From Tony Durkin
TWO FROM TWO: Ryan Tomlinson rarely gets to play Saturdays, and even less on Sundays, but at the weekend the Real Estate sales agent cracked the rare double – for two victories. With his company Century 21 on Duporth co-sponsoring Saturday’s Monthly Medal, Ryan worked in the morning, arrived at the club at noon, changed in the locker room and shot 80 from his 13 handicap for a nett 67, and a two-stroke win in B Grade. Then on Sunday, making his Pennant debut for Headland’s B Grade team, he beat his Caloundra opponent 4&2 to cap off a very successful, and satisfying, weekend of golf. Ryan joined Headland eight years ago when he arrived from Johannesburg and because he rarely plays competition golf, his last win was more than two years ago. But he gets in plenty of practise, often playing nine holes before work. Despite a double bogey at the par-five 13th courtesy of a ‘couple of duffs’, Ryan had nine pars and seven bogeys on his card on Saturday, with a birdie at the par-three 18th ‘an awesome way’ to finish to his round. Four handicapper Shane Muller (69) shot one-over 73 to win the A Grade Medal, while Greg Smith (69) won C Grade.
HELEN’S BACK: Bitterly disappointed at having to forfeit her place in the B Grade Match Play Championship final a month ago because of a back injury, Helen Fraser made amends on Saturday with a slashing victory in the Monthly Medal. Helen, who has been a Headland member for 32 years and has now won nine Medals, returned to the course in style after extensive physio treatment for strained back muscles, with a nett 68 from her 17 handicap. It was her best round since 41 Stableford points back in early May for the back-to-back B Grade Club Champion, who says she putted the lights out – 26 putts in her round, with a miserly 11 on the back nine. Apart from her brilliant putting, the other highlight of Helen’s round was a birdie at the par-five 15th.
JOSIE’S OPEN: Despite having more than doubled her handicap since a bout of Covid last year, Josie Ryan has prevailed in Headland’s 2022 Annual Women’s Open, sponsored by Jodie McDonell of Century 21 on Duporth. Playing from the Championship tees on a handicap of 10 (AGU 7.9), Josie returned a seven-over par 80 to win Monday’s event by four strokes from fellow member Sharon Thomas. And while she was disappointed two of her bogeys were on the par-three eighth and eighteenth – holes she considers two of the easiest on the course – the 19-time Club Champion was delighted there were no double bogeys on her card. “I have not been playing well for a while,” said Josie, who described her recent form as ‘pretty bad’ and explained Covid had really sapped her energy levels. But on Monday she chipped and putted well, with just 11 putts on her two-over back nine of 39. Josie also won the Senior event – which was scored as a Stableford – with 39 points, the equal best score of the day. Gwen Nancarrow (97) won the B Grade gross, while Vicky Sheridan (73) won the A Grade nett, with Sue Bolton (77) returning the best B Grade nett score. Headland members Trish Murphy ((38 points) and Denise Hutchison (39), won the B and C Grade Stableford events, respectively. NOTE: When Josie Ryan joined Headland just on three decades ago, her handicap was 13, and her lowest mark in that time has been 1.7.
MOORE FIRSTS: Former Men’s Captain Ian Moore scored two firsts on Wednesday – his first ace, and his first Mid-Week Medal victory. And both have come on the back of more golf following a recent bout of health-related issues. Once a two-handicapper during his 26 years as a Headland member, Ian broke 80 for the first time in quite a while with his 67 nett easily the best in the field of 193. He had 10 pars, seven bogeys and an ace at the par-three fifth, and revealed the round was his first in a ‘long, long time’ when he had experienced no pain from an arthritic condition. “I’m starting to enjoy my golf again,” said Ian, who is also back playing Masters Pennants. He had ‘retired’ from Pennants two years ago following the death of his great mate, Headland Golf Manager Brent Dalby, who was his regular caddy. Bruce Reid (69) won B Grade, Ian Russell (70) won C Grade and Pelican Waters member Blaike Perkins (handicap plus 5) returned one-over 73 for the best gross.
STUNNED RESULT: Two days after her amazing score of 45 Stableford points – which easily won Thursday’s event for Women at Headland – Rhonda Parry said she was ‘still stunned’ by her sudden improvement. Because of a spate of poor golf and moving into a new house at Pelican Waters, the 2014 SWING graduate had not played for five weeks before teeing off on Wednesday when she said even her ‘duffs worked’. Highlighted by a four-point par at the fourth hole, Rhonda accumulated her 45 points with eight three-pointers, eight two-pointers and just the lone single point hole. And she waged an 18-hole battle for the B Grade win with playing partner and Women’s Captain Jane Boaler, who scored 42 points. As a result of her great round – her second-best since 44 points two years ago – Rhonda’s handicap has been reduced from 30, to 27.6. Pik Chong (41) won A Grade, while Chrissy Eggins (43) won C Grade with another outstanding round. Playing off plus one, Assistant Pro Mitch Jacobson shot four birdies in his three-under 69 for 38 Stableford points to win the men’s Thursday competition.
