William Chung shed his 'nearly man' tag by putting in a rock-solid display to claim his first MacGregor Hong Kong Seniors Amateur Close Championship at Discovery Bay Golf Club last month.
Chung, who started the final round five shots behind in second place, overhauled overnight leader and three-time champion Matajiro Nagatomi with a closing two-over par 73to take the title. Chung's three-round total of 229 was enough to pip a fading Nagatomi, who struggled to a 79, by a shot. Akiyoshi Kubota, another Discovery Bay member placed third, four shots back on 233, to make it a clean sweep of the top three spots for the Lantau club.
"I've been working on my game – I made a swing change at the beginning of the year – and I've been swinging and putting well since," said Chung, a former Hong Kong Golf Association president, who has recorded two second place finishes and a tie for fourth in this event since becoming eligible to compete at senior level in 2009. "I was perhaps a little surprised [to win], given I was starting the day so far back, but if it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
Chung got off to the very best of starts by nearly holing his approach to the first hole. A tap-in birdie putt after a brilliant 7-iron approach to within an inch of the hole helped narrow the gap and after nine holes – a stretch Chung played in level par – he had reduced the margin significantly.
