From Tony Durkin
BIRDIE TREBLE: Ross Itzstein and Brian Richards both joined Headland 35 years ago, were Pennant teammates back in the 90s and for those 35 years have usually played competition golf twice a week. But in that time neither of them has experienced what occurred at the par-three eighth hole on Wednesday – three birdies in the one group. Three members of the group – Ross, Jack Pyke and Club Captain Peter O’Brien – all found the green with their tee shots, while Brian came up just short. Peter was first to putt, and threw down the gauntlet to his playing partners when he nailed a six-metre gem. Jack was next, and he sank his four-metre beauty, which Ross followed with a curling effort from two metres. Brian, who had typically chipped close, then found the cup for what was, under the unusual circumstances, a garden-variety par. Sadly, two of the birdie boys then double-bogeyed the next hole.
SECONDS END: A frustrating run of three second placings in six days earlier in the month came to an end on Saturday when Anne Callanan won the Women’s Single Stableford, albeit by the skinniest of margins. Both Anne (handicap 20) and Kate Wilkie (15) scored 40 Stableford points, with identical scores of 16 and 24 on the first and second nines. But Anne, whose back nine of four-over 41 is her best in 33 years as a Headland member, accumulated 16 points on the final six holes, one better than Kate, to give her victory on a countback. Ironically, Anne started her round on the back and came home sluggishly in the rain, while Kate started slowly with 46 shots on the front, but blitzed the back nine in one-over 38, with birdies at 12, 15 and 18. And despite three successive doubles and a triple on her card on the front nine, Anne played splendidly for the other 14 holes with nine three-pointers on her winning card.
FLYING BRETT: Working in the aviation industry, Brett Adamson is well aware of the importance of a smooth take-off – and that is exactly what he has done in his two best rounds as a Headland member. A Student Liaison Officer with Advance Flight Theories at Sunshine Coast Airport, Brett scored 42 points to win Saturday’s A Grade Single Stableford for Men, and his start was perfect – eight pars and a birdie in his first nine holes, for a return of 23 points from his seven handicap. And although the back nine wasn’t as fruitful – 19 points from three birdies, five bogeys and one par – his one over 73 is his second-best round since he joined the club from Beerwah just on three years ago. In February last year the former chef again flew above the rest of the field, scoring 44 points from his par round, which also featured a one-under 35 on the front nine. Because of work and his pledge to Headland’s Masters Pennant team, Saturday’s round was Brett’s first in a club competition for almost two months and he is hoping the good form continues. Karl Aldrich (39) won B Grade, and Stewart Douglas (also 39) saluted in C Grade.
A GOOD DAY: After what he believes could well be at least a five-year drought, Matt Pyman has scored a win at Headland in what he enthusiastically described as ‘a good day’. The left hander, who doubles as a Senior Analyst with NAB during the week, scored 41 points in the Medley Single Stableford on Sunday to beat the in-form Vicky Sheridan by a point, and he could not have been happier. “It has been a long time since I’ve won – possibly five years,” said Matt, whose work and family commitments limits him to Sunday golf, if he is lucky. The 11-marker made the best of his opportunity with two birdies, eight pars and eight bogeys in his consistent round which featured some ‘good scrounging’ around the greens. And he finished in a blaze of glory – his NTP on the 18th not only reaped him his second birdie of the round, but also boosted his winning booty to $67.
FOURTH WIN: Just eight months into her golfing career, Narelle Hollowood has won her fourth event at Headland, teaming with Kate Wilkie in Thursday’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford. And while she upstaged Kate – she was on the card 12 times – Narelle was quick to mention that the partners shared the honours, and more often than not she was the first to putt. Narelle and Kate scored 48 points, with a four-point birdie each, eight three-pointers and eight two-point holes on the card, on a day when just four points separated the top 10 pairs. For Narelle, who graduated from SWING in April last year and then waited eight months to become a member, it was her second Fourball victory, to go alongside a win in a three-club event and a Single Stableford, which was sponsored by her own company, Skirt Sports Australia. But her journey has been somewhat of a rollercoaster, with her starting handicap of 23 blowing out to 28 before ‘settling’ around 22, from which she played on Thursday. NOTE: Narelle and Kate will team up again on September 18, when they contest the Bribie Women’s Classic.
