LEGGO MASTER: The closest Pete Leggo has come to winning consecutive events during his 35 years as a Headland member was ‘a few years ago’, when he was twice runner-up in successive Monthly Medals. But that changed big time during the past week when the retired pool builder won B Grade Single Stableford on Wednesday (39 points) and Saturday (42), and added Wednesday’s associated Fourball (45 points) – with partner Gordon Russell – to his ‘golden’ four days. While his 78 on Saturday is not the first time he has broken 80, a birdie, seven pars and nine bogeys is his most consistent round in quite some time for the 16-marker. And, thanks to Headland and generous sponsor Mick Kinnear of Zero Termite and Pest, Pete now has an additional $240 in his House Account, which he says will contribute to his annual fees – and, maybe, a new golf umbrella. Barry Newton (39 points) win A Grade on Saturday, Chris Byrnes (41) won C Grade and Shane Muller (35) returned the best gross score (67).
PURPLE PATCH: Recently graduated to A Grade for the first time since she took up golf 15 years ago, Liz Dunford continued her purple patch of form with a win in Saturday’s Single Stableford for Women. Three weeks after winning her first A Grade Monthly Medal (with 64 nett), Liz scored 37 points on Saturday, with the highlight her first-ever birdie at the par-five 15th, for four points. Moving to the Sunshine Coast from Forbes with golf-addicted husband Tony 15 years ago, Liz decided to take up the sport, joined Headland and started on the maximum handicap of 45. “Obviously, my goal was to improve, and I am really proud to have finally won my way into A Grade, and am able to play to my lowest-ever handicap,” beamed the semi-retired nurse, who is now playing in both Thursday and Saturday competitions. Liz says an improved chipping technique has been the secret to her purple patch of form.
CALM KEVIN: Breaking 80 for the first time, and parring difficult holes 15,16 and 17, has resulted in an elated Kevin George winning Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men with 42 points. But despite the excitement of his special round, Kevin was keen to thank two ‘old hands’ for helping him keep his cool as he closed in on his best-ever round of 79. “I played with an ex-Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ken Scanlan) and a retired Orthopaedic Surgeon (Dick Gibberd), and they were a very calming influence on this old plumber,” he revealed. “I pretty much hit the ball as well as I have ever done, and playing the final four holes one over par (he lipped out for bogey at 18) was without doubt the highlight.” Kevin carded eight three-point holes, with nine pars, seven bogeys and two doubles in his memorable round.
GOAL REACHED: As a New Year resolution, Liz Halyday set a golfing handicap of 25 in 2023 as her goal. And not only did she crunch that mark – her GA down from 29 less than 12 months ago to a career low of 22.8 back in March – Liz has also won two events at Headland this year, her second coming in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Women. She scored 37 points to win B Grade, the best score of the day from the field of 111. But, as golf tends to do, there has also been a downside. “I had a five-week period early in the year where I played very well, but just as quickly my golf fell in a heap,” lamented Liz, whose round on Thursday was also Jekyll-and-Hyde esque. She started on the back nine and scored 16 points, yet roared home with 21 points. “I just relaxed. I’m sure it’s a mind thing,” she confessed. On a low-scoring day, Naomi Doyle (36) topped the field in A Grade while Kay Campbell (35) won C Grade.
BACK-TO-BACK: Jeff Jones loves his golf, plays as much as is ‘sensible’ and often travels far and wide to further enhance the experience the game offers, but the former Terminal Manager of Brisbane International Airport has never considered himself a good player. And even though scoring back-to-back A Grade victories on Saturday and Wednesday at Headland in the top grade is a first for the 31-year member, he still reckons he is ‘just an average player’. Last Saturday week Jeff scored 39 points, and beat five-time Club Champion Dave Rattray on a countback. He backed up four days later to easily eclipse that round, scoring 41 points – the best in the field of 217 – and carded nine-under 76 from his 13 handicap. And on both days, it was the back nine that took him to the winner’s dais. On the Saturday he had two birdies in his 22 points, and on Wednesday started the back nine three points, four points, three points, four points – again with two birdies – for a haul of 23 points. “As it always does, luck played a big part in both wins,” conceded Jeff, who said he felt embarrassed to win A Grade with a handicap of 13. Peter Leggo (39) won B Grade and Neville Schultz (38) won C Grade.
