Jim Williams knows what success in the San Francisco City Championship feels like.
The Orinda, Calif., native and the 2012 San Francisco City Senior champion shot a 1-under 71 at TPC Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, Calif, to finish as the medalist in the San Francisco City Championship men's super senior championship. Williams finished on top of the leaderboard in the stroke play qualifying, with 16 golfers moving onto the match play bracket.
"I felt pretty good," Williams said. "I hit the ball really well, and I missed one fairway all day. That's the key out there because if you aren't in the fairway, you are in big trouble. A lot of fairways and greens and, thankfully, pretty easy even though it is never that easy."
Williams started on hole No. 10 and made the turn at 1-over after bogeying the difficult No. 18.
"That was my worst drive of the day," Williams said. "I had nothing from the left rough and punched back out into the fairway. I pitched it onto the green and barely missed the putt."
He bounced back well, shooting 2-under on his back nine with birdies on holes No. 3 and 5 to shoot 1-under total for the day.
Jeff Thomas of Costa Mesa, Calif., finished in solo second place at 2-over, Richard Petit of Menlo Park, Calif., finished in solo third place at 3-over, and Ray Kong of San Jose, Calif., and Mike Benham of San Mateo, Calif., finished T4 at 4-over.
Williams is a founding partner of TPG Global and a member of the firm's operating group. While he is still working, it seems like he might try to relax a little more this year.
"I am trying to play a little more golf," Williams said with a sly smile.
Williams has given a lot back to golf in his time playing, with his involvement with the USGA executive committee and San Francisco public golf.
"The thing I am really focused on now is public golf in San Francisco and trying to resurrect Lincoln Park, Sharp Park, and others," Williams said. "We have been having a lot of conversations with the city to have that go to private management and do a rehabilitation."
Williams added, "Sharp Park is the only public 18-hole Alistar Mackenzie course, and the renovation plans for that are spectacular."
A scorecard playoff at 7-over 79 determined the last two spots in the 16-player match play bracket.