{"id":12170,"date":"2025-11-16T21:17:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T21:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/?p=12170"},"modified":"2025-11-16T21:17:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T21:17:02","slug":"headland-headlines-17-11-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/2025\/11\/16\/headland-headlines-17-11-25\/","title":{"rendered":"HEADLAND HEADLINES 17-11-25"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Tony Durkin<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SLASHING DEBUT: <\/strong>Rarely does a new member make a more headline-grabbing debut than Sarah Gardner did at Headland on Wednesday. On a day when two separate competitions were played to honour the late Dr Daniel Lane, week-long member Sarah won both competitions, adding $230 to her brand-new House Account. The retired Financial Adviser scored 42 points to win the C Grade Medley Single Stableford, and she also teamed with Lindsay Blair and father-and-son Ken and Nick Reed to win the associated Irish Foursomes, with the team beating two other teams on 93 points. And it was a fluke that Sarah joined the winning team. \u201cOriginally, I was down to play later in the day, but because I was keen to walk and beat the heat, when the early spot became available, I jumped in,\u201d she said. A member at Cooroy before joining Headland, Wednesday was Sarah\u2019s first competition round as a member and she made an immediate impression. \u201cSarah was the star,\u201d said long-time member Ken Reed. \u201cShe hits it down the middle and chips very impressively.\u201d Playing from her handicap on the day of 39, Sarah penned three four-point scores and five threes, and finished in a blaze of glory with four-pointers at 17 and 18. And she said she missed the NTP at the 18th by a \u2018whisker\u2019. But she has paid the penalty with the handicappers for her performance. Her new mark is 31.9. Chris Pace (39 points) won A Grade and Gordon Russell won B Grade with 43, the best score of the day. NOTE<\/strong>: Sarah\u2019s mother, Sue Gardner, is a former Headland member.<\/p>\n

BASIC VICTIORY<\/strong>: With just five points after five holes in Thursday\u2019s Single Stableford for Men, Wayne Hutcheson decided it was time to get back to \u2018basic\u2019 golf. \u201cLately, I have been in the horrors from the tee, and nothing good comes from that,\u201d the Business Consultant confessed. \u201cSo, after three wipes in my first five holes, I decided on the tried and trusted \u2018stand upright, watch the ball, and don\u2019t swing too fast\u2019 theory.\u201d And it worked a treat, with the 15-marker compiling a birdie, seven pars and five bogeys in his next 13 holes, with a notable two-over 37 on the back nine. Wayne recently took a 12-month sabbatical from golf, returned to Headland in March with an early win, but has been generally struggling since. However, Thursday\u2019s win, where he collected a total of $195 in prizemoney after also scoring victory in the Fraser Follies comp, he feels he might be back in sync with the game in which he once held a single-figure handicap. \u201cIt feels good when it feels good,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n

JUBILANT JENNY: <\/strong>Thrilled at two brilliant rounds and successive Headland victories, Jenny Stokes is even happier that her GA handicap is finally receding. \u201cThat is my goal,\u201d said the former Australian Masters Hockey rep and accomplished snow skier, who scored a massive 45 points to win Tuesday\u2019s Single Stableford for Women. And that score came on the back of 67 nett the previous Thursday, to return the best score of the day in the Women\u2019s Single Stroke, and collect the annual Rabbits Cup. Remarkably, Jenny only returned to golf last Tuesday week following a three-month lay-off following major surgery. \u201cI must admit, I was surprised by how well I have played on resumption,\u201d she said, reflecting on two magnificent rounds of golf. Playing from a daily handicap of 33 in the Thursday Stroke round, Jenny scored 100, and won Division Two. Five days later she penned 94, the lowest-ever round by the 2019 SWING graduate, with three four-point holes and six threes on her winning card, and a resultant three shots shaved from her handicap. \u201cMy lowest mark has been 24, which was in November last year,\u201d she revealed, after seeing her new GA drop to 24.7. \u201cAnd that\u2019s where I want to be again.\u201d Jenny\u2019s playing partner on Thursday, Joy Murray, was runner-up with 43 points.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

