From Tony Durkin
LIFE MEMBERS: Josie Ryan and Rob Howard have been awarded Life Membership of Headland Golf Club. The honour was conferred at Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting and the pair joins 20 previous recipients of the honour, including current active playing members Bill Boucaut and Tony Coad. Rob was bestowed Life Membership for his unstinting dedication to the condition of the golf course, and its surrounds. A member for 34 years, he was Course Director for six years but has worked tirelessly for more than a decade physically involving himself in improving the club’s infrastructure, giving generously and enthusiastically of his time, labour, material and expertise. Although no longer a board member, Rob remains a driving force behind the Friday Volunteer Group and maintains a keen interest in the maintenance and beautification of the course. A Headland member for 28 years and Ladies Captain for four years, Josie Ryan has made a remarkable contribution to the golfing life of Headland as the most-decorated amateur in the history of the club. As well, she has a long record of service to Headland and to the advancement of women’s golf. Josie’s record in Championships and other Honour Board events is so far beyond that of any other past or present player that it may well never be matched: 17 Club Championships, 14 Ladies Foursomes Championships and now seven Mixed Foursomes Championships. Josie’s participation as a golfer has been exceptional and outstanding, her contribution to club life has been multifaceted and sustained, and her support for women’s golf has advanced equal opportunity. Note: Life Membership is awarded to recognise a member of more than 15 years who has rendered valuable service to Headland Golf Club.
MIXED SUCCESS: Josie Ryan has added to her status as Headland’s most successful golfer by teaming with Sean McGill to win the Headland 2020 Mixed Foursomes Championship, incredibly her 38th Honour Board event victory. But in claiming the title for the third time, the Ryan-McGill (162) combination did not have it all their own way having to come from behind on Saturday to clinch the 36-hole Championship. After the morning 18 holes they trailed runners-up Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards by four shots following an opening triple bogey on the tenth hole and hitting just two greens in regulation for a shaky 12-over 84. And despite a much-improved afternoon round – just two over after 16 holes – a double bogey at 17 and a three-putt at 18 resulted in a nervous wait. Runners-up Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards (164) ruined their chances of winning with three double bogeys on their afternoon card, while the pairings of Annabel Harris and Dave Rattray and Christina Claxton and Josh Holbrook finished just a shot away in equal third. Coralie Walsh, who has sliced 15 shots from her handicap since she joined Headland six years ago, teamed with Scott Walker to win the 36-hole nett, three shots clear of Julie Lewis and David O’Mahoney. It is the third nett victory for Coralie – two with Scott and one partnering Adam Richards. NOTE: While Josie Ryan and Sean McGill have captured their third Mixed Foursomes, Josie has won four times previously with David Baring (2001), Ben Wedmaeir (2009) and Adam Rydwanski (2015 and 2016).
Josie Ryan and Sean McGill with their third Headland Mixed Foursomes trophy
SAINT PETER: The Headland golfing gods gave thanks to two-decade member Peter Andrews on Wednesday when he won the Medley Single Stableford, the day after saving 152 of his fellow members from what loomed as one of the longest AGMs in the 65-year history of the club. Following six months of ‘lousy’ golf, the former director of a national company has found some form of late and his 42 points clinched him the C Grade event. But the congratulatory messages for his win paled when compared to the admiration members attending the AGM the previous night had for him after his point of order had successfully closed down what appeared to be a marathon night. A member had submitted 20 motions for discussion but Peter, co-founder of the Old Goats group, brought a swift end to the potential burning of the midnight oil when he successfully moved: ‘That any motion, currently on the agenda and without a seconder, lapse for want of a seconder’. For his Wednesday success and other recent scores of 68 nett and 38 points twice, Peter gives thanks to his new coach, Nick Faldo, whose TV commentary hints have helped his game. Peter’s card revealed eight three-pointers and a four-point par the 12th. David Sims (42 points) won A Grade and Jim Saunderson (43) was best in B Grade.
SUPER EIGHT: The par-four 11th hole may prove difficult to some Headland members, but certainly not three groups – playing together – in Saturday’s Mixed Foursomes Championship. The pairings of Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards, Sharon Thomas and her son Blake and Dominque Paice and Brian Kesby completed the hole in just eight shots, with an eagle and two birdies on their respective cards. Blake Thomas hit his drive through the back of the green and his mum nonchalantly sank the 15-metre eagle putt; Dom Paice put her chip in almost the same position, and Brian followed Sharon’s lead by holing his 12-metre putt for birdie; while Sharon Purnell chipped Adam’s drive to inside a metre to give her partner a tap-in birdie.
