Sydney 2000                    

Rohan Tudor finally broke through in the King Tour to win the King Challenge Sydney in dramatic fashion.  In a tournament that had everything, Bondie made the early break with 4 straight pars but was to come to grief later that round.  Steve had troubles after a dodgy vindaloo and struggled, Mikes inconsistent form and final nine holes would again prove costly.

• Steve DaCosta
• Rohan Tudor
• Mike Hauser
• Richard Bondietti

Leura Golf Course
 

A crisp, cool morning greeted the field for the first round of the King Challenge at the picturesque Leura Golf Course in the Blue Mountains.  Bondie raced to a commanding lead parring the first four holes, equalling the record for longest par train.  With a 38 off the stick for the front nine, the engravers were getting the trophy ready!  Rohan was on and off the par train, Mikes putter was not firing and Steve was feeling crook.ole on The M

urray course 

Mike putts on the spectacular 14th green	'Par train' Bondie, Rohan and Steve at Leura

Bondies run faltered tragically on the 10th after two tee shots went out of bounds, starting a horror back nine which was to be 16 shots worse than his front nine.  Mikes game returned and the putter started to show some glimpses of form.  Rohan and Steve survived the cut and it was still anyones game.  

 

Player	Score	1st
M Hauser	+ 1	70
R Bondietti	+ 4	73
R Tudor	+ 7	76
S DaCosta	+ 7	76

Round 1 - Stats

Round 1	Out	In	Total	Nett	Putts Out	Putts In	Putts Total	G.I.R.	Birdies	Pars	Bogeys	Dbl Bogeys	Other
Richard	38	54	92	73	17	17	34	6	-	5	7	3	3
Mike	45	43	88	70	19	14	33	4	-	5	8	4	1
Steve	49	47	96	76	18	17	35	-	-	2	7	7	2
Rohan	43	45	88	76	16	18	34	6	-	5	7	6	-
Par	34	35	69

Eastlake Golf Club
 

Date	4th June 2000
Par	69 (35,34)
Length	4645 metres
Weather	Fine and overcast
Fairways	Good
Greens	Medium

The morning did not start well for Steve and the remaining three players had to leave Steve on his death-bed as he was forced to withdraw from the second round.  Steves place was taken by Pommy John at the short but challenging Eastlake course. Scoring on the front nine was average with all players playing some very ordinary golf.  The pressure of King Golf showed on Pommy John early in the round, while Rohan started to get the par train fired up.  At the halfway point Rohan was showing the most form, Bondie and Mike were looking shaky.

 

The tough par 3 16th at Eastlake	The 12th hole Par 5

Inconsistent golf was again a highlight of the back nine, with Pommy John shaking off the King nerves and putting some good holes together.  Bondie fell away from the leaders after a 10 on the 11th, while Mike crashed late in the round dropping 8 shots in two holes.  Rohan played the most consistent golf and had cut a 6 shot deficit down to just one.  

 

Player	Score	1st	2nd
M Hauser	+ 12	70	80
R Bondietti	+ 18	73	83
R Tudor	+ 13	76	75
S DaCosta	+ 7	76	w/d

Castle Hill Country Club
  

Date	5th June 2000
Par	72 (36,36)
Length	6184 metres
Weather	Fine
Fairways	Good
Greens	Fast

Steve returned for the final round to keep the large galleries happy, Ports win obviously helped! .  It was still anyones game with Mike holding a slender one shot margin over Rohan and Bondie a further 5 shots back.  Mike was off to a flyer, keen to set an early target and was 2 over after 5 holes, Bondie put some good holes together but was plagued with some poor shots off the tee.  Rohan started slow but was on familiar territory and was in no hurry just yet.   Steve was still feeling the after affects of the vindaloo and wasnt at his best. 

 

Steve takes on the water on 18	Bondie hacks out of trouble on 14

The dramatic back nine at Castle Hill saw Mike hit the water on 10,12,13 and 17, good recovery kept him in the lead but pars to Rohan on 16 and 17 bought him into a tie for the lead going into the 18th hole. 2 straight 4 irons saw Mike seemingly out of trouble but the short game faltered with a duffed wedge to the green, Rohan seized the opportunity and the purple jacket was his. 

 

Rohan on his favourite hole	Mike about to find water on 17th!

King Challenge & Purple Jacket 

Rohan attributed his win to consistent golf taking it one hole at a time!  The complete abscence of croissants on the first tee was also a saving grace as these fluffy yet sticky pastries have been blamed for his failure to win past challenges. 

 

Steve presents the trophy	Rohan tries on the purple jacket!

Putting Trophy

 Putting was dominated by 3 new expensive Odyssey putters, but it was Bondys $25 putter that took the putting title! He set a record for 9 holes carding only 12 putts on the back nine at Castle Hill!!! Rich 34,32,31 97 Mike 33,32,34 99 Rohan 34,32,36 102 

 

Player	Putts	1st	2nd	3rd
R. Bondietti	97	34	32	31
M Hauser	99	33	32	34
R Tudor	102	34	32	36
S DaCosta	-	35	w/d	36

The King Spoon

Traditionally awarded to the player finishing last, the Spoon was contenciously won by Steve despite his inability to play the second round.  Whatever the case Rohan was happy to see the end of the Spoon (at least until the next Challenge!)

 

Bondie takes the putting trophy	Steve becomes the spoon man!

Stats Summary

 

	Round 1 (nett)	Round 2 (nett)	Round 3 (nett)	Total Nett	Putts (Total)	Putts (Avg/hole)	G.I.R.	Birdies	Pars	Bogeys	Dbl Bogeys	Other
Rohan	76	75	78	229	102	1.89	15	1	15	23	12	3
Mike	70	80	81	231	99	1.82	9	-	12	20	14	7
Richard	73	83	82	238	97	1.80	10	-	11	20	12	11
Steve	76	w/d	84		71*	1.97
Par	69	69	72