Sensational win for Williams at SA Senior Open
'I am really, really pleased with this victory'
MODDERFONTEIN mid-amateur Steven Williams upstaged some of the country’s leading senior professionals to lift the prestigious South African Senior Open title at Blue Valley Golf Estate on Wednesday last week.
Williams lagged six shots off the pace from Rodger Govender at the start of the final round after posting rounds of 73 and 68 in the national championship.
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He overhauled Govender with five birdies in the first six holes and threw down the gauntlet with further gains at 13 and 14. The 54-year-old Central Gauteng mid-amateur erased a late bogey at 17 with a birdie finish for a 68 to triumph by two strokes on seven-under-par 209.
Govender settled for second with rounds of 67, 68 and 76, while Ashley Roestoff finished alone in third on two under 214 after carding rounds of 68, 74 and 73.
In 2013, Williams finished third behind older brother Chris when Hendrik Buhrmann won the esteemed championship. He had lofty aspirations to beat his brother in 2014, but torn ligaments in his right hand meant spending many frustrating months on the bench.
“So Chris took advantage of my absence to win the SA Senior Open last year,” Williams joked.
“It’s probably a very good thing he couldn’t make it, because if he saw me leading, he would have chased me to the bitter end.
“Ironically, while I was celebrating my victory here, Chris won the Sylvania BMW PGA Legends Pro-Am on the Australian PGA Legends Tour. Go figure!”
Williams said he took a lot of confidence from beating some of the biggest names in senior professional golf in South Africa. “I am really, really pleased with this victory,” he said.
“When I returned to competitive golf this year, I led in three mid-amateur opens but I didn’t pull one of them through. I tied for second in Stellenbosch and had top 10 finishes at Westlake and East London Golf Club.
“I couldn’t help wondering if I lost my touch; I wondered if I still had what it takes to win. This victory has reinforced my self-belief. Hats off to Fidelity for their support and sponsorship of senior pro golf and for hosting this event.”