NEVER AGAIN: Catherine Janiszewski knows she will never again score 50 Stableford points in a round of golf so, despite the extenuating circumstances, she intends to live in the moment. The 28-handicapper had her rare moment of golfing fame on Thursday, winning B Grade with her amazing score, and carding points on all but one of the 18 holes. However, there were some mitigating conditions that helped inflate her score, and those of the other 84 ladies in the field of 117 who scored 36 points or better. Because work on the new cart paths on holes two, three and four was being carried out, the three holes were shortened to par threes for the day. And with scores not being handicapped, the par of 73 (for the ladies) was maintained, as was the index of the three affected holes. Even though Catherine amassed 13 points on those three holes, she still tallied another 16 on the remaining six for a cracking 29 on the front nine. And, for her best golfing form in ‘quite a few years’, the 20-year Headland member claims a few drinks at a birthday party the previous night had left her ‘very relaxed’.
BIG BIRDS FLY: As a result of the shortening of the golf course (explained above), the big birds of golf – the albatross and eagle – flew over Headland in their droves on Thursday. And while a tinge of deceptiveness may exist when any of the 53 golfers claim the honour, their scorecard on the Headland website has recorded the feat in living colour. Five players – Rod McKinnon, Josh Poole, Bill Boucaut, Robert McCann and Richard Senior – were credited with an albatross, while another 48 scored eagles on the either the second (a par five shortened to a 109-metre par three), the par-four third (123 metres) and the par-four fourth (99 metres). Three players – Matt Doyle, Amanda Ingham and Head Pro Adam Norlander each scored two eagles, while Matt’s wife Naomi and Amanda’s mum Jenny made it a real family affair by also landing an eagle. For the record, the others credited with an eagle on Thursday were: Charlie Worthy, Mark Glassop, Nigel Morrison, Matt Wilson, Bruce Horton, Will Norman, Neville Kenzler, Ted Banaszczyk, Peter Raymond, Tony Kelleher, Paul Stephens, John Barr, Ian Busch, Jock McLaughlin, Col Williamson, Glen Wakefield, Dean Smareglia, Peter Moodie, Rod Hamilton, Ray Dempsey, Helen Venter, Marie Flegler, Maureen Lyon, Chrissy Eggins, Trish Marsden, Brenda Smith-Gittings, Kathy Atkins, Vicky Maynard, Mary Young, Lynn Forbes, Lisa Ramen, Anne Callahan, Althea McLean, Marina Mace, Chris Parkinson, Mary Dowling, Anita Boyle, Sinama Lolkes De Beer, Marg Howard, Di Stark, Prue Byrnes and Julie Halliday.
RELAXED STEVE: Like most golfers whose best game suddenly reappears from nowhere, Steve Eggins has no idea why he played so well on Tuesday to win the Men’s Single Stableford event. But one assurance the former NSW public servant can give is that he plays much better when he is relaxed, and that was the case when his round reaped 43 points and an impressive $80 purse. And despite the thrill of scoring four points on three of the most difficult holes on the course, it was his ability to confidently get the ball back into play following a wayward shot that pleased him the most. A Headland member since 2007, Steve reckons it is more than 12 months since he scored in the 40s, and that was in the fourball. Despite his good round, Steve concedes he still has some ground to make up on SWING-graduate wife Chrissy, who he says has been performing much more consistently of late.
PAR-THREE WHIZ: Three years ago, as an eight-year Headland member, Jackie Thinee won the C Grade Ladies Championship in what has been her greatest achievement in a game she started in Mt Isa ‘just for the fun’. And while there has been something of a drought – winning-wise – in the interim, Jackie’s golf bounced back into the good books on Tuesday in what she believes is her best-ever round. The retired real estate agent won the Ladies Single Stableford with 41 points, without a wipe on her card, and accumulated an impressive 14 points on the four par-three holes. And while she says that, as a septuagenarian, she is hitting the ball further, it was her putting on Tuesday that was the key to her good round. From a large family, Jackie equates the friendliness of the Headland ladies to that same inclusive environment and makes her golfing days so enjoyable.
WELL DUNN: It’s his third Monthly Medal since he joined Headland just on three years ago, but Peter Dunn’s win in the Medley event on Sunday came from his best-ever round of competition golf. A former rugby league player who converted to rugby union later in life and played until he was 39, the ex-brewery rep decided to take golf a little more seriously when he moved from Cairns eight years ago and felt awkward when invited to play in corporate events. He started at Headland on a handicap of 22 and his 81 on Sunday, four strokes under his 13 handicap, is testament to the hard work he has done to improve his game. And while his nine par-nine bogey scorecard may have reflected his best-ever score, he was most proud of the absence of a double bogey. Practicing twice a week has improved his on-course skills, and a recent switch in jobs, to Casella Family Wines, has helped ease his stress levels. Keita Griffin-Klazema won the Junior Medal.
