From Tony Durkin
SCATTERGUN DOC: He amassed 43 Stableford points, won Saturday’ s Opening Day competition in B Grade and scored an eagle and two birdies, but plumber/gasfitter Doc Fleming was not overly elated. “I still hit it everywhere, but was able to recover well,” said the 15-handicapper who added a triple bogey seven at the opening hole plus two doubles, five bogeys and seven pars to his otherwise-impressive Saturday card. Doc – whose christian name is Zhivago, thanks to a ‘romantic’ mother – rejoined Headland two years ago following a five-year break from the game, but his commitments contracted to Dominos as well as his obligations as coach of Sunshine Coast University Rugby Club, has allowed him limited time on the course. However, he has still managed scores of 46 and 41 points, twice, which has resulted in his handicap bottoming out to 13.5 after Saturday’s win, from the 31 when he kick-started his career in January 2021. Dave Mansley (43 points) won A Grade and also teamed with Derrick Bogaart to take out the associated Fourball competition with 49 points, while 88 year-old former Police Superintendent Don Teague (38) won C Grade.
PACESETTER: Following an 18-year break from competitive golf, Natalie Pace is back in the winner’s list at Headland and is proving to be the pacesetter in more ways than one. Not only did Natalie win Saturday’s Single Stableford for Women with 39 points, she also won the side bet among her group, which included husband, Chris. Natalie and Chris met in Maryborough in 1996 where they both played golf, and joined Headland when the couple moved to the Sunshine Coast in 1998. But Natalie, who is currently a member of the Australian Women’s Masters Hockey team, gave the game away and took leave of absence in 2005 to raise a family and play hockey, but is now keen to transition back into golf. And in winning her first competition since a Monthly Medal ‘many years ago’, she impressed with one four-point hole and seven three-pointers on her card and her AGU handicap, as a consequence, is down from 29.5 to 22.9.
NOT RUSTY: There was nothing tarnished about the swing of Russell Thistlewood on Thursday – he scored a very impressive 46 points from his 20 handicap to easily win the men’s Single Stableford event. And as well as winning, the 61-year-old electrical fitter mechanic with the nickname Rusty equalled the 10-under score of 62 – albeit nett – shot by Adam Scott during the Legends ProAm back in December. Russell, who missed eight months of golf last year because of a knee injury, has had plenty of time to practise of late – he was made redundant two days before Christmas. “The upside is that I have had plenty of time to practise the tips handed down over the years from our Head Pro Adam, and it is obviously working,” revealed Russell who has been a Headland member since 1995. His excellent round consisted of nine pars and eight bogeys, with his card revealing 11 three-point holes.
PUTTING SAVES: Practise, plus a bout of self-belief, has reinvigorated the golf game of two-time Headland Mixed Champion Robyn Muir. Prior to flying to WA on Friday to join former Headland member Jenny Scott and compete in a six-day tournament at Albany to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the club, Robyn had 30 putts in her round of 82, for 41 points and an A Grade victory on Women’s Opening Day. “For a while now putting had become a real issue. But I have worked hard on improving that aspect of my game, and believing in myself,” said the once single-figure handicapper who joined Headland in 2004 and now plays off 14. With 80 as her previous best round, Robyn still left room for improvement when her two birdies and eight pars were punctuated on Thursday by five bogeys and three doubles. Ali Lamond (38 points) and Kathy Walker (40) were B and C Grade winners, respectively.
KEN’S BACK: Despite turning 82 at the end of this month, Ken Anderson has fought back in his head-to-head battle with fellow veteran member Bob Trevor for the title of Headland’s best ‘age shooter’. Ken fired a six-over 78 from his nine handicap for 39 points in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford event, the 19th time he has either shot or equalled his age in a round of golf at Headland. That puts Ken just one behind Bob, who achieved the feat for the 20th time when the 78 -year-old also returned six-over 78 in December. Ken’s putter ran hot and cold on Wednesday – he sank a monster on the par-four fourth for birdie, but – after a poor chip from just off the green – three-putted the 16th for his only double bogey of the round. He matched these with 11 pars and five bogeys, to finish third in A Grade.
FRESH START: Following two knee replacements within three years, Sue Briffa reached the stage where she wondered whether she would ever walk the Headland course again. But proving Mother Nature did not hold the upper hand, Sue kicked off competition golf for 2023 with a win in the Vets’ first event of the year – and she did it without the aid of a buggy. Sue had her left knee replaced in 2019 and her right replaced in August last year, and in between struggled big time, with her last victory the Medal of Medals success at the end of 2020. But determined to show she could play golf as it was meant to be played, Sue teed off in Monday’s Vets event determined to walk the course and play well. And not only did she achieve her goal, she scored 42 Stableford points, had nine three-point holes on her winning card and retuned the best score of both the men and women in the big field. Phil Martin (39 points) was the best of the men.
