie Walkington (35) and Peter McMillan (35) all scored better, and a result each had $37 added to their respective House Accounts.
LUCKY ESCAPE: Recently-retired popular sparky Phil Lovett, a Headland member for almost four decades, had a lucky escape from serious injury last week after a fall from his golf cart in an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve his golf ball. While leaning out his cart to pick up the ball, Phil’s foot became caught between the brake and the accelerator and he was dragged along for about five metres and as a result suffered cracked ribs, bruising to his torso, skin off his face and legs, and concussion. Luckily Dr Rob Ingham, ironically Phil’s GP, was in the following group and insisted Phil go to hospital, and an ambulance was called. Now recovering at home, Phil is grateful to all who helped and is hoping to be back on the course sooner rather than later.
BANK WALKER: Kathy Walker and her talented son Scott may go into the banking business as a result of their golf success last week. The pair collected a mammoth $540 is prizemoney between them from a mere three events, boosting their respective House Accounts. For winning the Patron’s Day American Foursomes the mother-and-son combination collected $300, while Kathy banked $65 for her 40 points and a win in the Ladies’ Single Stableford Overflow event on Thursday. Two days later Scott, playing in the Men’s Foursomes Championships, pocketed $100 as runner-up in the event with partner Adam Richards and won another $75 for their pair returning the best afternoon gross score.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (44 players) – A Grade, Heather Lum (38 points), Chris Parkinson (38), Lesley Johnston (36); B Grade, Pam Andrews (36), Deborah Thomas (33), Leigh Derigo (33). Men (79 players) – A Grade, Ian Scobie (38), John Sims (38), Bruce Reid (37); B Grade, Peter McNeven (38), Ray Moody (36), John Ross (36); C Grade, Peter Keane (38), Bob Howard (37), Terry Murphy (34).
Tuesday, Modified Stableford, Ladies (48 players) – Leeanne Ptak (47 points), Gay David (45), Barb Marrington (43), Glenda Bates (42); Men (80 players) – Geoff Sawyer (46 points), Sergio Nogarotto (45), Warren Gee (44), John Prosser (43).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (231 players) – A Grade, Bryan Haggarty (42 points), Peter McMillan (41), Ray Moody (41), Gerry Brown (41); B Grade, Ian McEldowney (40), Stuart Miles (35), John Alsbury (35), Peter Norris (34).
Thursday, Ladies, Foursomes Championships (88 players) – 27-hole champions, Sharon Thomas and Dominique Paice (128), Josie Ryan and Annabel Harris (133); 27-hole nett, Jill Nixey and Jodie McDonell (103), Libby Hall and Gail Young (104); 18-hole gross, Kathy Atkins and Lisa Ramen (92); 18-hole nett, Lyn Forbes and Jane Boaler (75); 9-hole gross, Jenny and Amanda Ingham (41); 9-hole nett, Helen Venter and Catherine Janiszewski (33). Overflow, Single Stableford (30 players) – Kathy Walker (40 points), Linda Hunter (38), Pam Andrews (37), Joy Logan (37). Men, Single Stableford (48 players) – Len Dawson (40 points), John Jamieson (39), George Rodman (39).
Saturday, Men, Foursomes Championships (128 players) – 36-hole champions, Ash Reck and Wayne West (148), Adam Richards and Scott Walker (148); 36-hole nett, Brian Richards and Peter O’Brien (144), Bevan Horsnell and Chris Duhig (146); 18-hole gross (am), Ash Reck And Wayne West (72); 18-hole nett (am), Steve Rose and Mark Fisher (66); 18-hole gross (pm), Adam Richards and Scott Walker (72); 18-hole nett (pm), Brian Richards and Peter O’Brien (69). Overflow, Medley Single Stableford (60 players) – Michael Phillips (40 points), Richard Ryan (39), Geoff Montgomery (38), Kirk Hardy (37).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford, Beat the Ladies’ Director of Golf (88 players) – Bruce Dowling (38 points), Sandy Murphy (38), Ciaran Fenton (37), Robyn Boreham (37), John Alsbury (37), Rebecca Masters (36), Peter Richardson (36), Jackie Walkington (35), Peter McMillan (35).
