Chris Williams (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Gary Williams (born 20 March 1959) is a professional golfer from England
who currently lived in South Africa
who has won nine times on the Sunshine Tour
.
Williams was born in Liverpool
, England
. He moved to Johannesburg
, South Africa
shortly before turning professional in 1978. He joined the Sunshine Tour in 1985, and won his first title, the South African PGA Championship
, during his début season. He consistently won between then and 2003.
Williams joined the European Seniors Tour
on turning 50, having secured conditional playing rights at the 2008 qualifying school
. He won for the first time as a senior in March 2011 at the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
who currently lived in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
who has won nine times on the Sunshine Tour
Sunshine Tour
The Sunshine Tour is a men's professional golf tour based in Southern Africa. For much of its history it was known either as the South African Tour or the FNB Tour, but it rebranded itself in an attempt to broaden its appeal...
.
Williams was born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He moved to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
shortly before turning professional in 1978. He joined the Sunshine Tour in 1985, and won his first title, the South African PGA Championship
South African PGA Championship
The Telkom PGA Championship, as it is currently known for sponsorship reasons, is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments on the Sunshine Tour...
, during his début season. He consistently won between then and 2003.
Williams joined the European Seniors Tour
European Seniors Tour
The European Seniors Tour is a professional tour for male golfers aged 50 and over run by the PGA European Tour.The Tour was founded in 1992. In 2008 it had a total prize fund of €7,729,284, so it is much further behind the U.S.-based Champions Tour in relative prize money than the main European...
on turning 50, having secured conditional playing rights at the 2008 qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
. He won for the first time as a senior in March 2011 at the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters
Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters
The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters is a men's professional golf tournament on the European Seniors Tour. It was founded in 2008 and is played at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei.-Winners:-External links:*...
.
Sunshine Tour wins (9)
- 1985 Lexington PGA ChampionshipSouth African PGA ChampionshipThe Telkom PGA Championship, as it is currently known for sponsorship reasons, is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments on the Sunshine Tour...
- 1989 ICL International
- 1991 PX Celebrity Pro-Am (with Justin HobdayJustin HobdayJustin Richard Hobday is a South African professional golfer who has won eleven official money events on the Sunshine Tour....
) - 1991 Telephone Manufacturers SA Trophy
- 1994 Zimbabwe OpenZimbabwe OpenThe Zimbabwe Open is a golf tournament on the Sunshine Tour. It was first played in 1984 and was part of what was known as the Safari Tour, a collection of events in Africa that were played by professionals based on the European Tour during their winter...
- 1996 FNB Pro Series 2: Royal Swazi, Leopard Rock Classic
- 2002 Telkom PGA ChampionshipSouth African PGA ChampionshipThe Telkom PGA Championship, as it is currently known for sponsorship reasons, is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments on the Sunshine Tour...
- 2003 Seekers Travel Pro-Am
Other regular wins (3)
- 1983 Telkom Open (South Africa)
- 1985 Swaziland Open
- 2007 Royal Swazi Sun Touring Pro-Am (non Order of Merit event on the Sunshine Tour)