From Tony Durkin
SID’S SUPER 64: He could not comprehend why suddenly everything came together in the one round, but Sid Ryan found it even more difficult to recall when, or even if, he had returned a better score. The former GM of Buderim Private Hospital smashed the entire Medley Mid-Week Medal field of 211 players on Wednesday to win C Grade with 64 nett, a massive eight shots better than his handicap. “I clearly remember a score of 47 points, a long, long time ago,” said the 29-year Headland member who plays every Wednesday and Saturday. Sid recalls that on that particular day his putter was red hot, similar to Wednesday when he ‘drained a few good putts’ in his round of 97 from his 33 handicap. Although Sid has previously won three Monthly Mugs, it was his first Medal victory. Groundsman Jay Gourlay (69 nett) won A Grade, David W Smith (66) won B Grade and Jamie Holbrook (77) returned the best gross score.
TILLY FIRES: She will be embarrassed to read this, but when Golf Operations Manager Tilly Poulsen arrived at Headland early last year, she was accompanied by a very hefty golf reputation. The former member of Kingston Heath, an ex-Victoria Amateur State Team member and formerly playing off plus three, Tilly was expected to light up the Headland layout. Work commitments however, particularly at the weekend, has restricted her to a mere five games in 18 months. But on Sunday she finally found some game, being one of seven to break their handicap in the Medley Wood Duck Challenge, and scoop a massive $151.25 from the generous prize pool offered by sponsors James Kidd (Eko Finance) and Chris Klazema (Modbathrooms). Playing off a handicap of five, Tilly shot two-over 75 (the women’s par is 73) which included three birdies in her one-under 36 on the back nine. And to make it a hugely successful day for the women, schoolgirl Charlotte Ridley (nett 71), also finished among the winners and claimed her fifth Junior Medal. Club Champion Adam Richards shot one-under 71 and former Champion Adam Rydwanksi par 72, with 10 birdies between therm.
LUCKY 13: Rookie golfers a few years ago, Ben Brown and Wayne Cassidy came together on Saturday purely by accident, and 13 proved to be their lucky number. Joining Headland three and five years ago respectively, Ben and Wayne had played purely socially previously but have improved to the stage where both played off 13 handicaps in Saturday’s Headland Future Fund Fourball Aggregate Stableford. And, between them they penned 13 three-point holes and 13 two-point holes on their way to tabling the winning score of 75 points and, ironically, collecting $75 each from sponsors Jocelyn and Drew Walker. Also ironically, was the fact neither had met before teeing off as a team, with Ben – a teacher at St Terera’s Noosaville – and Wayne – a retired FIFO worker who is now a driver – simply coming together on the timesheet. “We hit it off immediately, both with our golf and our friendship,” said Ben.
SECOND MEDAL: After winning the C Grade Monthly Medal on Thursday, Brenda Smith-Gittings reckons she is well ahead of where her original golfing goals lay. Coming through Headland’s mighty successful SWING program in 2014, Brenda had no grand plans except to enjoy her new sport, gradually improve her game and reduce her handicap. So, winning her second Medal on Thursday and playing three below her handicap (70 nett), was not just a nice surprise but also – hopefully – a sign that she might get back to her lowest-ever handicap of 25, after starting on 45 seven years ago. “That is my best round in a few years,” revealed the retired Social Scientist who worked in Brisbane in welfare services. “I had no really bad holes, and that is always pleasing.” Jenny Ingham won A Grade with nett 72, the same score as Maria Hireme (B Grade), while Di Schulz (68) returned the best score of the day and won D Grade.
PUTT FOR DOUGH: David Carmichael was a highly-successful car retailer and business identity in North Queenslander before he retired to the Sunshine Coast 12 years ago, but these days he realises that winning money on the golf course is all about the short game. “I usually drive the ball pretty well, but chipping and putting can bring me back to earth,” said David, who won Tuesday’s Single Stableford for Men with 41 points from his 18 handicap. David had ‘one of those days’, with one of his better recent gross scores – 86 – a result of chipping close and draining numerous putts. A former member of Townsville Golf Club, so keen was David to secure a spot at Headland he actually joined the club three years before moving down, and now plays regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays with good mate Grahame Denovan. His impressive card on Tuesday revealed seven three-point holes and just two double bogeys, both of which earned him a point.
