From Tony Durkin
CHAMPION BELIEVES: An 11-shot win in Headland’s 2023 Women’s Championship has finally convinced Sharon Thomas that she CAN believe. Following a final-round 80 on Thursday, Sharon has added the Championship to her three Mixed Foursomes Championships and five Women’s Foursomes Championships, and feels the monkey on her back has finally been removed. “For so long I’ve believed I have not been a player good enough to win this title,” said the two-decade member, who turned her six-stroke lead after three rounds into a resounding victory. And she conceded that beating the incomparable Josie Ryan was a highlight of her golfing career. “Josie is a golfing icon, not just at Headland but throughout Australia, and I totally understand she has been unwell and was not at her best during these Championships. But she still haunted me all the way, especially during the first nine during our final round. I just feel very proud to have won something that has evaded me for so long,” Sharon beamed. The new Champion shot rounds of 82,85,83, 80 for her win, which comes after being runner-up in the Championship on five previous occasions.
PRINCE CROWNED: Fittingly, on the day of the Coronation of King Charles III, a Prince won Headland’s A Grade Monthly Medal – Matt Prince, that is. The 20-year member shot two-over 70 for a 64 nett on the shortened par 68 course for just his third Medal victory, and claimed ‘it could well have been better’. “I missed only one fairway and hit most greens, but the putter could have been kinder,” he said, reflecting on just two birdies in his round. “I have been playing okay for the past couple of months and actually shot 70 in the Mid-Week Medal about six weeks ago, but finished third that day. Matt’s gross score of 70 was equal best of the day alongside Justin Nicholson and Adam Rydwanski, with Justin taking the honours on a countback. Eddie Pucella also scored 64 nett, and won C Grade, while Craig Firns (65) is the B Grade Medallist for May.
GWEN AGAIN: Claiming she has never been ‘good enough’ to win an A Grade Championship at Headland, Gwen Nancarrow has convincingly won her fourth B Grade title in her 19th year as a member. Starting the Championships in B Grade – on a handicap of 20 – Gwen was reassigned to the A Grade field with early rounds of 88,89,88, and finished the Championships on a GA handicap of 18. However, because she started the Championships in B Grade, she remained eligible for that grade. “I played really well for the first three rounds, but fell away in the final round,” said Gwen, who won the title by 11 shots, the same margin – coincidentally – as new Club Champion and good friend, Sharon Thomas. Moving from Darwin 25 years ago – where she started her golf career – Gwen spent eight years at Moore Park in Sydney and won two A Grade Championships, before relocating to the Sunshine Coast. Brenda Smith-Gittings won her first Headland Championship, prevailing in C Grade by a single stroke from Doreen Davidson, while Mouna Humzy was runner-up in B Grade.
HANDI FINISH: Headland’s Bruce Heseltine has finished third in the Handiskins National Championship final, played at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast from Thursday of last week. After qualifying on his home course last year – along with fellow member Steve Blampied – Bruce played to his handicap in the first round, scoring 36 points on what he described as an ‘unbelievably tough’ course. After the second round of qualifying, Bruce finished in fourth place, with the four qualifiers playing 18 holes of match play. The eventual winner was Adam Avard, a 14 handicapper from Devilbend Golf Club in Victoria, who Bruce said ‘had a blinder’ on the final day. “Even though it was match play, he putted out of every hole and had 76 off the stick,” an astonished Bruce explained. Steve was eliminated after the second round.
LUCKY SEVEN: Jenny Campbell went back-to-back playing under her handicap at the weekend, and proved that seven in golf could well be her lucky number. On Saturday Jenny won the Women’s Monthly Medal with 68 nett, then backed up 24 hours later with 66 nett in the Medley Single Stroke event, for fifth place. On Saturday she penned six sevens on her card and scored another four on Sunday, but tempered them with four pars and five bogeys on Saturday, and a birdie and two pars on Sunday. A decade-long somewhat ‘nomadic’ member who has spent part of that time living in Norway six months of the year, Jenny is hoping her game is ‘back in the groove’ now that she has returned to the Sunshine Coast. Saturday’s May Medal was Jenny’s third.