PERFECT PAIR: Mates Justin Carroll and John Prosser proved the near-perfect fourball pairing when they won Tuesday’s Medley Stableford with the ‘above average’ score of 48 points. And while averaging 2.6 points per hole, the golfing buddies shared the scoring – Justin on the card with 26 and John 22, and shared the nines – Justin eight and 18, and John 13 and nine. “We met here at Headland and team up regularly, but that is the best we have played in a fourball,” said Justin, a well-travelled Rugby coach currently on a mid-year break from Hong Kong. Both are recent Headland members and play as often as they can when work permits. Justin scored two birdies for four points, and had four three-pointers on his card, while John had one four-point birdie, and also penned four three-pointers. But the one aspect of the round that was not shared was the ire of the handicapper. Justin had his handicap of 17 – which was once six when he played at Brookwater many years ago – reduced to 16.3 following his round, but John stayed at 12.2.
MEN’S PENNANT: Thrashing defending champions Maroochy River 6-1 on Sunday has been the perfect start to the 2023 Sunshine Coast/Glasshouse Pennant season for Headland’s A Grade team. With the lone defeat a 1-down loss by five-time Club Champion Adam Richards – who fought back from three down after 10 to the reigning Walsh Consulting Engineers Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Open Jared Whittal – Headland jumped out of the blocks with a near-perfect team performance, at Caboolture Golf Club. Shane Muller and Wayne West, both 4&3 victors, were the stars on the scoreboard, but Adam Rydwanski (2&1), Dave Rattray (1-up), Sean McGill (3&2) and Brad Butler (3&2) revealed the class, and the fighting spirit, for which this current Headland group of Pennant players has become renowned. The result however, was not as comforting for the Masters team, beaten 5-2 by Peregian at Cooroy. Captain Mark Henricks and Andy Whitmore both prevailed 1-up, but Terry Grogan (7&6), Col Pledge (3&1), Ian Moore (3&2), Bryan Haggarty (1-down) and Chris Pace (5&4) were beaten. Headland’s B Grade team won on a forfeit, inexplicably not being informed that their opponent was not fielding a team until they arrived at Cooroy on Sunday morning.
WOMEN’S PENNANT: In a disappointing finish for Headland’s Rubies in the 2023 Sunshine Coast-Burnett Women’s Pennant competition, the semi-final against Mt Coolum, at Mt Coolum on Monday, was off to the worst possible start when team member Sue Haddenham fell ill and could not play. That gave Mt Coolum a 1-nil lead which, despite wins by Sue Harris and Jenny Stokes (both 1-up), was decisive, with Mt Coolum eventually winning 5-2. Ellen Bloxsome was beaten at the 18th, and Colleen Sarquis and Jane Boaler both lost 5&4. With four of the seven Headland team members newcomers to Pennant golf, the overall season result was most encouraging. However, Headland is still alive in the Diamond Division, and will play Maroochy River at Gympie on Sunday June 25).
JUNIOR PENNANT: Headland’s Junior Pennant team has finished the 2023 season with a 3-1 loss at Maroochy River against the strong Noosa Springs team. Charlotte Ridley had memorable victory, winning 3&2, while Rian Mitchell came from five down with five holes to play to square his match. Sam Fichera lost 4&3 and, regrettably, Headland had to forfeit its fourth match.
WEEKLY RESULTS:
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (124 players) – Justin Carroll and John Prosser (48 points), Steve Nash and Jock McLaughlin (47), Paul Stephens and Patrick Carmody (47).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (217 players) – A Grade, Jeff Jones (41 points), Dave Sims (39), Warren Chapman (38); B Grade, Peter Leggo (39), Drew Grant (39), Tony Mitchell (38); C Grade, Neville Schultz (38), Dennis Farmer (37), John Waterworth (37). Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford – Gordon Russell and Peter Leggo (45 points).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Women (111 players) – A Grade, Naomi Doyle (36 points), Rebecca Masters (36), Sandi Whittle (35); B Grade, Liz Halyday (37), Jenny Pirini (36), Odette Day (33); C Grade, Kay Campbell (35), Ellen Bloxsome (34), Elizabeth Goodhew (34).
Men (83 players) – Kevin George (42), Ken Pegg (41), Greg Jellis (39).
Saturday, Single Stableford, sponsor, Mick Kinnear, Zero Termite and Pest – Women (23 players) – Liz Dunford (37 points), Jenney Ingham (36), Susie Fenton (34).
Men (218 players) – A Grade, Barry Newton (39), Peter Dunn (39), Matt Griffiths (38); B Grade, Peter Leggo (42), Justin Carroll (41), Garry Martin (39); C Grade, Chris Byrnes (41), Ken Maynard (39), Haenga Pirini (38).
Juniors – Six-hole Stroke, Mathew Bothma (yellow line, 26), Blake Rydwanski (green, 29), Dominic Manning (33, green), Peter Hall (35, white), Liam Kerley (41, white).
