20-23 August 1999
King Challenge - Gold Coast 1999
20-23 August 1999
Venues
Round 1: Paradise Springs
Round 2: Kooralbyn
Round 3: Hope Island
Round 4: Palm Meadows
Players
Michael Hauser
Steve Da Costa
Simon Cummins
Round
1: Paradise Springs
| Date | 20th August 1999 |
| Par | 72 (36,36) |
| Length | 6424 metres |
| Weather | Fine and mild |
| Fairways | Excellent |
| Greens | Fast and firm |
Steve plays to the par 3 12th at Paradise
Springs
18th at Paradise Springs, Simon lines up a birdie putt
Paradise
Springs proved to be a tough start to the King Challenge Gold Coast 1999.
With water on all but 2 holes, there was always going to be plenty of marine
action. And Mike looked to be throwing it all away early dumping
the first 3 tee shots left into water. Without some scambling recoveries
it may have been the end. Simon took the early initiative building
a 6 shot lead after 6 holes and with Steves putter misfiring it looked
like Simon was already on the way to glory. But Mike soon found form
and parred 7,8,9 and 10 to lead by 5 shots into the back nine.
Simons
early form deserted him and the short game struggled on the back nine,
Steve made a late charge to make up lost ground but it was Mike who held
the lead after the first round by 9 shots.
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Putts Out | Putts In | Putts Total |
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Dbl Bogeys |
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| Steve |
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| Mike |
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| Simon |
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MIKE
LEADS BY 9 SHOTS
Round 2: Kooralbyn
| Date | 21st August 1999 |
| Par | 72 (36,36) |
| Length | 6317 metres |
| Weather | Fine and mild |
| Fairways | Good |
| Greens | Good |
The King Challenge trekked into the hinterland to play Kooralbyn, one of
the first resort courses and a mixture of tight treelined holes and open
links type holes. After an easy start it was Steve who set the early
pace stripping 5 shots off Mikes lead in 4 holes. Mikes game of the
tee could be summed up in one word "Shocking". All three played
the daunting 220 metre downhill 5th poorly carding double bogeys all round.
Simon continued to struggle with the short game. After 6 holes Steve had
got to within 3 of the lead. On the short 8th, a 150m par 3
Mike put his tee shot to within a metre or so of the hole, Steve also hit
the green. Mike birdie, Steve par. Then on the 9th, disaster
for Steve blocking his tee shot into the trees and carding an 8.
The 5th at Kooralbyn - 220 metres nothing
but air
Mike drives from the 15th tee, long water carry
Simon
was back in form parring 9th and 10th holes. It was tough golf on the back
nine with no-one showing signs of making a run. Mikes putter deserted
him, Steves tee shots fell away and Simon short game was shaky. The
water carry on the 15th tee is over 200 metres, Simon got wet trying to
take the short cut. By the end of the round, Mike had extended his
lead by 1 shot, the signs were not good for the rest of the field.
Attempts to drug the overnight leader failed.
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Putts Out | Putts In | Putts Total |
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Dbl Bogeys |
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| Steve |
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| Mike |
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| Simon |
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MIKE
LEADER BY 10
Round 3: Hope
Island
| Date | 22nd August 1999 |
| Par | 72 (36,36) |
| Length | 6457 metres |
| Weather | Cloudy, mild, some rain |
| Fairways | Excellent |
| Greens | Fast |
The
run of good weather on the gold coast ended today with grey and rainy conditions
for the third round at the Thompson designed Hope Island. Hope Island
is consistently rated as the best one of the best resort courses in Australia,
and is a links inspired layout complete with way too many bunkers.
Simon and Steve were hoping that the rain may deter Mikes game. And
after Mike dumped his tee shot into the water off the first tee (as he
had done on the last two days) their hope were raised. But
Mikes improving short game kept him up with the field in the opening holes.
On the 4th they were deluged in a downpour which thankfully didnt last
too long. Mike and Steve lifted their game and parred the 5th, then
Mike chipped in for a birdie on the 8th!! Simon had an inconsistent
round and was left wishing he was back at Kingston Links.
Pot bunkers at Hope Island, one of Many!!!
The 18th hole, don't go left!!
The
back nine saw some ordinary golf and another downpour midway through didnt
help the skill levels!!! Steve began to start hitting the green and
missed a few makeable putts by the narrowest of margins. All struggled
on the tough 17th, a 180m water carry par 3, it was 5's all round.
Mike pulled a par out of nowhere on the 18th and stretched his lead in
the Challenge to 14 over Steve and 20 over Simon. There have been
miracle comebacks before but this would require something special.
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Putts Out | Putts In | Putts Total |
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Dbl Bogeys |
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| Steve |
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| Mike |
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| Simon |
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MIKE
LEADER BY 14
Round 4: Palm
Meadows
| Date | 23rd August 1999 |
| Par | 72 (36,36) |
| Length | 6319 metres |
| Weather | Mild, overcast |
| Fairways | Excellent |
| Greens | Fast |
As
he had on the last three rounds, Mike dumped his drive left into the water!!!
Steve and Simon had a glimmer of hope, could this be the turning point?
Alas it wasnt to be, all players showed hints of brilliance but also played
some ordinary golf along the way. After 9 Mike had extended his lead
and the purple jacket was almost decided for another year barring unforseen
lightning strikes or misguided golf balls. But they only needed to
look back to a year ago when Steve had a seemingly unbeatable lead on the
final few holes only to run into severe trouble and just holding off a
fast finishing Simon,. its not over until the fat caddie sings!
Large bunkers and palm trees
The tough finish at Palm Meadows - looks like rain!!!
The
back nine again played host to some ordinary golf, Mikes putter completely
failed, Steve was having trouble again off the tee while Simon still had
the short game from hell. On the 18th tee the rain decided to roll in,
and the hole was played in record time, Steve knocked in a monster putt
on the 18th green without actually stopping to line it up, possibly a new
strategy. As the clouds rolled in and rain pelted down, Mike tapped
in for a bogey 6 and a 19 stroke win in the 1999 King Challenge - Gold
Coast.
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Putts Out | Putts In | Putts Total |
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Dbl Bogeys |
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| Steve |
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| Mike |
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| Simon |
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MIKE
WINNER BY 19
At the presentation ceremony in the Qantas Club at Coolangatta Airport,
Simon took the Most Putts award and Circus Girl Double. Mike was
presented with the purple jacket and King trophy and put the win down to
a consistent short game which proved to be the decisive factor this time
around.
Mike receives the King Challenge Trophy
from Steve The famous purple jacket
Final Results
| Round 1 |
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Round 3 | Round 4 |
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| Steve |
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| Mike |
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| Simon |
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Final Placings
1. Mike Hauser
2. Steve Da Costa
3. Simon Cummins