From Tony Durkin 

FLAWLESS JOSH: Reigning Junior Champion Josh Holbrook has announced himself ready to challenge for the major title at the upcoming Club Championships with a flawless four-under par 68 at Headland on Saturday. The Grade 12 student started in style with a birdie at the first then birdied the seventh and ninth for a front nine of 33, before coming home in 35 with a birdie at the par-five 13th. In just his third under-par round at his home course and his first-ever bogey-free round, Josh (handicap one) returned 41 points in the Single Stableford event but was beaten for the A Grade prize by Dennis Mikolic (handicap 12). Another junior, Ben Duncombe (plus 2), also declared himself a Club Championship threat with a four-under 68 on a card that revealed seven birdies and three bogeys. Three-time Club Champion Adam Richards is ready to challenge once again following his round of 69, with six birdies. 

MAGIC WAND: Following just on two years in what she calls the putting horrors, former Headland Women’s Champion Sue Jones waved her magic wand on Thursday and scored 41 Stableford points to easily win the A Grade competition. Although she had a wash on the sixth hole and did not putt out, Sue had a miserly 21 putts on the other 17 holes using what she described as the ‘paintbrush’ grip, a slight variation of the now-popular pencil grip. And, because the course was extremely wet with scant run, Sue revealed she took two extra clubs for each shot 100 metres or more and the plan worked a treat. Her impressive card revealed one birdie, nine pars and seven bogeys for the 17 holes on which she scored and as a result her handicap, which was once in mid-single figures, is down to 11.5 Kerrie Tibbits (34 points) win B Grade and Women’s Director of Golf, Jane Boaler, won C Grade with 32 points.

BEST EVER: Former Sunshine Coast Daily news production editor Graeme Brown fashioned his own story on Saturday with a 16-year best score of 43 Stableford points. Graeme (handicap 21) returned the highest score of the day in the big field of 216, winning C Grade and eclipsing even the respective four-under par scores of juniors Josh Holbrook and Ben Duncombe. The former West Australian, who now ‘moves trucks’ for Daimler Trucks at Forest Glen since his retrenchment from The Daily, had a brilliant back nine of 25 points with 16 points from 14 to 18. And to add to the narrative of his exceptional day, Graeme – along with his three playing partners – wiped the par-four fourth hole.

OPEN DAY: Entries are now being accepted for Women’s Open Day, to be held at Headland on Monday, June 28. An 8am shotgun start will get the field underway, with a single stroke event to be played in three divisions. Cost for the event, which is being sponsored by Jodie McDonnel of Century 21 on Duporth, is $20, and entries close at 5pm on Thursday, June 17. 

GLENN AGAIN: His good form of late – and subsequent handicap reduction – may have cost him a berth in Headland’s B Grade Pennant team, but Glenn Kelly now has his sights set on the upcoming Club Championships. The Headland junior of two decades past has had three outstanding rounds of late – a five-under 67 three weeks ago, one-under 71 on Thursday and a par round two days earlier – dipping his handicap from 5.2 to 2.7. Tuesday’s round of 72 gave him plus three and a win in the Medley Single Par event, a somewhat leaner result that his plus nine two weeks earlier, while on Thursday he scored 40 points to win the Single Stableford. Realising he will have to play out of skin for four rounds of the Championships to be a chance of winning, Glenn’s short-term goal is to make the seeded positions on the final day. With his game ‘building’, he returned two birdies, 14 pars and two bogeys in Tuesday’s steady round, with four birdies and three bogeys on Thursday. 

OH NO, BRUNO: Plenty of Headland golfers were disappointed when a sudden downpour on Wednesday closed the course, and caused the abandonment of the Single Stableford competition. But no-one was more downcast than early-starter Bruno Ciot who finished his round before the heavens opened and dumped 20ml of rain on the course in less than half an hour. The octogenarian, who is the grandfather of champion Sunshine Coast surfer Jordan Mercer, scored a leaderboard-heading 39 points despite having an eight and a nine on his card. He started in style, with a four-point par at the first, and finished equally as impressively with five-successive three pointers. Ironically, Bruno’s best score in 2021 was 38 points back in February – playing in a three-club event. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To celebrate Headland Golf Club’s 66th birthday, a special Fourball Best Ball Stableford will be held on Saturday, June 5. Following what has been a tough past 12 months for the club, members are urged to offer their full support. Entries for the Birthday Fourball will open at 6pm on Saturday, May 29.

CHAMPIONSHIPS: Headland members have until 5pm today (Monday, May 10) to nominate for the club’s most prestigious competition, the 2021 Women’s and Men’s Club Championships. Both Championships kick off the following Saturday, May 15, with the men playing 36 holes on consecutive days over consecutive weekends, and the women alternating between successive Saturdays and Thursdays. 

NICKNAMES: Pest exterminator Mark Gersbach is not as aggressive on the golf course as he was as a champion hockey player, but still carries the nickname Fruity which he earned back in his teenage years. Mark explains that he always had a dislike for hockey goalkeepers, whom he believed had an unfair advantage because of the protective padding they wore, and he often resorted to ‘physical contact’ on them. Because of this hostility, a teammate once told him he was ‘as nutty as a fruitcake’ and – as often happens – the moniker has stuck. Any Headland member keen to divulge the nickname of a fellow member, and its origin, should email atdurkin@bigpond.net.au

EAT OUT IN: Vista Executive Chef Greg Pollard has tagged this week’s Eat Out In menu Autumnal, an obvious reference to brilliant weather we are currently experiencing. Roast Pumpkin Soup, Stuffed Mushrooms and Butter Chicken head the menu, which also includes the always popular Grilled Barramundi. And Baked New York Cheesecake is a sweet addition. The takeaway menu is available for viewing at www.eatoutin.com.au and orders should be lodged by 5pm today (Monday, May 10). Orders can be made on the website, or texted to 0414 375800.

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Tuesday, Medley Single Par (98 players) – Glenn Kelly (plus 3), James Fleming (+2), Christina Claxton (+2).

Wednesday, Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of course conditions).

Thursday, Single Stableford, Women, (95 players) A Grade, Sue Jones (41 points), Julie Halliday (36), Chris Parkinson (34); B Grade, Kerrie Tibbits (34), Trudi Russell (34), Wendy Mosley (33); C Grade, Jane Boaler (32), Lesley Wilson (32), Susie Meade (31).

Men, Single Stableford (73 players) – Glenn Kelly (40 points), Mark Garcia (37), Dennis Taylor (37).

Saturday, Single Stableford, Women (33 players) – Sharon Thomas (38 points), Naomi Doyle (37), Gwen Nancarrow (35). Men (216 players) A Grade, Dennis Mikolic (41 points), Josh Holbrook (41), Tony Dunford (41); B Grade, Paul Morton (41), David Cekulis (39), Don Harris (38); C Grade, Graeme Brown (43), Barry Potter (38), Stephen Van Der Linde (38).