From Tony Durkin
MEN’S CHAMPS: Four birdies on a flawless afternoon front nine of 32 from the pairing of Adam Richards and Scott Walker was the highlight of the 2022 Headland Men’s Foursomes Championships on Saturday, won for the second time by the talented duo. Winners for the first time back in 2016, Adam and Scott led with a three-over 75 after the morning 18 holes, then took complete control in the afternoon after birdies at the second, sixth, eighth and ninth holes. This allowed them to turn one-under the card overall, before stumbling somewhat on the final nine holes with four-over, their only double bogey of the Championship coming at the par-four 17th. The Champions’ 36-hole card revealed eight birdies, and their rounds of 75-72 gave them an impressive total of 147, and a win by 12 strokes from Headland ground staff members, and mates, Steve Hudson and Aaron Shaw (159), with four-time winners Ash Reck and Wayne West (160) a shot away in third. Former teacher Terry Grogan capped off an exceptional week of golf when he teamed with Chris Klazema to win the 36-hole nett (143) from the father-and-son team of Matt and Jack Fisher (146). The Men’s Foursomes was once again sponsored by club member Mick Kinnear, of Zero Termite and Pest.
THANKS OTTO: Retired teacher Errol Greiner has discovered the perfect relaxation elixir – 90 minutes with an eight-week-old before golf. The 66-year-old co-winner of Wednesday’s Fourball Aggregate Stableford turned in his best round in his 2½ years as a Headland member and paid tribute to his pacifier – grandson Otto. “I help out his mum some mornings, nursing Otto while she prepares for the day, and the experience makes me unbelievably calm,” quipped Errol following his 40 Stableford points which contributed to him and partner Dion Southey score the ladder-leading 79 points. The highlight of Errol’s round was a birdie at the par-five seventh hole, which garnered the 24 handicapper five points in his best-ever round of 92, with no wipes on his card. Dion (handicap 20) also played his part, with eight three-pointers in his round of 89, also with no wipes. The pair had not previously met, and playing with complete strangers is one of the aspects of club golf Errol particularly enjoys. John Hensby (44 points) won the individual Stableford played in conjunction.
GROOVY WIL: It may have been ‘maybe three years’ since she last won at Headland, but Wil Sprake felt ‘in the groove’ as the 21-marker scored 41 points to return the best score in Thursday’s Single Stableford event for Women. A pioneer of sorts for female AFL players when she played one-off games for regional Victorian town Bessiebelle for three successive years back in the early 70s, Wil said her ‘newish’ sport of golf felt easy as she carded eight three-pointers, seven two-pointers and just three one-point holes in her round of 89. “And there were no wipes,” celebrated the former Brisbane A Grade squash player who took up golf 12 years ago at Headland with the encouragement of her partner, Michael Collins. A broken toe and other personal issues have taken Wil away from golf for some time, but the enjoyment she gained from Thursday’s round – which won A Grade – has whet her appetitive for more success. Wendy Mosley (39 points) won B Grade and Deb Price (36) won C Grade. Rod O’Leary (41 points) won the Men’s event.
PERFECT PRACTISE: Former teacher Terry Grogan unconditionally prescribes to the theory that practise makes perfect, and has a $300 voucher for winning Headland’s annual two-day Vets’ Living Choice Classic as proof. The 11-marker scored twin 80s, with 39 Stableford points on both Monday and Tuesday, for an eclectic score of 48 points. “Playing Pennants this year has helped my golf immensely. I realised that playing courses foreign to me, I had to hit it straight, and that is what I have been practising, and implementing,” he said. And for an eclectic, his round on day two of the event was near perfect, with 11 points accumulated on the four holes – five, eight, 11 and 14 – at which he had scored a meagre four points the previous day. Over the two days his card revealed one four-point hole and 13 three-pointers – exceptional scoring. With his $300 winner’s booty Terry intends adding a five-wood to his Mizuno clubs, giving him the matching set.
