From Tony Durkin
CHAMPION MUM: Sharon Thomas has again teamed with her son to win Headland’s Mixed Foursomes Championship – but it was a different child this time. Sharon had previously won the Mixed Foursomes with son Blake (2017 and 2019) but on Saturday joined son Chris (handicap seven) to win the 2023 title, the first time for the duo. They won easily, scoring 76,78-154 to beat Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards (80,81-161) and Josie Ryan and Sean McGill (81,82-163), and although not awarded the prizes, also returned the best overall nett, as well as both the morning and afternoon nett and gross scores. And adding lustre to the ‘special’ win was the fact that Chris was playing just his third round of golf for the year. “It has been very special to win this event with both my sons,” said Sharon (handicap 10). “Chris and I combined remarkably well, but I must admit he played outstandingly considering he has had limited golf in the past year.” The win gave Sharon her eighth Headland Honour Board victory – three Mixed Foursomes and five Women’s Foursomes – but was the first for Chris. The 36-hole Championship was sponsored by Erik and Tove Larsen, of Cirlock.
COURSE GREAT: If Greens Director Gavin Rooney needed any confirmation the Headland ground staff was doing an excellent job, he received that on Wednesday – in the best possible way. Gavin shot 80 from his 15 handicap for nett 65 in the March Medley Monthly Medal, for a win in B Grade with the best score of the day by three shots. But while he was pleased with the condition of the course and delighted with his best round in at least five years, Gavin does have some concerns about his handicap ‘blowout’ over the past five years which, coincidentally, correlates to his time as a Headland Director. “It has nothing to do with my time on the Board, more old age I assume,” he mused about his handicap ‘expanding’ from eight to 15. Gavin’s impressive card revealed a birdie at 18, eight pars and nine bogeys. Neil Oxley (69) won the A Grade Medal, newcomer Alnon Paggabao (69) won his second successive Medal in C Grade and Shane Muller (72) returned the best gross.
NO STARS: They may have won the Women’s Irish Stableford on Thursday, but none of the quartet of Sue Jones, Judy Farmer, Ellen Bloxsome and Leigh Derigo can lay claim to having a memorable round of golf. The team scored 88 points (best two Stableford scores on each hole) to win by a point, yet the highest individual score was 32 points from Judy. “It was the perfect example of all four team members contributing,” said Women’s Director of Golf Sue (30 points) who was partnering with Ellen (29) and Leigh (31) for the first time.” Highlight of the round was a seven-point score on the par-three 18th, thanks to a four-point par by Judy and a three-point chip-in birdie from Sue. There were also five six-point holes on the card, while the lowest was a three-pointer, at the ninth and 15th holes.
PETER’S PALS: Vice president Peter Raymond and his team could not quite get the job done in Thursday’s Irish Stableford for Men, but the now-retired Sunshine Coast hospitality kingpin was elated with his best round in more than a decade. Peter teamed with three players – Chris Swan, William Dent and John Burnie – whom he had not previously met, and they gelled to score 91 points. Playing off 14, the Headland VP broke 80 for the first time since he shot 76 at Pine Rivers 10 years ago, with his 79 garnering him 43 points. And while he had eight three-pointers on his card, Sydney visitor William Dent claimed boasting rights with a five-point birdie at the par-five 13th. The team of Errol Greiner, Richard Franklin, Simon Burley and John Porter won the event on a countback, with Simon’s 39 points their best individual contribution.
BEST LIPPED: A lipped-out birdie putt at the 18th on Tuesday has cost former Trainee Pro Shane Muller his best-ever round of golf. Playing off scratch, Shane hit his tee shot at the last to 2.75 metres, but missed the putt and had to sign for a three-under 69, which garnered him 39 points, the winning score in the Men’s Single Stableford event. After an indifferent start – bogeys at holes one, four and eight, and birdies at the second and sixth – Shane blitzed the back nine in four-under 32, with four birdies on consecutive holes from 10 to 13. A familiar sight of late behind the counter in the Pro Shop, Shane has previously scored 69 three times at Headland, where he has been a member for seven years. The following day – Wednesday – he backed up his 69 with a par round in the Monthly Medal. A recent graduate of the University of the Third Age (U3A) golf program, Sue Condos (36 points) won the women’s event.