MEN’S PENNANT: With a slashing win over the crack Maroochy River team, Headland’s A Grade Men’s Pennant side has continued its impressive unbeaten run in the 2022 Sunshine Coast Men’s Golf Zone Pennant competition. Headland beat Maroochy River 5½ -1½ at Noosa on Sunday and with one match remaining, will finish atop the ladder irrespective of the result of next weekend’s match with Peregian, at Mount Coolum. Impressive again on Sunday was teenager Ben Duncombe who beat seasoned Maroochy River ex-Pro Dave Grenfell, 3&1. Club Champion Adam Richards also scored a major victory, beating the talented ex-Caloundra Club Champion, Jared Whittle, 5&3, while Adam Rydwanksi won 5&4, Dave Rattray 2&1 and Sean McGill 1-up. Jamie Holbrook squared his match but Headland’s Assistant Course Superintendent, Steve Hudson, was beaten for the first time this season, losing 1-down. And after losing 4-3 to Caloundra at Nambour, Headland’s No.1 Masters team must defeat the Headland Roos at Peregian on Sunday to keep their finals hopes alive. Neil Oxley (7&5) had a massive win, Brett Stephenson (3&2) continued on his winning way, as did Terry Grogan (2&1). However, Mark Henricks (4&3), Peter Perrett (1-down), Chris Pace (3&2) and Peter Dunn (3&1) were beaten. The Roos, conversely, scored a massive win, beating Gympie 6-1 at Nambour, with Simon Richardson (5&4), Burgess Stephenson (5&3) and Peter Richardson (4&3) leading the way. Dennis Mikolic (2-up), Warren Selvage (3&2) and Justin Wash (3&2) were also winners, but Graham Newlove was beaten 4&3. For a finals berth, Headland’s B Grade team needs results to go their way after being beaten 4-3 by Caloundra at Nambour. Michael Thomas (4&3), rookie Ryan Tomlinson (4&2) and Steve Bell (3&2) were the victors, but Damien Moelands (6&5), Aaron Duff (4&2), Rhett Charlton (4&2) and skipper Matt Hetherington (4&2) were beaten.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Headland Women’s Open – sponsor Jodie McDonell, Century 21 on Duporth – (49 players) – A Grade, gross, Josie Ryan (80), Sharon Thomas (84); nett, Vicky Sheridan (73), Roslyn Anderson (75); B Grade, gross, Gwen Nancarrow (97), Kim Cummins (101); nett, Sue Bolton (77), Michelle Linklater (77); Stableford – Seniors, Josie Ryan (39 points), Trish Murphy (38); A Grade, Jan Trethewey (33), Christine Michael (33); B Grade, Trish Murphy (38), Kathy Petrie (32), C Grade, Denise Hutchison (39), Christine Hall (34).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (47 players) – Cathy Roberts (38 points), Linda Cannon (37), Christine Hall (36). Men (66 players) – Martyn Dix (37), Peter Raymond (37), Stephen Woolcott (37).
Wednesday, Medley Mid-Week Medal – sponsor James Brownsworth, Innovative Planning Solutions (193 players) – A Grade, Ian Moore (67 nett), George Olzard (71), Josh Holbrook (73); B Grade, Bruce Reid (69), Garry Clotz (71), George Stoufis (71); C Grade, Ian Russell (70), Graham Clarke (70), Mark Gersbach (72); Overall gross – sponsor Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australasia – Blaike Perkins (73).
Thursday, Single Stableford Women – sponsors Jan Langdon, Janette Ritchie, Sue Harris, Colleen Sarquis – (96 players) – A Grade, Pik Chong (41 points), Leeanne Ptak (37), Julie Welsh (36); B Grade, Rhonda Parry (45), Jane Boaler (42), Anita Boyle (39); C Grade, Chrissy Eggins (43), Sue Bolton (40), Cheryle Kitson (38). Men (85), Mitch Jacobson (38), Geoff Sawyer (38), Garry Marr (37).
Saturday, Monthly Medal Single Stableford – sponsors Mooneys Insurance Brokers and Century 21 on Duporth – Women (27 players) – Helen Fraser (68 nett), Monica Knowles (71), Kirsten Kaergaard (73) – gross, Josie Ryan (84).
Men (198 players) – A Grade, Shane Muller (69), Alan Brooker (69), Jai Straney (71); B Grade, Ryan Tomlinson (67), Greg McDonald (69), Graeme Warne (70); C Grade, Greg Smith (69), Bruno Ciott (71), Jonny Clarke (72); Overall gross – sponsor Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australasia– Josh Holbrook (72).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (49 players) – Susie Fenton (39 points), Steve Ridley (39), Rian Mitchell (39).
