Doug Williams wins Seniors Amateur Open

Fanling member Doug Williams continued his remarkable winning ways with a hard-fought victory at the Hong Kong Seniors Amateur Open Championship.

"I’m delighted to win after such a difficult day," said Williams

Williams, the defending champion, overcame Stephen East of the United Kingdom 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 now turns his attention to next week’s Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Championship, which will be held at Discovery Bay Golf Club. “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.

RESULTS

216 – Doug Williams* HKG (69 69 78), Stephen East UK (74 71 71)
220 – Michael Barltrop NZL (75 71 74), Anthony Taylor HKG (72 73 75)
225 – Anthony Gresham AUS (76 72 77)
226 – John Ambridge UK (78 77 71), Peter King AUS (75 78 73)
228 – Alan Evans AUS (78 73 77)
229 – Peter Reed HKG (79 74 76)
230 – John Ball HKG (76 77 77)

* Won on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off