The Purple Jacket

Laguna Challenge January 2009 Venue: Laguna Whitsundays Winner: Steve DaCosta

Canberra Challenge April 2009 Venue: Murrumbidgee, Quenbuyen Winner: Mike Hauser

Central Coast Challenge February 2008 Venue: Magenta Shores, Kooindah Waters, The Vintage Winners: Daren Armstrong, Kelvin Jones

Melbourne Challenge November 2007 Venue: Woodlands, Growling Frog Winner: Mike Hauser

Tropical Challenge January 2007 Venue: Paradise Palms, Andys Links, Mirage Port Douglas Winner: Mike Hauser

Capital Challenge April 2006 Venue: Capital, Royal Canberra Winner: Mike Hauser

Melbourne Challenge February 2006 Venue: St Andrews Beach, The Dunes Winner: Mike Hauser

*Missing results 2002-2005

Gold Coast Challenge October 2001 Venue: Royal Pines, Lakelands, Robina Woods, The Glades Winner: Mike Hauser

Melbourne Challenge February 2001 Venue: Portsea, The Dunes, Yarrambat Park, Kingston Links Winner: Rohan Tudor

Sydney Challenge June 2000 Venue: Leura, Eastlake, Castle Hill Winner: Rohan Tudor

Murray Challenge March 2000 Venue: Yarrawonga Murray, Cobram Old, Yarrawonga Lakes Winner: Andrew Millar

Capital Challenge October 1999 Venue: Yowani, Murrumbidgee, Royal Canberra Winner: Steve DaCosta

Gold Coast Challenge August 1999 Venue: Paradise Springs, Kooralbyn, Hope Island, Palm Meadows Winner: Mike Hauser

State of Origin Challenge February 1999 Venue: Horizons, Camden Lakeside, Castle Hill, Kingston Links Winner: Mike Hauser

Gold Coast Challenge October 1998 Venue: Robina Woods, Royal Pines, Lakelands, Sanctuary Cove-Pines Winner: Steve DaCosta

Sunshine Coast Challenge September 1997 Venue: Caloundra, Twin Waters, Hyatt Coolum Winner: Mike Hauser

• K. Jones (3/1 Fav) – Jones weekend win has moved him into favourite for the King Challenge, critics are noting that Jones has peaked too early and he may take a hefty beating from the handicapper. But any hint of form leading into a King Challenge is rare so the smart money has been moved to the Jones Boy
• S. DaCosta (4/1) - DaCosta hasnt had the best of preparations so far, but scouts noticed him form at the Mallacoota Invitational where he could do no wrong, repeat that ball striking on the Challenge and he will be wearing the purple jacket on the final day.
• D. Armstrong (7/1) - Bookies are unsure of the rookie Armstrong, his form is a closely gaurded secret to date and many punters are banking on the second rookie win since Millar surprised the field on the Murray.
• M.Hauser (10/1) – Surprisingly the title holder has dropped odds with bookies questioning his inconsistent form and rumours of a new driver. All eyes will be on his form at Moonah Links this weekend to see if the swing holds up.

The Purple Jacket – What they are all playing for!

Steve has confirmed the courses for the forthcoming King Challenge Central Coast 2008.

• Round 1 – Magenta Shores (Ranked 18th in the Golf Australia top 50 Australian courses)
• Round 2 – Kooindah Waters
• Round 3 – The Vintage (Ranked 41st in the Golf Australia top 50 Australian courses)

Confirmed players are:

Mike Hauser – Tour veteran and reigning title holder Steve DaCosta – Tour veteran and keen to get his hands back on the Purple Jacket Kelvin Jones – Returning to the tour after a long absence, keen to put the Gold Coast demons to rest Daren Armstrong – Rookie Challenge entrant, will he cope with the pressures of the King Challenge?

The King Challenge roster looks to be returning to the Central Coast in 2008, scene of the dramatic tied Challenge between Michael Hauser and Richard Bondietti in 2002. Steve DaCosta has selected three courses to host the Challenge, though yet to be finalised they are:

Round 1: Magenta Shores Round 2 – The Vintage

Round 3 – Kooindah Waters

The tense competition shows on the faces of Mike and Steve

Round 1 – Paradise Palms Paradise Palms hosted the first round a couple of days before Christmas. The course had hosted a previous Challenge, and in warm and humid conditions it was Steve starting the strongest, though the golf wasnt great and it wasnt until the 8th hole that Steve scored the first par of the day opening up a 3 point lead (Stableford). Mike hit back on the next hole firing his first well hit shot of the day, a 6 iron close to the pin. The resulting birdie got Mike back to 1 pt of Steve.

