29 October - 1 November 1999

Venues
    Round 1: Yowani
    Round 2: Murrumbidgee
    Round 3: Royal Canberra - Westbourne
 

Players
    Michael Hauser
    Steve Da Costa
    Richard Bondietti
    Rohan Tudor

 Round 1: Yowani Country Club, Canberra
 

Date	29th October 1999
Par	72 (36,36)
Length	6342 metres
Weather	Fine and mild
Fairways	Excellent
Greens	Fast

Rohans second to the par 4 5th hole                                Testing approach to the 7th at Yowani
 

With a record field of four players, the King Challenge Capital 1999 looked to be one of the toughest challenges on record.  Two Challenge rookies, Richard Bondietti and Rohan Tudor were welcomed on the first tee, both obviously nervous but keen to play.  It was Steve who set up an early lead with pars on the 1st and 5th holes.  Rohan and Richard both showed a few nerves over the opening nine, while Mike played some inconsistent golf.  The 8th hole saw all four players take 3 putts, an indication of the pressure, or just really bad short games!  With a par on the 9th, Mike held a narrow lead going into the back nine.

     
The 11th, hero water carry or wussy lay up ??                The 18th green at Yowani

Rohans day turned from bad to worse as he struggled around the greens.  Mike and Steve traded shots, as Richard started to find form.  After smashing a big drive, Mikes second into the par 5 15th went through the green leaving a tricky but makeable eagle putt.  He walked off the green with a par!!!  Rohan finally came good on 18 with a spectacular birdie.  After handicaps, Mike held a 5 stroke lead over Steve and Richard.  Rohan was a further 7 shots behind the field.

Nett scores after the first round:
Mike        71 (89)
Steve        76 (95)
Richard   .76 (101)
Rohan       83 (95)
 
 

	Out	In	Total	Putts Out	Putts In	Putts Total	G.I.R.	Birdies	Pars	Bogeys	Dbl Bogeys	Other
Steve	51	44	95	18	18	36	2	-	5	5	5	3
Mike	45	44	89	18	16	34	3	-	7	5	6	-
Richard	52	49	101	19	16	35	-	-	2	6	7	3
Rohan	46	49	95	17	18	35	2	1	3	7	5	3
Par	36	36	72

MIKE LEADS BY 5 SHOTS
 
 

Round 2: Murrumbidgee Country Club
 

Date	31st October 1999
Par	72 (36,36)
Length	6147 metres
Weather	Overcast and mild
Fairways	Excellent
Greens	Good

      
Bondy tees off the par 4 12th hole                            The 18th - water left, and watch the ducks!!

  Unfortunately King Challenge rookie Rohan was forced to withdraw from the second round and take his son to the doctors.  Rohan will return to have another crack at the purple jacket next time.  Playing the back nine at the picturesque Murrumbidgee course first, it was Mike who got off to a flyer.  pars on 12, 14 and 15 had the par train full steam ahead going out in 44 and threatening to run away with the event.  Steve hit back with pars on 16 and 17, while Bondy was having putter problems.

      
Downhill approach to the 1st green                                Mike playing to the 9th, long water carry par 3

  Steve maintained his improving form into the second nine and jumped onto the par train with pars on 3, 4 and 5 narrowing the lead over Mike who was playing some very consistent golf.  Rich was coming good and stood on the 5th tee feeling pretty good.  5 shots later he had put two into the water and had 150 metres left to the green.  "You can still get a point if you get up and down from there" was the call.  Bondy laughed and then hit a screamer to within a metre of the pin, then sunk the putt for one of the BEST 7s the King Challenge has ever seen, the crowd went wild!  His putter was on fire carding only 14 putts for the nine.  It must have been too much for Steve who promptly dropped 9 shots in three holes.  He didnt just fall off the par train, he was hit by it!  Mike finished a great nine carding a 42 to take a 10 shot lead into the final round.

Nett scores after the second round:
Mike        71, 68 (139)
Steve        76, 73 (149)
Richard    76, 74 (150)
 
 

	Out	In	Total	Putts Out	Putts In	Putts Total	G.I.R.	Birdies	Pars	Bogeys	Dbl Bogeys	Other
Steve	44	48	92	17	18	35	1	-	5	9	2	2
Mike	44	42	86	19	17	36	6	-	6	10	2	-
Richard	50	49	99	18	14	32	1	-	1	9	6	2
Par	36	36	72

  MIKE LEADER BY 10
 

Round 3: Royal Canberra
 

Date	1st November 1999
Par	72 (36,36)
Length	6356 metres
Weather	Fine, mild
Fairways	Excellent
Greens	Excellent, Fast

 Steve plays the par 5 4th    

The third and final round of the King Challenge proved to be one of the most dramatic final rounds in King Challenge history.  Whether it was the rushed start, too many Guinnesses or bad karma no-one will ever know but after 36 holes with 13 pars and nothing worse than a double bogey, Mike started with three triple bogeys.  Steve settled early while Bondys putter was on fire and a par on the 2nd showed he was ready to play ball.  Mikes short game caved in taking a shocking 22 putts on the front nine including four 3 putt greens!  A par on the tough 6th for Steve bought the lead within grasp but Mike consolidated and parred 7th.  Steve immediately hit back with a great birdie two on the 8th.  After nine holes the lead was cut to just 2 shots!!!!

Rich started with a par on the 10th and was eyeing the purple jacket.  And when Steve took a triple bogey on the 11th it was anyones game.  But Mikes game caved in again on the next 5 holes, dropping 13 shots and the lead to Steve.  On the tee at the 16th Steves tee shot went way left, hit a tree and bounced back into play.  That was the ball game folks, Mikes reply sailed way right onto the adjoining 15th fairway.  Steve walked up the 18th fairway to the cheers of the crowd, the purple jacket was his.  Mike was left to ponder what might have been.  Richard soaked up the atmosphere and sunk a telling putt on the final green to take the putting trophy from Steve on countback.
 
 

	Out	In	Total	Putts Out	Putts In	Putts Total	G.I.R.	Birdies	Pars	Bogeys	Dbl Bogeys	Other
Steve	45	48	93	16	15	31	3	1	1	11	4	1
Mike	53	55	108	22	20	42	2	-	1	5	5	7
Richard	53	49	102	19	14	33	1	-	4	3	6	5
Par	36	36	72

  STEVE WINNER BY 4

Nett scores after the third round:

1. Steve        76, 73, 74 (223)
2. Richard    76, 74, 77 (227)
3. Mike        71, 68, 90 (229)
 
 

  At the presentation ceremony in the Bondietti Clubhouse, Richard took the Putting award and is keen to defend his putting title next year while having a crack at the purple jacket.  Steve was presented with the purple jacket and King trophy and put the win down to a consistent game and a really crap round of golf by Mike..
 

Steve with the King Trophy, Rich with the putting trophy
 

Steve receives the King Challenge Trophy and the famous purple jacket from Mike
 

Final Results (Nett)
 

	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Total
Steve	76	73	74	223
Richard	76	74	77	227
Mike	71	68	90	229
	72	72	72	216

Final Placings

1. Steve DaCosta
3. Richard Bondietti
3. Mike Hauser