Williams wins Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Championship
Kim Williams ended a three-year drought of major titles with victory in the final of the Sanlam South African Women’s Amateur Championship at Milnerton Golf Club on Wednesday.
Williams beat Ji Sun Kang 2&1 in the final to claim her biggest victory since winning the national amateur double in 2010.
“This is right up there with the double I won in 2010,” said Williams. “It’s been a while coming. I’ve been through a bit of a dry spell and haven’t won too much silverware of late so I’m very happy.”
Williams made it through to the final with a 1up victory over Kelly Erasmus on Wednesday morning. Kang, who earlier had beaten South African number one Nobuhle Dlamini, beat Nicole Garcia 4&3 in her semi-final.
“Kelly and I had a great game in the morning, and Ji Sun took out a few big names on the way to the final, so I was quite worried about her,” said Williams.
The match was a closely contested one, with Williams 1up playing the par-three 14th and focused on the percentage golf that is her strength. She hit her tee shot into the left greenside bunker and then holed a big par putt in the biggest turning point of the match. Kang in turn missed a very makeable par to go 2down.
“Ji Sun is the kind of player who makes a lot of putts, but if you play percentage golf and don’t make mistakes she tends to start missing putts. I focused on just hitting fairways and greens. Then after the up and down out of the bunker on 14 I felt quite confident from there on.” The two players then halved their way to the 17th green.
Williams is hoping to have a second try at the Ladies European Tour’s Qualifying School at the end of the year in her bid to turn professional.
“I’m hoping the confidence from this will give me a better chance at Tour School than last time. It’s a completely different game over there, but I’ve been working hard on my game and staying patient.”