Debut joy for rookie Williams
HOUGHTON –Kim Williams was crowned in her pro debut in the Investec Cup for Ladies on Vakentine’s Day at the Houghton Golf Club
In a remarkable pro debut Kim Williams won the Investec Cup for Ladies Tournament held at the Houghton Golf Club.
The Pretoria player led by one stroke in the first round after an opening 70 in the Sunshine Ladies Tour’s launch event. She carded a 73 in the final round for a one-under par 143 and a one-stroke victory over fellow rookie Nicole Garcia.
The 27-year-old admitted that it “was not a pretty win.”
“I’ve never been able to hit a wedge 120m, but I guess I’ve learned what nervous adrenaline will do for your game,” joked a delighted and relieved Williams.
“The last four holes certainly weren’t pretty and actually I didn’t even know I had a two-shot lead playing the last. When I tapped in for birdie, I thought it was for a play-off with Garcia,” she said.
The former SA number one amateur described her maiden pro win as a celebration and justification for her turning pro.
“I’m really so extremely happy right now,” she said. “This win means so much to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my pro career and to show them getting my LET card last year wasn’t a fluke. I’m also really happy to show Paul [van der Schyff] from Sunlight Solar that he has backed the right horse.”
The biggest surprise on the day was a two-under par 70 served up by top SA junior golfer Michaela Fletcher.
The Pietermaritzburg amateur arrived at Houghton on the back of winning the Eastern Province Match Play Championship and walked away with a share of third with a two-over 146 in her Sunshine Ladies Tour debut.
