Golfer Chris Williams wins Western Amateur crown

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. – Moscow, Idaho, golfer Chris Williams completed a dominating week by picking up two close match-play victories to win the Western Amateur Championship on Saturday at Exmoor Country Club.

Williams, who was the 72-hole stroke-play qualifying medalist, came from behind to defeat Jordan Russell, a recent Texas A&M graduate, 1 up for the title. In a battle of All-Americans, Williams triumphed by sinking a 2 1/2-foot putt on the 18th hole. The winning putt came after he left his first putt short from 30 feet.

“On the last putt, I was pretty nervous,” Williams said in a media release. “I was shaking. I figured he was going to make his putt, and we’d be going back to the first hole (for extra holes).”

But Russell lipped out from 8 feet.

Russell had led by two holes through 10 before Williams, who plays at the University of Washington, caught him on the 12th hole. Williams took the lead on the 14th.

Williams needed 19 holes to defeat Abraham Ancer of Oklahoma in the semifinal. Ancer conceded an eagle to Williams after the UW golfer hit the flagstick from 225 yards out on his second shot while Ancer flew the green on a pitch.

Williams called the tournament win the biggest of his career.