Page 113 - Western Amateur 120th Championship Program 2022, Exmoor Country Club

Chris Williams drives on No. 10.

With a tournament committee capably made birdie on No. 17 to pull within one, officials. Walking into the ballroom in
led by Co-Chairmen Bob Saliba and but Williams sealed victory with a par 2012 were five future winners on the
John Saliba, the championship was on No. 18. “I was so nervous on that last PGA TOUR: Justin Thomas, Brandon
planned and executed with precision putt,” he told reporters. Stone, C.T. Pan, Cameron Smith,
by more than 200 member volunteers, and Abraham Ancer. Also, on the
An intriguing aspect of the Western
employees, and staff of the Western PGA TOUR were Chris Williams,
Amateur is trying to identify which
Golf Association. Richard Lamb, Zac Blair, Jeffrey Kang,
players stand a good chance to advance
Lorens Chan, Pedro Figueirado,
A practice round featured a new course to the PGA TOUR. The 2012 field
Peter Williamson, Alex Moon,
record. Australian Jake Higginbottom included golfers from 34 states and 11
Mackenzie Hughes, Kevin Penner
fired a 63 while playing in the countries, and six of the top 10-ranked
and Jordan Russell.
Contestant-Amateur event with amateurs. Thomas, whose mother,
members Dan Charhut, Timothy Jani, caddied for him, was highly Members Greg and Lynn Giles have
Franzen, and David Geake. In 2014, ranked and attracted a crowd, but he maintained a close friendship with
Franzen recalled: “I witnessed a near fell in the semifinals 2 & 1 to Russell. Ancer, who has been a guest in their
flawless round of golf.” Jake’s game Proud of his victory over a golfer who home in La Quinta, California. Ancer
continued to peak when four months would win the 2017 PGA Championship, is also friends with Leonel Esquivel
later he won the BMW New Zealand Russell commented in 2018 to the of the grounds staff.
Open and turned pro two days later. Exmoor history committee that his
week at Exmoor was “the greatest week
In the semifinals, Russell defeated
of my life.” Australian Cameron Smith,
Justin Thomas and Williams scored a
winner of five PGA TOUR events in
sudden-death victory over Abraham
recent years, failed to advance to
Ancer when Ancer’s drive on the first
match play.
hole sliced out of bounds and into
member Larry Brown’s back yard. One of amateur golf’s most coveted
experiences is to earn the right to
In the final match, Russell, a student at
attend the Sweet Sixteen dinner,
Texas A&M, pushed his tee shot on No.
when the 16 match play qualifiers are
12 into the pond and made bogey, while
celebrated and interviewed for sports
Williams made par to move ahead.
media and club and tournament
After a rain delay on No. 16, Russell
Chris Williams (left) and Jordan Russell

2022 Western Amateur Championship A Pioneering Club in American Golf 111