From Tony Durkin
MIXED FEELINGS: Twice a runner-up in Headland’s Mixed Foursomes Champion, new Champion Dominique Paice was somewhat disappointed Saturday’s event was reduced to 18 holes. Dom teamed with Wayne West for the first time and the pair shot 10-over 82 in wet and sloppy conditions to win by a shot from the mother-and-son combination of Sharon and Blake Thomas. Defending Champions, Josie Ryan and Sean McGill (85), finished third. Because of the weather and resultant condition of the course, the afternoon 18 hole-round was abandoned. Dom has previously partnered Brian Kesby in the event, finishing runner-up twice and once third, and while pleased to finally win the Honour Board Championship she would have preferred to have won the event over the 36 scheduled holes. But partner Wayne West paid her the ultimate compliment, saying Dom played superbly and ‘received little help from me’. The pair mixed eight pars and birdie with six bogeys, a double and a triple at the fourth hole following a visit to the water from the tee. The sharply-dressed Coralie Walsh and Scott Walker went back-to-back in the Championship nett, with 73. The Sponsor for the 2021 Mixed Foursomes Championship was Lendlease Retirement Living.
SWINGING WIN: Thursday’s scheduled Irish Foursomes event for women may have been abandoned because of the weather, but recent SWING graduate Brooke Wildin did not mind. Playing in just her second competition since she joined Headland three weeks ago, Brooke scored 40 points to win the Single Stableford event played in lieu. Still a restricted member, Brooke ate up the four par-three holes, scoring a total of 14 points, and had just one wipe on her impressive card. A junior golfer at Yeppoon in her early teens, Brooke decided to join the SWING program in September using a set of clubs her husband had given her 25 years ago. And while Head Pro Adam Norlander convinced her the antiquated clubs ‘would do’, his expert tuition and advice has resulted in Brooke’s handicap shrinking to 29.6, with a new set potentially on the drawing board.
BEST ROUND: Despite continuous heavy rain, sloppy conditions underfoot and the withdrawal of two of his four playing partners after 15 holes, recent retiree and ex-Tasmanian David Parker shot his best-ever golf round at Headland on Wednesday. Forced into early retirement when the Sunshine Coast Daily ceased publishing last year, David says the decision to play more golf and become more consistent has paid dividends, with the 14-year Headland member scoring 48 points from his round of 89 in the Modified Stableford event. The highlight was a six-point birdie at the par-four 11th, although he was just as pleased to see no minus scores on a scorecard which also featured six four-point results. Although the field was small with just 30 players braving the conditions to finish, David’s score was a whopping 12 points better than runner-up Neil Oxley.
MARY’S MAGIC: Buoyed by the fact her 25-year-old grandson won his way into the recent Queensland Open, Mary Dowling led the field in yet another Headland event on Tuesday. Her grandson Sam Howse, with whom Mary won the two-person Ambrose event during the St George Golf Club’s 70th anniversary celebrations in 2018, scored a start in the Queensland Open through the qualifiers and Mary and husband Russell were on hand to watch his first round 72 at Pelican Waters. Following victory in the March Monthly Medal – her fourth plus the Medal of Medals in 2016 – Mary scored plus four to win Tuesday’s Single Par for women and had just two minus holes on her card. Ten-year member Peter Ross, who plays only on Tuesdays, won the men’s event with plus five to break ‘a very long drought’. Suffering from Vertigo and a rare form of Shingles in recent years, Peter revealed he was finally coming to terms with his resultant shortcomings on the course.
NEW TOOLS: A new set of ‘old man’s clubs’ plus lessons from Head Pro Adam Norlander has resulted in Rob Cunningham’s best round in his 14 years as a Headland member. The retired NAB Regional Manager shot 76 in Thursday’s Single Par event for plus three, winning on a countback from Neven Daniel. And the 62-year-old actually ‘wasted’ two shots by birdieing holes on which pars would have given him plusses. After a recent lean run Rob decided to bite the bullet and buy his ‘old man’s clubs’ – Mizuno irons with graphite shafts, and four hybrids rather than long irons. And because he bought them through the Pro Shop, Head Pro Adam delivered vital tips on how to use them, and lessons. Playing off nine on Thursday, Rob had two-over 38 on the back nine, parring five of the final six holes. His best score – a round of 75 – was at Darwin in 2005.
