Williams Cops Welsh Open Seniors Crown

Retired Gwent policeman Andrew Williams took advantage of local knowledge to win the Welsh Open Seniors at his home club of Newport.

It capped a great week for Newport, earning plaudits for hosting the event and producing the winner days after the club’s Ladies team had won the Welsh Team Championships.

Williams won by four shots with two rounds of 69 and a 71 to finish on seven under par, the next best Welsh competitor being Michael Gwyther of Morlais Castle in tied fourth, with Wenvoe Castle’s Nick Grimmitt tied sixth.

“The course was absolutely magnificent and it has been a tremendous week for Newport, the ladies did well and then me winning this is the icing on the cake,” said 58-year-old Williams.

“The last 18 months to two years has seen the place take off, it is a good business model of how to run a professional club and everyone is happy with the course which is as good as I have known it in 30 years. We have very strong ladies and men’s teams.

“I putted extremely well, fast greens suit me, I was very nervous on the first tee at the start of the final round but a birdie on the first settled me down.

“It was a really pleasurable win because there were a lot of English internationals in the field.

“The key was not to make any bogeys and just to keep it solid. I did not realise the score until I was on the 18th green. I never look at scoreboards because I do not want to know, but I knew I was playing well and would be difficult to beat.

“I asked the score when I walked onto the last green and then I could relax.”

Williams played county golf, won the Gwent Championships twice and represented British Police, but this was his first win at senior level.

“Congratulations to Andrew putting together a superb run of scores to win the title, it is always nice to have a Welsh winner of an open event,” said Golf Union of Wales championships manager David Wilson.

“Newport was a superb venue, the course in tremendous condition and competitors from all round the UK made a special point of praising the course in general and the greens in particular.”