Fanling member Doug Williams continued his remarkable winning ways with a hard-fought victory at the Hong Kong Seniors Amateur Open Championship last month.
Williams, the defending champion, overcame Stephen East of England in a play-off after blowing a seven-shot overnight lead over the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Old Course.
The American-born Williams, who has now captured back-to-back Hong Kong Seniors Close and Open titles since becoming eligible for senior golf last year, closed with a lacklustre 78 to tie with East on a three-round total of 216, three-over-par.
But a brilliant approach to the first hole of sudden-death gave him a chance to spare his blushes and he capitalised on the opportunity by holing a 10ft birdie putt to claim the win.
"I’m delighted to win after such a difficult day,” said Williams, who opened with back-to-back rounds of 69 to forge ahead in the early stages of the event. “I was so tense and out of my rhythm during the round that I was a bit of an emotional wreck out there, so to win in the play-off with my only birdie of the day was a big relief.”
2012 winner Michael Barltrop of New Zealand and Hong Kong’s Anthony Taylor finished in a share of third on 220.
Final Standings
1 Doug Williams* HKG 69 69 78 216
2 Stephen East ENG 74 71 71 216
3= Michael Barltrop NZL 75 71 74 220
Anthony Taylor HKG 72 73 75 220
5 Anthony Gresham AUS 76 72 77 225
6= John Ambridge ENG 78 77 71 226
Peter King AUS 75 78 73 226
8 Alan Evans AUS 78 73 77 228
9 Peter Reed HKG 79 74 76 229
10 John Ball HKG 76 77 77 230
* Denotes play-off winner
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