From Tony Durkin
PENNANT PRIMED: After ‘practising, practising and then practising some more’ for his role in Headland’s Masters Pennant team, Terry Grogan showed the benefit of that dedication with his best round as a decade-long member. The ex-teacher broke 80 for the first time at Headland and his 79 on Saturday harvested him 42 points, a win in B Grade and the best score in the field of 200 in the Single Stableford event. And not only did he win the day – and the drinks – Terry also scored an eagle when he holed a six-iron at the par-four first, his 10th hole of the round. He also had a birdie at the 12th, eight pars, six bogeys and two doubles, one of which was when his third putt on the ‘lethal’ green at the par-four 15th was still five metres from the cup. A long-time Redcliffe member before he retired to the Sunshine Coast, Terry’s best round on the Peninsula course was par 71 back in the 90s when he was playing off six. And although disappointed that Headland missed the finals in the Masters Division of the 2022 Sunshine Coast Men’s Golf Zone Pennant competition, Terry was unbeaten in each of his three matches. Michael Zeckomske (37 points) won A Grade on Saturday, and Paul Anderson (36) won C Grade.
JOY OF GOLF: The field was only small, yet plenty of joy still emanated from Saturday’s Single Stableford for women. Joy Bullock, with 37 points, won the event and Joy Logan (35) was runner-up. But the most excited in the field of 31 was undoubtedly 25-year member Kerry Longworth, who aced the par-three eighth hole for her second hole-in-one at Headland. And, incredibly, her first – at the par-three 14th – was on August 18, 2020, almost exactly two years to the day from Saturday’s memorable event. But Kerry’s game did fall away somewhat following the ace, which reaped her five points and gave her 21 after eight holes. “I must admit I was really excited, and struggled somewhat coming hole,” explained the 22-marker, who added just six points to her card on the back nine.
AGE SHOOTER: Until last Thursday, Tony McDonough reckoned he had achieved most of his goals in golf – three holes-in-one, four Monthly Mugs and four Monthly Medals. But the 36-year Headland member had another secret milestone stacked away – he wanted to shoot his age before his golfing days ended. And just 11 days after turning 80, the 15-handicapper achieved his goal, scoring 43 Stableford points in Thursday’s Irish Team Stableford for Men, finishing with a par at the 18th for a neat 80 off the stick. “That’s it – nothing more to achieve,” said the long-retired businessman who said he was ‘absolutely ecstatic’ after coming to terms with what he had achieved. Tony shared his big day with Ray Morrison (39 points), Nigel Morrison (35) and John Edwards (30) to not only return the best individual score of the day, but to win the AJ Steel-sponsored Irish Foursomes with the impressive score of 127 points. NOTE: At 83, two-decade member Don Follent shot 81 last year to join the ilk of Ken Anderson and Bob Trevor, other current members of Headland’s ‘age’ club.
ANNIVERSARY WIN: Almost two years to the day when she graduated from Headland’s astoundingly-successful SWING program, Jan Langdon has celebrated with her finest round. Not only did the retired family-business bookkeeper score the most points in the Monday Vets’ Single Stableford by either male or woman, she broke 100 for the first time and shaved almost three strokes from her handicap. Jan had never played golf before she joined SWING in 2020, and started on a 35 handicap, which quickly ‘blew out’ to 39. But her round of 96 on Monday, for her best-ever 43 points from a handicap of 30, has her AGU mark now at 27.6. Monday’s round was exceptional – seven three-point holes, a four-point par and eight two-pointers – and the former A Grade squash player streeted the B Grade field by five points. But it is not the first time she has starred. On Master’s Monday, as one of only two women in the field of 139, she won Division Two with 38 points and two weeks later saluted on ANZAC Day, scoring 41 points to win the Diggers Trophy – the same week she also won the D Grade Monthly Medal. Michael Phillips (41 points) was the best in Men’s Division on Monday. NOTE: Headland’s next SWING program, coached by Assistant Pro Mitch Jacobson, kicks off on Wednesday (August 24).
COLOUR PERFECT: Like his beloved All Blacks, Darcy Brown has endured a somewhat lean trot of late – on the golf course, that is. But the Buderim chiropractor hit back with a vengeance on Wednesday, scoring four-over 76 for 44 points from his 12 handicap and a runaway win in A Grade. And the former New Zealand softball rep, who also played junior Rugby for the Kiwis, claimed teamwork was the chief reason for his best round since he joined the club six years ago. “My regular playing partners, Andy Whitmore, Paul Clarke and Damien Moelands, could sense I was headed for a good score and kept me focused, and encouraged me all the way home,” he said. Three times previously Darcy has scored 39 points in a round, but the ‘pretty solid golf’ mixed some excellent putting, a dash of luck and heaps of encouragement, has provided him with a sporting memory which will help erase memories of the All Blacks’ five losses in six Tests this winter. Burgess Stephenson (42 points) win B Grade and John Waterworth (40) won C Grade.