WEDDED BLISS: <\/strong>After winning the Vet\u2019s Mixed American Foursomes on Monday alongside Marg, his wife of 46 years, David W Smith had a word of advice for other Headland married couples. \u201cThe secret is not splitting up on the golf course when playing a fourball,\u201d he recommended. \u201cThat way, you either celebrate together, or mourn together. Neither gets individual bragging rights.\u201d And celebrate the Smiths did after scoring 78, for nett 66, with two birdies, eight pars and eight bogeys on their imposing card. In an American Foursomes event, each player tees off, hits their partners\u2019 ball for the second shot, and both play the selected ball from there. \u201cMarg was often hitting from the trees for her second, while I was on the fairway, where she usually puts her drives,\u201d he praised. But Marg assessed their round differently, with \u2018we both played well, combined excellently, and everything just fell into place\u2019. Adding to their victory, which gave them both a $50 Pro Shop credit, was NTPs at the fifth (David) and 18th (Marg). Jan Langdon, who has had a lean trot of late, discovered a sure way to find a spot on the dais. \u201cFind a good partner,\u201d she said after she and Geoff Walker (GA handicap 3.9) scored 68.75 to finish runners-up.<\/p>\n

SWING MATES: <\/strong>Since Libby Hall and Shirley Eggleton graduated from Headland\u2019s inaugural SWING program in 2013, they have become regular playing partners and good friends. \u201cWith our husbands, we often catch up for social outings,\u201d Libby confirmed after the duo took their close relationship to another level by combining splendidly to win Thursday\u2019s Fourball Best Stableford for Women with an outstanding score of 51 points. \u201cShirley was the absolute champ, although we did combine well. It was a great day.\u201d The duo scored three four-point holes \u2013 each by Shirley \u2013 and added another 10 three-pointers, four twos and one single, and each collected $120 for their morning\u2019s work. But there was a feeling of remorse from the winners after Tracey O\u2019Connor and Odette Day, who returned a score of 52 points, were disqualified for a scoring error. \u201cWe feel sorry for the girls. They must have played so well,\u201d said Libby. For Shirley, her performance helped reassure her that she is not a 44 handicapper. \u201cI know I can play better than my handicap suggests, but I aways seem to make silly errors,\u201d she said. \u201cI was very happy with the way I played today.\u201d Both winners thanked sponsors Sharon Thomas, Vicki Maynard, Lisa Aherne and Judy Farmer for their generous support.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

FINE COTTON<\/strong>: It has taken him three years, but \u2018late-bloomer\u2019 Phil Cotton has finally won his very first golf competition. Retired to the Sunshine Coast four years ago from a Brisbane career in Engineering and Construction, Phil had only dabbled in golf before joining Headland in 2022. And on Tuesday his big breakthrough came, scoring 42 points to win the Men\u2019s Single Stableford. \u201cI realise I have my limitations, and don\u2019t expect an invite to join LIV Golf any time soon,\u201d he joked after adding a four-pointer and 10 threes to his card from his handicap of 29. \u201cBut I enjoy the company, and the course, and I will continue to try and become a better player. I was happy with Tuesday\u2019s round.\u201d Phil usually only manages one competition round a week, although he does play 18 holes socially on Friday, and practises when time away from grandchildren permits.<\/p>\n