MISSED PUTTS: In his five years as a Headland member, Steve Rose has never broken 80. And despite winning A Grade on Wednesday with 40 Stableford points, the Airport Transfer driver reflected more on a couple of missed putts which he said cost him his landmark round. “I missed short putts on three of the par threes, and that really annoyed me,” said Kiwi Steve, who proudly sports a bag emblazoned with the All Blacks’ silver fern logo. But despite his putting woes, Steve’s round was one of his most consistent in more than 12 months with a birdie at 13, eight pars and nine bogeys giving him just his second eight-over score at Headland. Gus Walker, also with 40 points, won B Grade and Old Goats’ member Peter Andrews (41) kicked off 2023 in style with a win in C Grade.
HAPPY DAY: Winning her first event at Headland since before Christmas 2021 was ‘special’ for Tracey O’Connor, but not as special as leaving good friend Dave Mayes in her wake. “Dave is a great mate, and his wife Deb is my best friend. But beating him at golf generates a feeling that is different to any other win,” said the owner of ASSIST First Aid. Tracey scored 41 points to win Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford, and played in the same group as Dave, who finished fourth in the field with 39 points. “Dave enjoys the banter, and he really puts the pressure on me, especially when I have two shots on a hole. And, as I did on the 15th today when I scored four points, he is shattered when I turn the tables,” she said. Tracey’s round was very consistent – she scored five three-pointers and 11 two points as well as her four-point par, and had just the one wipe on her card.
CROSS COUNTRY: Two social rounds following a three-week break from the game hinted to retired engineer Colin Cross that he might be about to do something special in a sport he started playing only five years ago. After spending Christmas in Perth with his children and grandchildren, Colin returned to the Headland layout with Stableford scores of 40 and 39 in his social rounds, before resuming his competition golf in Tuesday’s Single Stableford event. And to his delight – and surprise – Colin continued the excellent run of form by compiling 41 points, and his first win in more than 12 months. The highlight of a very solid round from the 23 handicapper was four-point pars at the fourth and seventh holes, as well as having no wipes on his card. Colin, who considered golf a ‘selfish’ game for anyone with young children, had played very sparingly until he and his wife Sonja moved from Perth to the Sunshine Coast five years ago, and he joined Headland. Denise Carmichael (41 points) won the Women’s event.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (47 players) – A Grade, Jenny Pirini (39 points), Sue Jones (36), Marg Smith (36); B Grade, Sue Briffa (42), Sue Haddenham (39), Suzanne Pledge (36). Men (67 players) – A Grade, Burgess Stephenson (38), Ross Kelly (37), Barry Mapes (37); B Grade, Phil Martin (39), Peter Keane (39), Brian Hills (38).
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (40 players) – Denise Carmichael (41 points), Pik Chong (37), Mary Dowling (37); Men (77 players) – Colin Cross (41), John Bohringer (40), Peter Raymond (38).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (232 players) – A Grade, Steve Rose (40 points), Peter Welsh (40), Ken Anderson (39); B Grade, Gus Walker (40), Chris Klazema (38), John Atkins (38); C Grade, Peter Andrews (41), David Nash (41), John Hensby (40).
Thursday, Single Stableford – Women, Opening Day (114 players) – A Grade, Robyn Muir (41 points), Sue Jones (40), Pik Chong (39); B Grade, Ali Lamond (38), Mary Dowling (37), Di Stark (37); C Grade, Kathy Walker (40), Helen Sedgman (39), Maggie Fitzpatrick (38). Men (93 players) – Russell Thistlewood (46 points), Garth Seymour (42), Matt Doyle (42).
Saturday, Opening Day, Single Stableford, Women (29 players) – Natalie Pace (39 points), Fiona Munro (37), Josie Ryan (37). Men (222 players) – A Grade, Dave Mansley (43 points), Chris Weier (41), Scott Bromfield (40); B Grade, Doc Fleming (43), Martin Briedis (40), David Cekulis (40); C Grade, Don Teague (38), Losi Laurikainen (36), John Burnie (35). Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (251 players) – Dave Mansley and Derrick Bogaart (49 points).
Juniors – Girls, 8-10 years, Addison Clifford (71 strokes); Boys, 7 and under, Blake Rydwanski (45); 8-10, Benjamin Cox (39); 11-13, Rohan Scott (47).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (57 players) – Tracey O’Connor (41 points), Jeff Lovell (39), Kate Wilkie (39).