ZINGY CHRIS: She has continued a strong recent run of form, but 2015 SWING graduate Chris Hall said she was ‘zinging’ following her 39 points in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women. Not only did Chris win the C Grade event, but she returned the best score of the day – on a countback – and the top score she has had since she started on a handicap of 45 seven years ago. And, she has Headland’s Head Pro, Adam Norlander, to thank for her best-ever round. “A few weeks ago, Adam advised me to change the grip on my putter, and today it worked beautifully,” said Chris, who had eight three-point holes in her winning round. The fanatic Brisbane Lions fan, who has reduced her handicap to 30.7 after Thursday’s round, has in recent weeks been runner-up in the C Grade Headland Open Day and the C Grade August Monthly Medal. Pik Chong (also 39 points) won A Grade and Jill Nixey (38) won B Grade.
VICKY’S BEST: A new Cleveland three wood has jumped in the bag of Vicky Sheridan after she broke 80 on Tuesday for the first time at Headland since she departed Maroochy River three years ago. The advertising sales executive shot 12 pars and six bogeys in her round of 79, giving her plus seven in the Single Par event and an easy win in the Women’s event. Following a ‘shocker’ two days earlier – just 30 points – Vicky trialled the three-wood from the Pro Shop and that, plus a much better all-round game, resulted in her best round since she won the Goomeri Open with 78 back in 2021. Vicky arrived at Headland on a 12 handicap, found the course particularly difficult to master and over time her handicap drifted out to 18. But playing three days a week since reducing her working hours, she has gradually worked her way back and her AGU after Tuesday’s win is 12. The highlight of her round was two-over 38 on the front nine, with six successive pars. Malcolm Woods (+4) won the Men’s event.
WHOOPS: Ken Maynard stood on the first tee on Saturday, proud of his latest acquisition – a driver with a new head on a more flexible shaft. But as he took his second practice swing, the head and shaft parted company, with the head flying over his shoulder and finishing in the thick vegetation behind the ninth green. Luckily, a visiting Pennant player witnessed the big event, was able to locate the head and return it to a sheepish Ken who decided the best place for the new head was in basket of his cart. Fortuitously, Ken had slipped his old driver in his bag and used it for the round, which resulted in 34 Stableford points. NOTE: Ken and his wife Vicky are long-term sponsors of the Women’s Monthly Medals at Headland.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (37 players) – A Grade, Sue Jones (36 points), Kathy Atkins (35), Pik Chong (34); B Grade, Jan Langdon (42), Ree Condon (38), Leigh Derigo (35). Men (73 players) – A Grade, Michael Phillips (41), Rob Cunningham (40), Neil Oxley (39); B Grade, Steve Nash (41), Graham Pitt (38), Kevin Howe (38); C Grade, Peter Birt (39), Des McNee (37), Ian McRaild (35).
Tuesday, Single Par, Women (49 players) – Vicky Sheridan (plus 7), Catherine Petersen (+4), Norma Hobson (+4). Men (66 players) – Malcolm Woods (+4), Gary Rugless (+4), Nev Kenzler (+4).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Drew Grant, Safe T Electrical Services (214 players) – A Grade, Darcy Brown (44 points), Josh Holbrook (40), Shane Muller (37); B Grade, Burgess Stephenson (42), Justin Scattini (39), Denis Clifford (38); C Grade, John Waterworth (40), Trevor Gourlay (40), Ross Thompson (39).
Thursday, Women, Single Stableford – sponsors Kym Mason, Kathy Petrie, Mary Gibberd, Sandy Whittle and Kerry Longworth – (113 players) – A Grade, Pik Chong (39 points), Julie Halliday (38), Chris Parkinson (37); B Grade, Jill Nixey (38), Odette Day (37), Maureen Cartledge (37); C Grade, Chris Hall (39), Sue Bolton (38), Raewyn Bissett (36). Men, Irish Team Stableford (82 players) – sponsor Mal Galletly, AJ Steel – Tony McDonough, Ray Morrison, Nigel Morrison and John Edwards (127 points), Marty Dix, Len Dawson, Mark Garcia and Mark Glassop (124), Graham Denovan, Rod O’Leary, Dick Gibberd and Rod McKinnon (115).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsor Headland Senior Women’s Group – (31players) – Joy Bullock (37 points), Joy Logan (35), Kirsten Kaergaard (35). Men – sponsor Don Harris, Australian Leak Detection (200 players) – A Grade, Michael Zeckomske (37), Dan Diachkoff (37), Ken Anderson (37); B Grade, Terry Grogan (42), Darryl Pettingill (40), Garry Clotz (39); C Grade, Paul Anderson (36), Denis Brumby (36), Phil Kornmann (36).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (53 players) – Kirsten Kaergaard (37 points), Matt Pyman (37), Chris Swan (37).