PENNANT FINAL: The long-awaited Men’s A Grade final of the Sunshine Coast Golf Zone Pennant Competition, postponed from March because of COVID restrictions, will be played at Caloundra next Sunday (September 20). And Headland’s crack team, which won the title in 2018, will meet 2019 champions Noosa in what is expected to be an engrossing battle. Headland, unbeaten during the 2020 campaign, will be without No.1 player and current Club Champion Jake Crowther, who is locked down in Sydney, but non-playing Captain James Brownsworth remains confident his team can arrest the trophy from Noosa.
The seven finals matches tee off progressively from the first tee at 9.10am and James has appealed to Headland members for their support. “Not only is it a boost for the boys to see and hear the encouragement of familiar faces, but our members will be treated to some high-quality golf. Those who travel down to Caloundra will enjoy the experience and, hopefully, see our team win for the second time in three years,” he said. The team representing Headland will be Sean McGill, Brad Butler, Adam Rydwanski, Dave Rattray, Adam Richards, Scott Walker and Josh Holbrook.
AMATEUR OPEN: Entries close next Wednesday (September 16) for the annual Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship, to be played at Headland over the weekend of September 26 and 27. Again sponsored by club member Justin Walsh of Walsh Consulting Engineers, the event has already attracted 140 entries with players coming from as far away as Coolangatta, Southport, Bargara, Biloela, Toowoomba and the usual strong contingent from Goomeri. Just on 20 of the players already entered have a handicap of scratch or less, with the lowest in the field Dino Degotardi (Noosa Springs), Adam Hawkins (Palm Meadows) and Noosa’s George Giblett, each playing off plus three. Jake Crowther, winner of the past two Championships, is locked down in Sydney because of COVID restrictions, and will not be defending his title. With last year’s runner-up Adam Rydwanski also a non-starter, the winner could still come from a strong contingent of Headland members including Adam Richards, Sean McGill, Scott Walker, Brad Butler and former Pro, Shane Muller. As well as the major award for the Open Amateur Champion, prizes will be awarded for gross and nett champion in three grades as well as senior and junior. The maximum AGU handicap for entry – which costs $75 and includes a lunch or breakfast roll – is 17.5.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (45 players) – Jackie Thinee (41 points), Coralie Snowball (37), Anne Hayward (36), Christina Claxton (36). Men (73 players) – Steve Eggins (43), Peter Keane (41), George Rodman (39), Russell Harris (37).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (225 players) – A Grade, David Sims (42 points), Daniel Lane (41), Gary Duckling (41), David Richards (39); B Grade, Jim Saunderson (43), Ken Maynard (40), Josh Poole (39), Gordon Russell (39); C Grade, Peter Andrews (42), Clive Glover (41), Ray Moody (41), Craig Driscoll (40).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Ladies (117 players) – A Grade, Helen Venter (48 points), Amanda Ingham (46), Jenny Ingham (45); B Grade, Catherine Janiszewski (50), Mouna Humzy (46), Vicki Oxley (44); C Grade, Sue Hadenham (47), Marie Flegler (47), Trish Murphy (46). Men (90 players) – Ross Halyday (45 points), Charlie Worthy (44), Colin Cross (43).
Saturday, Mixed Foursomes Championship (88 players) – Champions, Josie Ryan and Sean McGill (162), Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards (164); nett, Coralie Walsh and Scott Walker (141), Julie Lewis and David O’Mahoney (144); 18 hole gross (am), Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards (80), Dominique Paice and Brian Kesby (82); nett, Julie Lewis and David O’Mahoney (67.5), Coralie Walsh and Scott Walker (70); 18 hole gross (pm), Josie Ryan and Sean McGill (78), Sharon and Blake Thomas (81); nett, Lynzey Valiances and Barry Newton (70.5), Kristen Griffiths and Kevin MacDougall (73). Overflow, Single Stableford (100 players) – Aaron Shaw (38 points), Michael Hinds (38), Ken Wedmaeir (38), Simon Richardson (37).
Sunday, Sunday Monthly Medal (68 players) – Peter Dunn (-4), John Waterworth (-3), Dave Mansley (-3); Junior Medal, Keita Griffin-Klazema (square).