KEANE GOLFER: Peter Keane has never professed to be a champion golfer, but he loves the game and enjoys the camaraderie it offers. And occasionally – as was the case on Wednesday – the former Army Lieutenant Colonel turns in a round that stuns him, and makes him a winner. Playing from a generous handicap of 35, Peter scored 61 nett on the shortened par 68 course for the best score of the day and a win in the C Grade Monthly Medal, his third since he joined Headland in 2012. “I’ve been playing some dreadful golf of late,” confessed Peter, who started in the worst possible way with a quadruple bogey at his opening hole. But he regathered himself, putted the lights out and scored his first win in “at least 12 months”. Bill Oster (67 nett) won A Grade, Graeme Warne (64) won B Grade while Ben Duncombe (71) returned the best gross score in the event, sponsored once again by Ryan Tomlinson, of Century 21.
PRACTICE BIRDIE: Roz Brandt has been dealing with some personal issues over the past 18 months which have derailed her golf, and on Tuesday played the ‘new’ Headland course for the first time. And when she approached the par-three 18th – which is the practice hole – like many members Roz was uncertain what club to use. That indecision was validated when her tee shot landed 10 metres wide of the green, and in the longish-wet grass. But to her amazement, and joy, 30-handicapper Roz then chipped in, scoring five points which ultimately resulted in a one-point win in the Women’s Single Stableford event. A 33-year Headland member, Roz hopes that now her mind is not ‘elsewhere’, she can start enjoying her golf once again.
NEW PARTNER: With Scott Walker recently relocating to Melbourne, five-time Club Champions Adam Richards and Dave Rattray are teaming for the first time to challenge for the 2023 Headland Men’s Foursomes Championship. Sponsored again by Mick Kinnear of Zero Termite and Pest, the Championship will be played over 36 holes on Saturday week, May 20. Adam Richards and Scott Walker are the defending Champions, and have won the title twice, while Adam has won the Championship three times previously with Brian Kesby. Dave has also been victorious on five occasions, three with Ryley Martin, once with Matt Kiernan and once with Darren Macleod. Entry fee is $45 per player, which includes lunch, and players will be assigned tee-times by the Championship Match Committee.
NO FLUKE: ‘Flukes do happen’ was the reaction of Helen Siddins (handicap 39) when she scored 42 points to win Thursday’s Women’s Overflow, her first victory as a six-year Headland member. But scoring 15 points on the final four holes of the front nine – 3,5,3,4 – was certainly no fluke, and has given Helen renewed confidence following very little golf in her first four years as a member. Helen joined Headland from the sand greens of St George, where her lowest handicap had been 25, and is hoping that social rounds on Mondays and Friday plus competition on Thursdays, will result in more rounds like Thursday’s, which streeted the field by six points.
PETE’S IRONY: On the eve of a 12-month sojourn to the UK visiting family, and after scoring an impressive 40 points in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men, Popular Pro Shop staffer Peter Perrett has shared an interesting golfing coincidence with HH. Nine years ago, during one of Pete’s first competition rounds as a Headland member, playing partner Andrew Sterling marked his ball with a marker from the Yas Lings Golf Club in Abu Dhabi. When Peter questioned Andrew on whether he had played the course, Andrew confessed he had found the ball marker, while playing Headland. The pair conceded the ball marker was likely the one Pete had recently misplaced, but decided Andrew should keep it, and a strong friendship was formed, and has continued. Thursday’s event was won by Twin Waters visitors Tony Coutts, also with 40 points.
THIRD WIN: Dora Habgood has obviously taken to Headland like a duck to water, scoring her third victory since joining the club – with husband Rod – back in January. And in winning Sunday’s Medley Single stroke with nett 63, Dora shaved six strokes off her previous lowest round on the reconfigured Headland layout. Once a nine handicapper at Bonville Golf Club at Coffs Harbour, Dora played off 16 on Sunday when she shot 79, beating her 85 from round two of the Women’s Club Championships 10 days earlier when he she returned the equal best gross, and nett, in A Grade. Her first win as a Headland member was in February, scoring 41 points in another Sunday Medley event.