SUNDAY SCORES: Several hot gross scores highlighted Sunday’s field in the Medley Single Stableford event, which was won by eight-marker Andy Whitmore. Andy shot 77 from the white tees, with his special round underlined by birdies at holes 12 and 16, and he led in the field of 62 with 39 points. But had they not had a wipe in their rounds, Dan Diachkoff (64), Dave Rattray (66) and Will Millroy (69) may well have broken par. As it was, McKenzie Wright (72), Scott Bromfield (74), Jason Childs (75), James Daniel (76), Bob Trevor (77), Chris Goundrey (79) and Anthony Fichera (79) all broke 80 on a day of impressive scoring. And to further emphasise the superb scoring, 50 birdies and an eagle (by Dave Rattray) was scored on the day.
AGE EVEN: Ken Anderson held the lead in Headland’s unofficial ‘age shooter’ contest for a mere 24 hours before Bob Trevor equalled over the weekend. Ken, the seemingly ageless82-year-old, fired a birdie (at the par-five seventh), eight pars, eight bogeys and a double (at the par-four first) in his round of 81 from the black tees in Saturday’s Overflow Single Stableford event, scoring 36 points. But a day later, playing in the Medley Single Stableford, Bob – 78 years young – shot 77 with a birdie, 11 pars and six bogeys – also for 36 points, to equal Ken on 23 occasions that the talented pair has either beaten or equalled their age in competition rounds at Headland. NOTE: Chris Wilson (39 points) won Saturday’s Overflow.
TEE MISFIRE: Headland Assistant Pro Mitch Jacobson is still thanking member Christine Parkinson for calling the Pro Shop at around 3.45pm on Wednesday. “I could well have lost an eye, or at least been badly cut on the face,” Mitch recalled as he described a golf ball shattering the front window of the Pro Shop. A visitor – who will remain nameless – has hit one of the most extraordinary drives from the first tee, traveling at somewhere near 90 degrees off line, and at speed. “I was vacuuming right near the window when the phone rang,” Mitch explained. A minute later the ball smashed through the window with such space that it struck the back wall, and rebounded. When cleaning up, we found pieces of glass back there as well.”
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (45 players) – Sue Condos (36 points), Kathy Petrie (35), Julie Halliday (35). Men (66 players) – Shane Muller (39), Malcolm Woods (38), Ted Banaszczyk (37).
Wednesday, Medley Monthly Medal (219 players) – sponsor, Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 – A Grade, Neil Oxley (69 nett), Wayne West (70), Bill Bolland (70); B Grade, Gavin Rooney (65), Peter O’Brien (70), Brian Richards (70); C Grade, Alnon Paggabao (68), Mark Ludbrooke (69), Skip Antony (72). Overall gross – sponsor Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australasia – Shane Muller (72).
Thursday, Irish Foursomes, Women (112 players) – sponsors, Mary Young, Josie Ryan, Colleen Berger and Gay David – Judy Farmer, Sue Jones, Leigh Derigo and Ellen Bloxsome (88 points), Shirley Eggleton, Kathy Walker, Doreen Davidson, and Trish Marsden (87), Catherine Petersen, Mary Dowling, Mar Howard and Ali Lamond (87).
Men (87 players) – Errol Greiner, Richard Franklin, Simon Burley and John Porter (91), Peter Raymond, William Dent, John Burnie and Chris Swan (91), Jamie Holbrook, Wayne Harriott, Ian Moore and Mick Kinnear (91).
Saturday, 2013 Mixed Foursomes Championship, 36 holes – sponsor, Erik and Tove Larsen, Cirlock – (88 players) – Champions, Sharon and Chris Thomas (76,78-154); runners-up, Sharon Purnell and Adam Richards (80,81-161), Josie Ryan and Sean McGill (81,82-163); 36-hole nett, Trish Howe and Shane Muller (70.5, 76.5 – 147), runners-up, Cathy Roberts and Barry Newton (77.5, 70.5 – 148); 18-hole morning gross, Narelle Hollowood and Dean Smareglia (87), nett, Sue Jones and Peter O’Brien (74); 18-hole afternoon gross, Lorraine Mazerolle and Dave Sims (84), nett, Robyn Boreham and Bill Oster (73).
Overflow, Single Stableford (51 players) – Chris Wilson (39 points), Kirk Hardy (39), Mike Hardy (38).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (62 players) – Andy Whitmore (39 points), James Daniel (38), Jason Childs (38).