Aug. 2, 2012
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. -- Chris Williams ended up 17-under par 271 after 72 holes of the Western Amateur Championship on Thursday to take medalist honors for a second-consecutive year and give the Huskies an amazing fourth-straight stroke play title at the prestigious tournament. Often referred to as the 'Masters of amateur golf,' the Western Amateur has been a prestigious national tournament since its founding in 1899. Williams shot even-par 72 in Tuesday's first round, but bounced back with a 6-under 66 in Wednesday's second round and a 66 and 67 during Thursday's third and fourth rounds. Williams, currently the World Amateur Golf Ranking's No. 1 player, shot well enough to win by two strokes over Lorens Chan. Williams had only two bogeys during 36 holes of action on Thursday, including a bogey-free round in the morning. In all, Williams notched 26 birdies during the three days of stroke play to lead a group of 16 golfers into match play. Williams was also the 2011 Western Amateur Championship. His UW teammate, Cheng-Tsung Pan, was the 2009 and 2010 tournament champion as a junior golfer to make golfers with Washington ties as the champion in four-consecutive years. Although Pan did not earn the victory, he shot his way into a hard-fought place among the final field of 16. It marks the fourth-straight year he will advance to match play at the tournament. Pan shot 70 twice on Thursday to fall to 8-under at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Ill. He ended regulation tied for 13th with seven other golfers. In the playoff to determine the top 16 golfers, Pan birded the first hole to move into Friday's match play. Williams is the No. 1 seed for match play, while Pan is the 12th seed. |
