Seven up for sensational Doug Williams at Hong Kong Seniors Close Amateur Championship
An accidental strike to the cheek by his playing partner’s club wasn’t enough to stop the 1982 Spanish Amateur champion from closing out victory in the tournament at Fanling and continue his dominance
His nearest challengers threw literally everything they could at him, but it wasn’t enough as Doug Williams continued his dominance of the local senior golf scene with a convincing – if uncomfortable – victory at the Hong Kong Seniors Close Amateur Championship at Fanling.
I probably shouldn’t have played but I wanted to keep the streak going
While Williams’ win came as little surprise – the 1982 Spanish Amateur champion started the final round with an eight-shot cushion – there were concerns he might have to withdraw from the event through injury after being struck in the cheek by a playing partner’s practice swing on the first tee. After collapsing to the ground, Williams received treatment and was able to continue his fine form over the Old Course to cruise to his fourth straight win at the event.
“I probably shouldn’t have played but I wanted to keep the streak going,” said Williams, who carded a 76 for an 11-shot winning margin. “What happened was an accident – it’s the first time it’s happened to me on a golf course – but I’m pleased with the way I grinded it out. I’ve been playing really well and my ball-striking is as good as it has been in years.”
With three successive wins at the Hong Kong Seniors Open Amateur between 2013 and 2015, the 58-year-old has now won seven of the major local senior titles in a row.
“I enjoy the pressure and challenging myself in these tournaments; it’s still fun to win even if everyone expects you to,” continued Williams, who has a busy playing schedule ahead of him this summer. He will try to qualify for a third straight US Seniors Open – a professional Major – and has also committed to play in numerous events in Europe, including the Seniors Amateur Championship, which will take place in Wales next month.
Final standings
223 Doug Williams (74-73-76); 234 Anthony Taylor (79-76-79); 237 Park Byung-wook (80-81-76); 238 Kwok Kam-tin (79-78-81); 239 James Barrington (77-79-83); 242 Chan Yeun-kow (80-81-81); 243 Peter Reed (82-82-79), Nicky Au (80-76-87); 244 Lee Kab-soo (83-84-77), Donald Moore (80-82-82), Sidney Tsang (83-79-82), Garry Carter (77-81-86)