WENDY’S WIN: A breakthrough victory in the Vets’ annual Living Choice Classic has made a long wait for Wendy Crombie well worthwhile. Wendy won the women’s division of the two-day event – held on Monday and Tuesday – with an eclectic score of 47 points in just her tenth competition game since becoming a Headland member last October. However, she and husband Ian had been on the wait list since January 2020 and not long after becoming a full member, Wendy suffered shoulder bursitis. “But this win has given me the motivation to start playing more often, and in more competitions,” she said after her rounds of 40 on Monday and 33 on Tuesday, from a handicap of 22 which has subsequently been reduced to 18.4. Although Tuesday’s card revealed three pick-ups, she managed to cover the few slipups from Monday and her eclectic score disclosed three four-point holes and seven three-pointers. And while she is happy with her 25-year-old Henry Griffitts clubs, Wendy thinks may well spend her $300 winner’s voucher on a rescue club from the Pro Shop.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Living Choice Classic, Single Stableford, Women (62 players) – Division One, Sandy Whittle (36 points), Chris Parkinson (36); Division Two, Ginette Hewlett (39), Tove Larsen (38); Division Three, Thelma Allen (37), Trish Murphy (36). Men (77 players) – Division One, Ross Kelly (37), Tony Coad (37); Division Two, Mark Beswick (36), Bob Hunter (3); Division Three, Rob Marshall (38), John Alsbury (37).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (60 players) – Division One, Gay Parmenter (38), Yvonne Henry (35); Division Two (Di Stark (41), Gail Young (38); Division Three, Darlynn Gillrie (38), Ree Condon (36). Men (76 players) – Division One, Richard Senior (42), John Langdon (39); Division two, Doug Hart (37), Mark Beswick (37); Division Three, Steve Eggins (38), Peter Friedlander (38).
Two-day Eclectic (36 holes) – Women, Division One, Robyn Boreham (45 points), Marg Smith (43), Gwen Nancarrow (42); Division Two, Bev Kelly (46), Judith Elks (45), Valerie O’Brien (44); Division Three, Penny Hephner (46), Leigh Derigo (43), Barb Marrington (43). Men, Division One, Dennis Taylor (44), Jock McLaughlin (43), Warren Selvage (43); Division Two, Tony Briffa (44), Robert Pixley (44), Bruce Heseltine (44); Division Three, Mal McDougall (46), Bill Barford (45), Ken Maynard (45). Overall winners – Women, Wendy Crombie (47); Men, Terry Grogan (48).
Wednesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Aggregate – sponsor, Graeme and Jack Nicholas, Hometree (200 players) – Errol Greiner and Dion Southey (79 points), Wayne Phair and Richard Ryan (78), Bob Lane and John Harris (77), Graham Cartledge and Peter Gablonski (76). Single Stableford (200 players) – John Hensby (44 points), John Harris (40), Errol Greiner (40).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsor, Narelle Hollowood, Skirt Sports Australia – (108 players) – A Grade, Wil Sprake (41 points), Kathy Atkins (39), Robyn Muir (39); B Grade, Wendy Mosley (39), Rhonda Parry (37), Tracey O’Connor (37); C Grade, Deb Prince (36), Joy Murray (36), Helen Sedgmen (35). Men (87 players) – Rod O’Leary (41), Josh Poole (39), Nev Kenzler (39).
Saturday, Men’s Foursomes Championships – sponsor Mick Kinnear, Zero Termite and Pest – (120 players) – Adam Richards and Scott Walker (75,72 – 147), Steve Hudson and Aaron Shaw (79, 80 – 159), Ash Reck and Wayne West (82, 78 – 160), Ben Duncombe and Brendan Duncan (82, 79 – 161); nett – Terry Grogan and Chris Klazema (68, 75 – 143), Matt and Jack Fisher (67.5, 78.5 – 146), Andrew Fisher and Don Harris (78.5, 68.5 – 147), Matt Hetherington and Ciaran Fenton (73.5, 75.5 – 149); 18-hole gross, morning – Darren Walters and Darren Macleod (79); afternoon – Sean McGill and Adam Rydwanski (78); 18-hole nett, morning – Peter Gablonski and Gary Savil (71.5); afternoon – Roger Van Ginkel and Jon Welch (66.5).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (56 players) – John Cleary (38 points), Gwen Nancarrow (38), Derrick Boggart (37).