SWING SUCCESS: When one member of their regular group withdrew on Wednesday and the foursome became a threesome, Peter McMillan converted to a swinger with both Brian Garnett and Peter Keane. And it turned out to be his lucky day because 35-year member Brian scored 38 points and, when added to Peter’s 34, the 72 points won the Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford event. The pair usually play together each Wednesday, and have done for the past 14 years, but this was one of their better days. Brian was particularly consistent, with 19 points on each nine and 14 two-point holes, three threes and the lone one-pointer on his card, while Peter scored 16 and 18, with four three-point holes his highlight. In the Single Stableford event played in conjunction, Jeff Jones scored 39 points to beat Warren Gee on a countback.
MORE JOY: For the second successive week 2014 SWING graduate Joy Logan has reason to celebrate her golf. Joy scored an impressive 41 points to win Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Women, following her runner-up finish three days earlier. Although she has a PB of 42 points – when she was playing from her starting handicap of 45 – her breakthrough 99 off the stick on Tuesday is her best-ever round. “It was due to my putting,” said Joy, whose golfing philosophy is that good putting can reduce her score by at least 10 shots. The winner of two Monthly Medals since she started golf eight years ago, Joy returned a very consistent round on Tuesday with two four-point holes, three three-pointers and 11 two pointers but, pleasingly for her, no wipes. And, to add to the enjoyment, she collected the NTP on the par-three 14th, which she converted in to a birdie. Tim Rees (39 points) won the Men’s event.
CLOSE MATES: Grahame Denovan and Rod O’Leary are close mates, mix socially with their partners and play golf together on at least two of three Thursdays, but it has been ‘yonks’ since they last won as partners. But that changed last week when the pair scored an imposing 50 points to win Thursday’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford, and street the field by four points. Although Grahame was adamant the kudos for the winning score should be shared, he carded 27 of the 50 points, had 42 points on his own and scored back-to-back four-point birdies at holes 11 and 12. A member for 22 years after moving from Townsville, Grahame says the magnificent Headland course is in as good condition as he has seen it, and despite his poor recent form, he still loves his three to four rounds a week. Besides Grahame’s two birdies, the winners had 10 three-pointers and six two-point holes on their card.
PATRON’S DAY: Headland’s Annual Patron’s Day, once again generously sponsored by Simon Whittle, will be held on Sunday, September 25, and on-line entries have opened. Played as a Mixed American Foursomes event with a shotgun start at 12.30pm, the fun afternoon of golf will offer extra prizes plus snacks in the Clubhouse after the round, all for just $14. Because Patron’s Day is exclusively a mixed pairs event, there will be no overflow competition played. However, those members without a partner should contact the office and every effort will be made to find partners for the day. Entries close on Wednesday, September 21.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (52 players) – Joy Logan (41 points), Leeanne Ptak (40), Norma Hobson (39). Men (68 players) – Tim Rees (39), Nigel Morrison (38), Graeme Warne (37).
Wednesday, Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford – sponsor, Good Doctors (191 players) – Brian Garnett and Peter McMillan (72 points), Mark Davis and Warren Gee (70), Ian Harper and Bruce Heseltine (69), Graham Pitt and Gordon Russell (68); Single Stableford (191 players) – Jeff Jones (39), Warren Gee (39), Ian Harper (39).
Thursday, Fourball Best Ball Stableford, Women – sponsors The Crest Ladies, Coralie Snowball, Marg Smith, Julie Lewis and Lesley O’Leary – (115 players) – Narelle Hollowood and Kate Wilkie (48 points), Janette Ritchie and Colleen Sarquis (47), Gwen Nancarrow and Di Stark (47). Men (87 players) – Grahame Denovan and Rod O’Leary (50 points), Peter Elsworth and Attilio Bertinato (46), Jim Snowball and Alf Gloster (45).
Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor Glen Grimish, CBRE Sunshine Coast – Women (27 players) – Anne Callanan (40 points), Kate Wilkie (40), Monica Knowles (36). Men (202 players) – A Grade, Brett Adamson (42), Paul Garth (41), Darren Walters (40); B Grade, Karl Aldrich (39), David O’Mahoney (39), Ross Roberts (39); C Grade, Stewart Douglass (39), Ed Hoey (39), Bruno Ciott (38).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (60 players) – Matt Pyman (41 points), Vicky Sheridan (40), John Cleary (39).