LEGGO CHAMPION<\/strong>: Beating the Saturday afternoon downpour was the major challenge Pete Leggo faced as he won his first individual event at Headland since his \u2018golden\u2019 four days 17 months ago. With the field condensed to just 114 players because of the storm which hit mid-afternoon, Pete\u2019s 42 points stood as the best of the day, and a win in B Grade. \u201cI have been playing consistently, but not winning,\u201d said the former Royal Melbourne caddy who won three events in a week back in June of 2023. \u201cI am always looking for that \u2018magic move\u2019 to try and improve, and it happened today.\u201d Pete had just the one slip-up \u2013 a wipe at the par-four 11th \u2013 but otherwise added two birdies, eight pars, five bogeys and two doubles to his winning card. And the retired pool builder, who joined Headland in 1988, seemingly has a \u2018connection\u2019 with Saturday\u2019s event sponsor, Mick Kinnear of Zero Termite and Pest. When he strung together his three wins 17 months ago, Mick\u2019s business contributed much of his $240 in winnings, while Saturday\u2019s result added another $80 to his House Account, also courtesy of Mick\u2019s company. Chris Weier (40 points) won A Grade, Ben Laycock (41) won C Grade and although not enough Women finished to justify a competition, Helen Fraser topped the field of eight with 37 points.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

WEEKLY RESULTS:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Monday, Vets<\/strong>, Mixed American Foursomes (36 players) \u2013 Marg and David W Smith (66 nett), Jan Langdon and Geoff Walker (68.75), Debbie Bennetts and John Halbert (69.875).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday,\u00a0<\/strong>Single Stableford, Women (40 players) \u2013 Jenny Stokes (45 points), Joy Murray (43), Mary Gibberd (38).<\/p>\n

Men (77 players) \u2013 Phil Cotton (42 points), Charlie Worthy (41), Wayne Bridgeman (40).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wednesday,<\/strong>\u00a0Daniel Lane Memorial Day, Medley Single Stableford – sponsors, The Happy Doctors <\/em><\/strong>– (234 players) – A Grade, Chris Pace (39 points), Peter Welsh (39), Gary Clarke (39); B Grade, Gordon Russell (43), Denis Clifford (40), Craig Driscoll (39); C Grade, Sarah Gardner (42), Allan Warby (41), Mal Galletly (39).<\/p>\n

Irish Foursomes \u2013 sponsor, Janette Ritchie<\/em><\/strong> – Sarah Gardner, Lindsay Blair, Ken Reed and Nick Reed (93 points), Peter Francis, Steve Rose, Gordon Peak and Barry Mapes (93), Max Maundrell, John Wettenhall, Stuart Miles and Allan Warby (93).<\/p>\n

Thursday,<\/strong>\u00a0Women, Fourball Best Ball Stableford \u2013 sponsors, Sharon Thomas, Vicki Maynard, Lisa Aherne and Judy Farmer <\/em><\/strong>(116 players) \u2013 Shirley Eggleton and Libby Hall (51 points), Helen Venter and Sue Keays (48), Liz Hallyday and Marg Smith (48), Lynn Deacon and Jenny Stokes (47).<\/p>\n

Men, Single Stableford (89 players) \u2013 Wayne Hutcheson (39 points), Peter Moodie (39), Greg Jellis (39).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday<\/strong>, Single Stableford \u2013 sponsor, Mick Kinnear, Zero Termite and Pest <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 Women (competition cancelled because minimum number of entrants was not reached).<\/p>\n

Men (116 players) \u2013 A Grade, Chris Weier (40), Graham Smith (37), Chris Pace (35); B Grade, Pete Leggo (42), John Halbert (41), Wayne Cassidy (40); C Grade, Ben Laycock (41), Harrison Lane (39), Ryan Sawell (37).<\/p>\n

Sunday<\/strong>, Medley Single Stableford (competition cancelled because minimum number of entrants was not reached).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Tony Durkin\u00a0 SLASHING DEBUT: Rarely does a new member make a more headline-grabbing debut than Sarah Gardner did at Headland on Wednesday. On a day when two separate competitions were played to honour the late Dr Daniel Lane, week-long… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1911,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-headland-headlines"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1911"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12170"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12171,"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12170\/revisions\/12171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/headland.miclub.com.au\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}