JUNIOR PENNANT: Headland has suffered its second successive loss in the Sunshine Coast District Junior Pennant competition, going under 3½ -1½ to Gympie at Gympie on Sunday. Sam Fichera was one down coming to the final hole, but won the 18th to square his match and give Headland its half point. Charlotte Ridley lost 5&4, Rian Mitchel lost 7&6 and Flynn Lambalk was beaten 3&2. The Juniors’ next match is at Woodford, against Mt Coolum, on Sunday week, May 21.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Headland Veterans – Women (49 players) – Roz Brandt (40 points), Denise Hutchison (39), Doreen Davidson (38). Men (70 players) – Mal Woods (39), Paul Johnstone (38), Gary Marr (37).
Wednesday, Medley Mid-Week Medal – sponsor Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 – (197 players) – A Grade, Bill Oster (68 nett), Col Pledge (68), Rod Van Delf (69); B Grade, Graeme Warne (65), Graham Newlove (65), Craig Firns (68); C Grade, Peter Keane (61), Mark Ludbrooke (62), Drew Grant (65). Overall gross – sponsored by Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australasia Pty Ltd – Ben Duncombe (71).
Thursday, Women, Club Championships, Final Round – sponsor, B by Halcyon – (54 players) – A Grade, gross, Sharon Thomas (80), Josie Ryan (83), Fiona Munro (85); nett, Sharon Thomas (70), Robyn Boreham (72), Vicky Sheridan (72); B Grade, gross, Monica Antony (91), Rebecca Masters (91), Cathy Roberts (93); nett, Monica Antony (69), Rebecca Masters (70), Del Whittaker (72); C Grade, gross, Joy Logan (104), Sue Hadenham (107), Marie Flegler (111); nett, Joy Logan (73), Sue Hadenham (75), Marie Flegler (75).
2023 Women’s Championship results – A Grade, gross – Sharon Thomas (82,85,83,80-330), Josie Ryan (82,87,89,83-341), Fiona Munro (87,86,83,85-341), nett – Robyn Boreham (289), Sharon Thomas (290), Anne Callanan (292); B Grade, gross – Gwen Nancarrow (89,88,89,91-357), Mouna Humzy (94,93,89,92-368), Monica Antony (90,97,93,91-371), nett – Gwen Nancarrow (277), Monica Antony (283), Anita Boyle (284); C Grade, gross – Brenda Smith-Gittings (97,105,102,101-405), Doreen Davidson (98,107,100,101-406), Ree Condon (97,110,107,103-417); nett – Brenda Smith-Gittings (285), Doreen Davidson (286), Ree Condon (297); Senior Champion – Josie Ryan; Senior 36-hole Champion – Rhonda Parry.
Women’s Overflow, Single Stableford (57 players) – Helen Siddins (42 points), Tove Larsen (36), Raewyn Bissett (36).
Men, Single Stableford (75 players) – Tony Coutts (40), Geoff Sawyer (40), Peter Perrett (40).
Saturday, Monthly Medal – sponsor Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 – Women (33 players) – Jenny Campbell (68 nett), Karen Wilson (68), Colleen Berger (70).
Men (213 players) A Grade, Matt Prince (64), Justin Nicholson (65), Greg Stray (66); B Grade, Craig Firns (65), Richard Senior (65), Todd Petrie (65); C Grade, Eddie Pucella (64), James Reinke (65), Lindsay Blair (65). Overall gross – sponsored by Roger Van Ginkel, Thomassen Australasia Pty Ltd – Justin Nicholson (70).
Juniors – Nine-hole stroke, Ben Cox (orange line, 39), Max Faulkner (orange, 41), Blake Rydwanski (pink, 42), Dominic Manning (orange, 45); Seven-holes, Ronan Scott (green, 39), Finn Darlison (orange, 43), Keaton Fox (orange, 44).
Sunday, Medley Single Stroke (60 players) – Dora Habgood (63 nett), Chris McArdle (63), Trish Arden (64).
