(Pate's record stood until 2002)

The golf world's attention was once again focused on Essex when the club hosted the 1998 du Maurier Classic, the fourth "Major" on the LPGA Tour.The $1.2 million (US) tournament was held July 27 to August 2, a great financial success, recorded as one of the best run du Maurier events ever which broke an all-time attendance record in the 25-year history of the event.