HKGA | HK SENIORS AMATEUR OPEN
Cometh the Hour Doug Williams survived a final-round scare to notch his second Hong Kong Seniors Amateur Open title in a row, writes Alex Jenkins. Photography by Daniel Wong
Australia’s Anthony Gresham, a former winner of the event
Champion Doug Williams, seen here with Su Su Tong, Clubhouse Manager at the HKGC, receives the trophy for the second successive year
F
anling 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 diff icult day,” said Williams, who opened with back-to-back rounds of 69 to forge ahead in the early stages of t he event. “ I was so tense a nd out of my rhy t h m during the round that I was a bit of an emotional wreck out there, so to w i n i n t he play- of f w it h my on ly bi rd ie of t he day wa s a big relief.” 2012 winner Michael Barltrop of New Zealand and Hong Kong’s Anthony Taylor finished in a share of third on 220.
58
HK GOLFER・DEC 2014
Runner-up Stephen East of England
Alan Evans, a twotime champion in Hong Kong, racked up another top-10 finish
Hong Kong’s Tony Taylor finished in a tie for third
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
HKG
76 77 77
230
10 John Ball * Denotes play-offwinner
HKGOLFER.COM
Despite some late wobbles, Doug Williams held his nerve in the play-off to emerge victorious
New Zealand’s Michael Barltrop, the 2012 winner, again fared well at Fanling, finishing in a share of third place HKGOLFER.COM
HK GOLFER・DEC 2014
59