From Tony Durkin

CONSISTENT KEN: Not only has Ken Maynard’s golf been consistently good for the past six weeks, but he has displayed the same form of symmetry in his Monthly medal victories. The 75-year-old, who has been a Headland member since 1999, continued his good form of late when he shot 89 from his 22 handicap to return nett 67, the best result in Saturday’s Monthly Medal, and a win in C Grade. It is his third Medal win, his previous two five years apart, in 2010 and 2015. Saturday’s round reflected his consistency of late – two scores of 41 points in the Vets’ Living Choice Classic a month ago the highlight – with two pars, 15 bogeys and just one double on his card, the result of a ‘sloppy’ putt at the 11th hole that lipped out. “But until six weeks ago my game was so bad I was thinking I should take up bowls,” he joked. Graham Smith (69 nett) won A Grade, Mick Morris (69) won B Grade and Kathy Atkins (72) won the Women’s Medal, while Assistant Course Superintendent Steve Hudson (74) returned the best gross. 

COP THAT: Gun golfer Barry Newton has saved his best-ever round of golf for National Police Remembrance Day, and could not be prouder – or have been more emotional. The four-handicapper, who lives adjacent to the 17th fairway, shot two-under par 70 in Thursday’s Single Stableford event for 42 points, and was runner-up to Garth Seymour (43) on the day. Barry’s dad, who passed away recently, was a Police Officer, and introduced his son to the game of golf as a five-old in the early 70s on the nine-hole, sand-green course at Wallangarra. “He was a wonderful man, loved the fact he taught me to play golf, and I still think of him every day,” said an emotive Barry, who scorched the front nine on Thursday with four birdies in his 33, for 23 points. “My previous best round here was 71 quite a few years ago, but this is one I will never forget.” Garth (handicap 20), returned to form following a long run of outs, with nine three-point holes on his card.

LESSON LEARNT: A recent lesson in the simulator with Assistant Pro Mitch Jacobson may well have been the answer, but Leigh Derigo is still confused as to why she suddenly became a much better golfer, scoring a phenomenal 45 points, the best score in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women. Back to regular golf after a recent hiatus following health and family issues/commitments, Leigh revealed her game suddenly came together on Thursday with her tee shots longer and straighter, her chipping much more effective and her putting on song – she one-putted five greens, and two-putted nine. “I had a recent lesson from Mitch, which has obviously worked a treat,” she explained following her C Grade-winning round in which she scored four points on four holes and three points on four holes, but also penned three one-pointers on her exceptional card. Embarrassed by her handicap of 38 from which she played on Thursday, Leigh can now rest a little easier – her new mark is 31.6. Will Sprake was another superb performer, winning A Grade with 43 points. 

BROWNED OFF: Steve Browne may have won Wednesday’s Single Stableford (sponsored by Justin Scattini of Ord Minnett Private Wealth), but the former Telstra mobile phone retailer still wasn’t totally satisfied. “I had two wipes, and I’m not happy that my handicap is 27,” said Steve, who has been a Headland member for 23 years and won his first Monthly Medal in August. But his winning C Grade score of 42 points showed that when things went well, they went very well. His card included eight three-point holes and a four-point par at the par-five tenth, and Steve – who now lives across the road from the club – says his chipping and putting has improved because of regular visits to the practise area. But the practise will soon be put on hold as Steve embarks on a six-week overseas trip, finishing with a visit to Ireland, the birthplace of his late mum who passed away last October, aged 96. 

BIRDIE RUSH: Dean Smareglia and Matt Potter have worked together in Dean’s gardening and landscaping business, and that collaboration overflowed to their golf when they teamed to win Tuesday’s Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford with 50 points. “They’re calling us Spieth and Thomas,” quipped Dean, a reference to the domination of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in the recent President’s Cup event. The pair play together regularly and despite Dean dominating the card with 27 of the 50 points, he said Matt deserved the praise. “Playing off 19, Matt birdied the 15th, the toughest hole on the course, for five points. How good is that,” beamed Dean, whose handicap on the day was seven. The pair scored also added two four-pointers to their card, with birdies at the 12th (Matt) and 16th (Dean), had five birdies overall and just the lone one-pointer, at the par five second hole.

RIP FRAN SCANLAN: After celebrating her 95th birthday on September 17, 35-year-plus Headland member Fran Scanlan has passed away. Failing health forced her to move from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane in 2019 to be nearer family after she had lost her husband, Jim, the previous year. Fran had been an active member prior to leaving and, small of stature, was well-known for her ‘helicopter’ swing. She is survived by daughters, Jo-Anne and Mechelle, nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Fran’s funeral will be held tomorrow (Tuesday, October 4) at 11am at St Peter Chanel Catholic Church, The Gap, Brisbane. 

WEEKLY RESULTS:

Monday, Vets, Two-Ball Ambrose (84 players) – Alan Murray and Chris Byrnes (63.5 nett), Bruce Reid and John Sims (64.75), Warren Selvage and Greg Doolan (66), Des McNee and Ross Wedmaeir (66), Suzanne and Col Pledge (66).

Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford 116 players) – Dean Smareglia and Matt Potter (50 points), Patrick Carmody and Paul Stephens (48), Don Kitson and John Robertson (47).

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Justin Scattini, Ord Minnett Private Wealth – (198 players) – A Grade, Tony Pattinson (38 points), Mark Bown (36), Peter Ruscoe (36); B Grade, Steve Rose (40), Ian Harper (38), Wayne Phair (38); C Grade, Steve Browne (42), Haenga Pirini (38), Dave Kelso (38).

Thursday, Single Stableford, Women – sponsors, Trish Marsden and Monica Antony, National Police Remembrance Day (96 players) – A Grade, Wil Sprake (43 points), Bev Barnes (38), Althea McLean (37); B Grade, Sue Bolton (38), Carmel Visser (38), Kath Barford (37); C Grade, Leigh Derigo (45), Deb Prince (40), Carolyn Schwarz (36).

Men (85 players) – Garth Seymour (43), Barry Newton (42), Mick Kelsey (40).

Saturday, Monthly Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 – Women (22 players) – Kathy Atkins (72), Kerry Longworth (72), Vicky Sheridan (73).

Men (210 players) – A Grade, Graham Smith (69), Mal Bradshaw (69), Ken Anderson (70); B Grade, Mick Morris (69), Chris Klazema (69), Paul Clarke (69); C Grade, Ken Maynard (67), Russell Dowling (70), Mark Gersbach (71). Overall gross – sponsor Brian Kesby – Steve Hudson (74).

Sunday, Medley Single Stroke (30 players) – Garry Marr (70 nett), Carolyn Schwarz (72), Charlotte Ridley (73).