5-8 September 1997
King Challenge - Sunshine Coast 1997
5-8 September 1997
Venues
Round 1: Caloundra GC, QLD
Round 2: Novatel Twin Waters, QLD
Round 3: Hyatt Coolum, QLD
Players
Michael Hauser
Steve Da Costa
Round 1:
Caloundra Golf Club
| Date | 5th September 1997 |
| Par | 71 (35,36) |
| Length | 5960 metres |
| Weather | Fine and warm |
| Fairways | Excellent |
| Greens | Fast and firm |
The
inaugural King Challenge teed off on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Caloundra Golf Club hosted the first round in brilliant conditions.
Caloundra is a well treed layout with a number of snaking creeks and other
water hazards to contend with.
Mike
set the pace early with but a misfiring putter didnt help, and solid play
from Steve over 6, 7, 8 and 9 saw the two of them finish the front nine
tied. Steve had a number of par attempts but the putter was not being
cooperative!
Again
Mike struck early but a Baker-Finch like bunker recovery on the 14th after
two superb shots slowed down his run. Steve finished too consistently
and after the first round, Mike had a one shot lead.
MIKE
LEADS BY ONE SHOT
|
|
|
|
Putts Out | Putts In | Putts Total |
|
|
|
|
Dbl Bogeys |
|
|
| Steve |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mike |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Par |
|
|
|
Round 2: Novatel
Twin Waters
| Date | 7th September 1997 |
| Par | 72 (36,36) |
| Length | 6183 metres |
| Weather | Fine and warm |
| Fairways | Excellent |
| Greens | Fast |
The
Thomson designed Twin Waters hosted the second round of the King Challenge
Sunshine Coast. Twin Waters is a links inspired layout with many
rolling fairways, pot bunkers, killer rough and water.
After
poor starts Steve struck first parring the second and then the 5th, but
Mike followed up with pars on the 6th, 7th and 9th to go into the turn
with a 6 stroke lead. The putter certainly helped with only 14 putts
going out.
The
golf hotted up on the back nine with Steve parring the 10th and the 11th
to bring the difference back to 3 shots. A par on 15th for
Mike helped stablise the lead, and by the time they hit the 19th hole,
Mike had extended his first round lead to 5 shots.
MIKE
LEADER BY 5
|
|
|
|
Putts Out | Putts In | Putts Total |
|
|
|
|
Dbl Bogeys |
|
|
| Steve |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mike |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Par |
|
|
|
Round 3: Hyatt
Coolum
| Date | 8th September 1997 |
| Par | 72 (36,36) |
| Length | 6326 metres |
| Weather | Fine and warm |
| Fairways | Excellent |
| Greens | Fast and true |
With
Mike and Nicki doing it tough staying at the Hyatt Coolum, the crucial
final round was hosted at the resorts championship layout designed by Robert
Trent Jones Jnr. The guy must hate golfers because he went crazy
with the water hazards!!!
Both
players started consistently but Steve rolled in a big putt for birdie
on the long par 5 4th hole and by the 8th hole he had reduced the deficit
by 3 shots to just 2.
Standing
on the 10th tee, both players knew the importance of a good start to the
back nine. The 10th is the second hardest hole on the course, water
all down the left and a huge bunker in the fairway, Mike made a par,
chipped in on the par 3 11th for par after duffing the first chip, then
parred the 12th. Steve pulled back a couple of shots but it wasnt
enough in the end.
Mike
finished the final round, seven shots ahead of Steve taking the trophy
for the first time.
MIKE
WINNER BY 7
|
|
|
|
Putts Out | Putts In | Putts Total |
|
|
|
|
Dbl Bogeys |
|
|
| Steve |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mike |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Par |
|
|
|
Final Results
|
|
|
Round 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dbl Bogeys |
|
|
| Steve |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mike |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Par |
|
|
|
|
Final Placings
1. Mike Hauser
2. Steve Da Costa