WOMEN’S PENNANT: Headland’s Division One Women Pennant team remains on top of the North Coast Zone Ladies Golf Association competition following another strong win, beating Bribie Island 4-1 at Caloundra. While Jenny Ingham finally succumbed 2&1 following her recent winning streak, Julie Halliday (3&2), Karen Wilson (3&2), Annabel Harris (5&4) and Josie Ryan (3&2) were each in the winner’s enclosure. With bye this week, the likely scenario is that Headland’s final match against Caloundra will be the short-season decider. Division Two also scored a 4-1 win over Caboolture, and lead their competition by one point after three rounds. Winners were Leanne Ptak by a stunning 8&7, Mouna Humzy (4&3), Chris Parkinson (2&1) and Carol Dwyer (1-up), with Robyn Boreham losing 4&3. But the tables were turned in Division Three, with Headland going down 4½-½ to competition leaders Caloundra. Rhonda Parry squared her match, while Penny Cooper (5&4), Jane Boaler (3&2), Veronica Bassingthwaighte (5&4) and Kym Mason (5&4) all tasted defeat. Headland Women’s weekend Pennant team remain at the top of their table after a strong 3½-½ win over Noosa in heavy conditions at Maroochy River. Both Carol Quin and Amanda Ingham had impressive 5&4 wins, Monica Antony won 1-up, Vicki Sheridan squared her match on the final hole and captain, Kirsten Kaergaard, lost 2-down.
MEN’S PENNANT: Nominations for Headland’s three men’s teams for the 2021 Sunshine Coast Golf Zone Pennant season will close this coming Friday (March 26). Headland will again field three teams – A Grade, B Grade and Masters – and the season will run from June 20 to August 1. The A Grade team, which has been the winner and finalist for two of the past three years, will be selected based on gross average scoring performance, recent form, handicap improvement, previous matchplay history, availability, and results from trial events. For B Grade, a maximum GA handicap of 18 is imposed while of the seven selected players, two must have handicaps of 10 or less, the next three 14 or less, and the last two players 18 or less. The same handicap stipulation applies to Masters, while the minimum age is 50. The Headland Pennant teams will again be sponsored by Stegbar, and member Jeff Lovell, for the 11th successive year.
EASTER OPEN: Just on 180 players representing 40 clubs have entered the Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship to be played at Headland over the Easter weekend. Sponsored by Headland member Justin Walsh of Walsh Consulting Engineers for the 22nd consecutive year, the Open will be played on Saturday and Sunday, April 3 and 4, and entries close at 5pm this coming Wednesday (March 24). Joining defending Champion Adam Hawkins and the 2018 and 2019 winner Jake Crowther in the field this past week has been North Queensland young gun Will Florimo (handicap +4) and Joel Stahlhut (+2) of Pelican Waters. Also nominating in the past week has been reigning Headland Champion Scott Walker (1) who adds to other strong Headland chances in Adam Richards (1), Dave Rattray (2) and Josh Holbrook (1). Queenslanders from as far away as Atherton, Blackwater, Toowoomba, Coolangatta-Tweed, Biloela and Surfers Paradise have entered, as well as Wagga, Asquith and The Lakes in NSW.
BUFFALO’S BRIEFS: Current construction and repair work to the Clubhouse has been frustrating for everyone associated with Headland, Pro Shop staff included. But the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow will be some improvements and upgrades to our facility, the highlight of which will be a newly-installed state-of-the-art putting lab. We will be utilising the ‘Capto’ putting analysis software – commonly referred to as the Trackman of putting – which will aid us not so much in coaching, but in putter fitting. And Odyssey has also kindly offered their putting system for us to utilise as well. Watch this space for further updates.
GREG’S SEAFOOD: Headland caterer and Vista Executive Chef Greg Pollard has added two seafood dishes – Thai-style Prawn and Mango salad and Seafood Crepe – to this week’s takeaway menu at Eat Out In. With the main kitchen and restaurant remaining non-operational, Greg and his staff are working hard to grow the boxed-meal service and are keen for members to refer a friend. And if a new order comes from a member reference, Greg says ‘we will sneak a reward into your next order’. If used, the code FIRST ORDER will also be recognised, which enables friends or family to receive a discount when they order online. To view this week’s menu, go to www.eatoutin.com.au and order by Monday (March 22). Orders can be made on the website, or texted to 0414 375800.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Par, Women (42 players) – Mary Dowling (plus 4), Lisa Ramen (+2), Christina Claxton (+1). Men (42 players) – Peter Ross (+5), John Christmas (+4), Jacob Mimnaw (+3).
Wednesday, Medley Modified Stableford (30 players) – David Parker (48 points), Neil Oxley (36), Gordon Russell (35).
Thursday, Women, Single Stableford (37 players) – Brooke Wildin (40 points), Josie Ryan (36), Marg Smith (36); Nine holes – Emilia White (14). Men, Single Par (74 players) – Rob Cunningham (plus 3), Neven Daniel (+3), Andrew Gerrard (+2).
Saturday, Mixed Foursomes Championships (reduced to 18 holes because of course conditions) – sponsored by Lendlease Retirement Living (90 players) – Dominique Paice and Wayne West (82), Sharon and Blake Thomas (83), Josie Ryan and Sean McGill (85); nett, Coralie Walsh and Scott Walker (73), Robyn Muir and Dean Smareglia (74), Lynzey Valianes and Barry Newton (75). Overflow, Medley Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of course conditions).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of course conditions).
