HONG KONG, November 15, 2013 (HK Golfer News Wire) - In-form Doug Williams cruised to victory at the Hong Kong Seniors Open Amateur Championship with a near flawless performance at Fanling Friday.
The Hong Kong Golf Club member, who held a seven-stroke lead entering the final round after opening with scores of 69 and 74, shot a level-par 71 over the Old Course to end 14 shots ahead of his nearest rivals, Australia's Alan Evans and defending champion Michael Barltrop of New Zealand.
"I've been playing pretty well and hitting the ball pretty steady," said Williams, who became the first Hong Kong player to win the event since Terry Collins in 2004. "I've got a routine that I stick with, my short game has been solid and I'm hitting a lot of fairways, which makes a difference around here. My aim is just to try and play smart golf – not try and play shots I'm not capable of – and of course I have quite a bit of local knowledge too."
Williams, who turned 55 in February to become eligible for senior golf, has been in a rich vein of form this year. The 1982 Spanish Amateur champion claimed the Hong Kong Seniors Close Amateur in May before winning the Kau Sai Chau International Amateur Open in early October. Just a week later he added the Singapore Open Senior Amateur Championship to his ever-growing list of titles.
Next up for Williams is the Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Championship, to be played in Vietnam from 21-23 November, where he'll line up alongside William Chung, Terry Collins, Joe Pethes, Roddy Sage and Tony Taylor in a strong-looking Hong Kong side.
"I don't really know what to expect but I'm looking forward to Vietnam," said US-born Williams. "I think we stand a chance of doing well – everyone in the team seems to be playing well – so it should be a good week."
Results
1 Doug Williams HKG 69 74 71 214
2= Alan Evans AUS 75 78 75 228
Michael Barltrop NZL 72 78 78 228
4 Tony Taylor HKG 77 78 78 233
5= Chu Koon-ching HKG 80 82 78 240
Alex Ho TPE 83 78 79 240
7 Joe Pethes HKG 83 79 80 242
8= Mike Grimsdick HKG 81 82 80 243
Tatsuo Asai CAN 75 86 82 243
10= Masanobu Murakami JPN 82 84 78 244
Lee Kab-soo HKG 80 82 82 244
William Chung HKG 81 80 83 244
Peter Reed HKG 79 82 83 244