Husky wins most prestigious college golf award

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Chris Williams was named recipient of the 2013 Ben Hogan Award in a black-tie ceremony Monday at Colonial Country Club.

Williams will join the 2010 Ben Hogan Award recipient Nick Taylor to become the second Husky honored with college golf's most prestigious award.

The Ben Hogan Award is presented annually to the top men's NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer, taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the 12-month period dating from the previous award's banquet. The Ben Hogan Award selection committee is made up of 23 leaders and experts in amateur, college and professional golf.

As the 2013 The Ben Hogan Award recipient, Williams will receive an exemption into the PGA TOUR's 2014 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, as well as earn a $50,000 grant for the UW men's golf scholarship program, $25,000 of which will be donated under his name.

Williams said receiving this award feels surreal.

"I grew up in Moscow, Idaho. I never thought I'd be here today," Williams said to a full-house crowd at Colonial Country Club after accepting the award.

Williams beat out California's Michael Kim and TCU's Julien Brun in winning the award. Kim was the 2013 Pac-12 Player of the Year and had four wins, but on the strength of Williams' outstanding summer play and solid senior season, he took home the prize.

Williams is the world's No.1-ranked amateur in both the World Amateur Golf Rankings and the Scratch Players World Rankings. He was the 2012 recipient of the Mark H. McMormack Medal as the world's top-ranked amateur to clinch berths into the 2013 U.S. Open and the Open Championship. He swept the 2012 Western Amateur match play and stroke play titles. He also advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur last summer.

On the college circuit this season, Williams, who was named first team All-Pac-12, has a 70.97 scoring average per round, which is fourth-best in UW single-season history. He has seven top-10 finishes and has shot in the 60's 11 times during the season. His seven top-10s this year are tied for eighth most in UW single-season history.

Williams senior season was not without any bumps in the road. He fought mononucleosis in the fall that caused him to struggle with his game. He returned healthy in the spring, but had to give up a top-10 finish at the Western Intercollegiate after he signed an incorrect scorecard in the final round. On Monday, all the trials from a hectic year paid off.

Williams and the crowd enjoyed a tribute to Pat Summerall and Ken Venturi, who were both legends of golf and recently passed away, before guest speaker Corey Pavin wowed the audience with stories of his own.

Following that, Williams received his award and thanked many people. He saved his last thanks for UW Coach Matt Thurmond, who was in the crowd and whom Williams credited with convincing him Washington was the right place for him.

"No one really gave me a chance except him," Williams remembered back to his days as a junior golfer. "At the time we had a top-five ranked team and he told me 'you have a spot on the squad.'

"He's been there every step of the way and I can't thank him enough. It was definitely the best decision of my life to go to Washington."

That decision has led to three All-America honors so far, four All-Conference honors, a school record six individual wins and 12 team victories. Thurmond is likewise thrilled that Williams chose Washington and couldn't be happier that he is culminating his career in superstar fashion.

"It has been more emotional than I expected," Thurmond said from Fort Worth after Williams collected his trophies. "I'm just so happy for him. Any time you get these kinds of things it causes you to reflect on all the little things it takes to get to this point. For him to have that experience tonight, it's something that will be with him for the rest of his life.

"In so many ways it's such a thrill. I'm just so happy for him that he got to experience something so joyful and satisfying."

Williams' career at Washington is not over yet as the season marches on next week. Williams tied for 14th at the NCAA Regionals in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday and will now move on to the NCAA Championship in Atlanta, Ga., May 28-June 2 with his teammates.