Steve tees off on 14 The backnine was a war zone early, with 9 pts scored between both players over the first 5 holes! Steve got on the par train on the 15th and 16th, and hung on to carry a 1 point lead into the next round.

Mike sends an approach shot into the 18th Round 2 – Andy’s Links Andy’s Links was included in the King Challenge for the first time, Mike and Steve both carded a solid 39 strokes around the course as part of the Wongabel Shield, and with handicap indexes, ACRs and CCRs non-existent, Steve maintained his 1 point lead into the final round.

Andys Links – 5th “Green” Round 3 – Mirage Country Club With only a point in it, the final round was always going to be close.

Again Steve started off well, parring the second and building his lead to 3 pts by the fifth hole. Steve’s misfiring driver off the tee on the 5th, got Mike back into the game then Mike’s par on the 7th gave him the lead into the back nine.

Mythbusters: Do Croissants adversely affect the golf game? A rest stop was taken at the Bakery between the 8th green and 9th tee as the boys were keen to grab a traditional King Challenge croissant. This tradition dates back to the Murray Challenge in 2000 and the infamous Rohan and the croissant incident that many say cost him the Challenge.  We both ate an Almond Croissant and the golf was average over the next couple of holes, with a couple of big mistakes.  Result: The myth is plausible! Mike gets stuck into a croissant The lead was tied again on the 11th before a costly short game error for Steve on the 12th put Mike back in front. Mike then hooked his tee shot into the lake on the 13th as Steve’s par got him to the lead! Mike birdied 15 and parred 16 to even up the leaderboard, and both players went to the tee on the par 3 18th tied for the lead.

With Mike off first his 7 iron was unusually well struck and started left fading back towards the pin leaving a makeable putt for birdie. Steve’s tee shot was right and left him with a tricky chip from a greenside hollow. The chip was at the hole running past the edge and leaving a short putt, but no gimme. Mike’s birdie attempt lipped out and the resultant par put the pressure on Steve to sink the putt to tie. The putt ran past the edge of the hole leaving Mike with a 1 point lead and retaining the Purple Jacket by the narrowest of margins.

Round 1 – Paradise Palms Steve 29 pts (17,12) Mike 28 pts (16,12)

Round 2 – Andys Links Steve 38 Mike 38

Round 3 – Mirage Steve 31 pts (13,18) Mike 33 pts (17.16)

Venues for the Challenge are yet to be confirmed but look to certainly include the classic Paradise Palms layout, a sensational Graham Marsh designed layout that winds through thick rainforest like rough, creeks and waterways to large undulating greens.

Half Moon Bay is also being considered, a short resort style course set right on the ocean near Cairns.

The tour will also include the traditional Boxing Day “Wongabel Shield”, played on Andys Pines, a homemade nine hole course on the Csorba farm in Atherton.

Canberra hosted the latest Challenge on the weekend, with Mike Hauser defending his title against Steve DaCosta and local Challenge regular Rich Bondietti. Capital Golf Club was the venue for round one, a well treed track unfortunately situated on the side of a hill! Mike held the slenderest of leads after round 1, 1 point in front of Steve and Rich.

Round 2 was played at Royal Canberra, a classic layout known as the Augusta of Australia due to the abundance of pinetrees. Kel Jones, joined the group for the day. The front nine saw some great shots, none more so than Steve’s 7 iron to the par 3 8th hole, he was within a tap-in of the first challenge hole-in-one. By the halfway point, Mike was 2 pts up. His lead dissolved in 2 holes with Rich leading with 7 holes to play. But the leaders game deserted him, and with Steve struggling off the fairway, Mike was able to consolidate a lead. Mike successfully defended his Challenge title from Melbourne and finished the round 8 points up over Rich, with Steve a further 2 points back.

Rich 3/1 – Home ground advantage for round 1, plenty of trackwork Mike 7/1 – Unlikely to repeat last Februarys Challenge form, ghosts of Royal Canberra could return Steve 10/1 – Heavy upper body training in leadup to Challenge, form an issue Kel 100/1 – Plays second round at home, but not much of a chance if not playing first round

The event will tee off at Murrumbidgee Country Club, ‘the bidge’ has previously hosted rounds of the King Challenge including the Capital Challenge in 1999, and is the home course for Rich giving him a distinct home ground advantage! The final round will be held on the hallowed turf of Royal Canberra , ‘Australia’s Augusta’ is a classic course, rated 12th in the country. Most of the course is played down corridors of pine trees to slick greens well gaurded by large bunkers and contours.

In 1999 Royal Canberra was scene to one of the most dramatic rounds in King Challenge history. Here is an extract from the King Challenge website:

Mike Hauser held a 10 shot lead going into the final round at Royal. 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 DaCosta settled early while Rich Bonietti’s 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.

Steve at the presentation ceremony looking good in purple

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