PHOTO FINISH: Thoroughbred trainer Peter Moody, who prepared champion Black Caviar among his many winners, was always anxious on race day when the judge called for a photo. And it was the same situation for Headland member Peter Moodie on Thursday when his 39 points sat at the top of the Men’s Single Stableford leaderboard with three others – Gary Rugless, Matt Potter and Rob Howard. But, unfortunately for Peter, following a countback, he finished out of a place. Gary, playing off 19 – the lowest handicap of the leading quartet – finished in a blaze of glory with 2 1 points on the back nine, easily the best of those in the photo finish and, following his 18 on the front nine, was declared the winner. Matt (18 points on the back, 21 on the front), was second, Rob (17-22) was third and Peter (16-23) was relegated to fourth place.
FOURBALL CHAMPS: Entries have opened for Headland’s innovative Fourball Best Ball Handicap Match Play Championship, but 2021 Champions Dan Diachkoff and Geoff Bland are unable to defend their title. Both have commitments on the qualifying round, which is to be played on Saturday October 29. Sponsored once again by Michael Thomas of Zenfind Accounting, the Championship will be held over four rounds, with the top eight scores from the qualifying round progressing to the knockout stage. The quarter finals will be played on Sunday, November 13, the semi-finals the following Sunday and the final on Sunday November 27.
GREEN RENOS: The second of Headland’s bi-annual green and tee renovations started this morning (Monday, October 10) and as a result the front nine will be closed today and tomorrow, and the back nine on Wednesday and Thursday. Course Superintendent Ben Tilley explained that renovations are essential, as they are designed to rejuvenate the playing surface of the course, and improve plant health. “The renovation process involves removal of dead organic matter (thatch) and aeration of the soil profile to relieve compaction and allow better oxygen and water penetration,” he said. This procedure will be followed by top dressing with an amended sand, then fertilising to balance the soil nutrition levels. Ben said that providing the weather conditions were favourable, the putting surfaces should be fully recovered within 3-4 weeks.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (55 players) – Linda Hunter (36 points), Denise Hutchinson (36), Bev Barnes (35). Men (68 players) – David Carmichael (41), John Visser (40), Russell Cooper (39).
Wednesday, Medley Mid-Week Medal – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 – (211 players) – A Grade, Jay Gourlay (69 nett), Ian Moore (69), Jamie Holbrook (70); B Grade, David W Smith (66), Warren Selvage (66), Tony Pattinson (67); C Grade, Sid Ryan (64), John Miller (68), Errol Greiner (69). Overall gross – sponsor Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australasia Pty Ltd – Jamie Holbrook (75).
Thursday, Women, Monthly Medal – sponsors, B BY HALCYON Buderim, Medal, Ken and Vicki Maynard (81 players) – A Grade, Jenny Ingham (72 nett), Kathy Atkins (72), Trish Howe (73), gross – Kathy Atkins (85); B Grade, Maria Hireme (72), Marg Howard (72), Vicki Maynard (74), gross – Wil Sprake (95); C Grade, Brenda Smith-Gittings (70), Kathy Petrie (71), Ruth Broderick (72), gross – Kathy Petrie (101); D Grade, Di Schulze (68), Deb Prince (71), Mary Ann Sanderson (72), gross – Di Schulze (110). Men, Single Stroke (85 players) – Gary Rugless (39 points), Matt Potter (39), Rob Howard (39).
Saturday, Fourball Aggregate Stableford, Headland Future Fund Day – sponsor, Jocelyn and Drew Walker – (241 players) – Wayne Cassidy and Ben Brown (75 points), Ed Hoey and Alan Deller (74), Ty Pilcher and Tony McDonough (71), Russell Harris and Stephen Woolcott (70), Greg Wareham and Tristan Scott (70).
Sunday, Medley Wood Duck Challenge – sponsors Eko Finance (James Kidd) and Modbathrooms (Chris Klazema) – (108 players) – Tilly Poulsen (70 nett), James Daniel (69), Ruben Wyld (69), Charlotte Ridley (71), Adam Rydwanski (70), Darren Walters (71), Sam Fichera (71), Daniel Brooks (71). Junior Medal – Charlotte Ridley (71 nett).
