2-5 October 1998

Venues
    Round 1: Robina Woods
    Round 2: Royal Pines - West
    Round 3: Lakelands
    Round 4: The Pines - Sanctuary Cove

Players
    Michael Hauser
    Steve Da Costa
    Simon Cummins

 Round 1: Robina Woods
 

Date	2nd October 1998
Par	72 (36,36)
Length	6078 metres
Weather	Fine and warm
Fairways	Excellent
Greens	Fast and firm

18th hole at Robina Woods - Par 5, water left and right!
 

The tough Robina Woods course enabled Steve to grab his early lead, after slow starts Mike struck first with a par on the 4th. But it was Steve's tee shot to the downhill Par 3 8th that put him in front. Seemingly short left, Steves ball kicked onto the greenfinishing 50cm from the pin, the birdie gave him a 3 shot lead.
Simon struggled on the back nine, as Mike made a late charge to finish 2 off the pace. Simon fell to 7 behind. Guest player Trev figured well early but the putter got the better of him.
Final Scores: Steve 99 (50,49), Mike 101 (54,47), Simon 106 (52, 54).

STEVE LEADS BY 2
 

Round 2: Royal Pines - West Course
 

Date	3rd October 1998
Par	71 (35,36)
Length	6293 metres
Weather	Fine
Fairways	Excellent
Greens	Good

Another day of sunshine and blue skies, this time on the West Course at Royal Pines. Mike was in form early and after pars on 2 and 3 took the outright lead, but consistent form from Steve and crap play from Mike put Steve back in front by the turn. Simon started to turn things around with pars on the 7th and 8th. By the time the last putts had been sunk on 18, Steve had opened up a 4 shot lead, but Simon made up 3 strokes on the leader and was looking ominous

Final Scores: Steve 93 (46,47), Mike 96 (47,49), Simon 90 (45,45).

  STEVE LEADER BY 4
 

Round 3: Lakelands
 

Date	4th October 1998
Par	72 (36,36)
Length	6489 metres
Weather	Fine
Fairways	Excellent
Greens	Good

Steve plays the short 14th signature hole at Lakelands

Is there no end to this great weather!! The Nicklaus designed Lakelands course was the venue for Round 3 of the King
Challenge. And again it was Simons consistent play that saw him grab the lead on the 7th hole after a strong par, by the 9th
Simon was 2 in front. But Steve had other ideas and promptly parred 10, 11 and 12 to be in front by 3.
Mike's game went off the boil mid-round finding way to many of Nicklauses many bunkers, but strong tee shots into the Par 3 14th and 17th for solid pars was some consolation. Steve finished the day hanging onto a 2 shot lead and worried over the form reversal of Simon, Mike was almost out of the picture, 9 shots in arrears.
Final Scores: Steve 100 (53,47), Mike 104 (53,51), Simon 98 (47,51).

  STEVE LEADER BY 2

Round 4: The Pines
 

Date	5th October 1998
Par	72 (36,36)
Length	6681 metres
Weather	Fine
Fairways	Excellent
Greens	Fast

    
Pine trees aplenty - 8th hole                                     The 10th - hardest hole on the course
 

Rated as the hardest course in Australia, the Pines was always going to test the golf game. But Steve blitzed around the front 9 in 42, virtually sowing up the tournament with pars on 1,3,4 and 7. Mikes putter failed badly early on three putting the first 3
holes, a long birdie putt on 7 helped!! Simon was also struggling, finding water and missing putts. By the end of the front nine
Steve had pulled away to be 8 shots in front of Simon and 12 in front of Mike. The tournament was surely his...or was it!!

     
Simon plays into the 12th green, dont go left Sim!     The tough 18th hole at The Pines

By the 13th hole Steve was writing his acceptance speech, 11 shots up on Simon and 16 in front of Mike. But on 14 Steve
found trouble, and the 17th was a horrific hole for Steve and Mike. Standing on the 18th tee, Steves lead was down to 6 over
Simon. The humidity and pressure got to Steve, with 2 balls into the lake. Suddenly Simon was in with a chance, Mike with no
pressure at all spanked his best for the tournament down the middle followed by a 4 iron to a couple of metres of the flag!
Simon was left with a greenside chip for the title, it was short and Steve held on to win by 2 shots from Simon, and by 7 from
Mike.
Steve was the worthy winner having played some great golf, Simon was left to lament about what might have been, some great play was slightly let down by missed putts, especially the 22 putts on the back nine. And Mike got some consulation winning the final round by two shots, but his form overrall was disappointing!
Final Scores: Steve 99 (42,57), Mike 97 (45,52), Simon 99 (48,51).
 

  At the presentation ceremony Steve congratulated the organisers on a superb event and put the win down to hard work, determination and the King!!
 

Steve accepts the King Challenge Trophy from Mike,
and there was much rejoicing.

STEVE WINNER BY 2
 

Final Results
 

	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Total
Steve	99	93	100	99	391
Mike	101	96	104	97	398
Simon	106	90	98	99	393
72	72	71	72	72	287

Final Placings

1. Steve Da Costa
2. Simon Cummins
3. Mike Hauser