Men's Golf
Williams, Chris
Chris Williams
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- 288-4653
- Alma Mater:
- Washington (2019)
Former world's top amateur golfer Chris Williams is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Marquette University men's golf program in 2019-20.
“I am overly excited to have Coach Williams join the Marquette Family,” MU head coach Steve Bailey said. “He was the number one ranked amateur in the world, knows what it takes to be elite and the ability to share those experiences with our team will be invaluable. But he brings so much more than a world-class playing career. He exemplifies the character traits that are important to our program and carries a positive energy that’s contagious.”
As a professional golfer, Williams competed in both the Mackenzie Tour in Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamérica after turning pro in 2013. He competed in a pair of U.S. Opens, one in 2011 after winning a sectional qualifying event, and in 2013 as the top amateur.
Williams spent 46 weeks ranked as the world’s top amateur after ascending there heading into his senior year at the University of Washington in the summer of 2012. From the fall of 2009 through 2013, he became UW’s all-time tournament win leader (six) and won the Ben Hogan Award in 2013 as the NCAA’s top golfer. He was also awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews as the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2012.
In his collegiate career, Williams earned 28 top-10 finishes, which currently ranks second in UW history, and led the squad in scoring average the final three years of his career. He was also a four-time GCAA All-American and three-time first team all-conference performer. He also competed for Team USA in the Walker Cup (2011), Palmer Cup (2011, 2012), World Amateur (2012) and Copa De American (2013).
Williams captured medalist honors at the NCAA Norman Regional as a junior in 2012 and was named a first team All-American by both PING and Golfweek. He placed 21st in stroke play at the NCAA Championships that year and was UW’s top finisher at 10 of 12 tournaments.
As a freshman in 2010, Williams became the first Husky to claim Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors and won the Mickelson Award as the nation’s top freshman after finishing ninth at the NCAA Championships. He helped lead the Huskies to a conference title as a rookie and earned second team all-league honors.
“Coaching Chris was inspiring,” said Matt Thurmond, Williams’ former coach at Washington and the current head coach at Arizona State. “He’s tough, passionate, kind, sincere, and very driven. He’s an incredible golfer with countless victories and awards. Many times he got locked into courses and facilities well past dark because he was quietly practicing beyond what anyone could imagine. That drive led him to become the top amateur golfer in the world and someone a coach could always count on to be prepared and ready to play great.
“I’m confident that as he puts that same energy into his coaching he will be a tremendous coach. He really understands the game and will be invaluable in helping guys along their own golf journey. I’m really happy for Chris and for Marquette Golf.”
Williams served as project coordinator with the University of Washington Athletics Department in the spring and summer of 2019, working with the Assistant Athletic Director preparing marketing materials and helping coordinate the volunteers for the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship hosted at Tumble Creek.
The Moscow, Idaho native returned to Washington following his professional career to finish his bachelor’s degree in sociology, which he completed in 2019
“I am overly excited to have Coach Williams join the Marquette Family,” MU head coach Steve Bailey said. “He was the number one ranked amateur in the world, knows what it takes to be elite and the ability to share those experiences with our team will be invaluable. But he brings so much more than a world-class playing career. He exemplifies the character traits that are important to our program and carries a positive energy that’s contagious.”
As a professional golfer, Williams competed in both the Mackenzie Tour in Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamérica after turning pro in 2013. He competed in a pair of U.S. Opens, one in 2011 after winning a sectional qualifying event, and in 2013 as the top amateur.
Williams spent 46 weeks ranked as the world’s top amateur after ascending there heading into his senior year at the University of Washington in the summer of 2012. From the fall of 2009 through 2013, he became UW’s all-time tournament win leader (six) and won the Ben Hogan Award in 2013 as the NCAA’s top golfer. He was also awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews as the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2012.
In his collegiate career, Williams earned 28 top-10 finishes, which currently ranks second in UW history, and led the squad in scoring average the final three years of his career. He was also a four-time GCAA All-American and three-time first team all-conference performer. He also competed for Team USA in the Walker Cup (2011), Palmer Cup (2011, 2012), World Amateur (2012) and Copa De American (2013).
Williams captured medalist honors at the NCAA Norman Regional as a junior in 2012 and was named a first team All-American by both PING and Golfweek. He placed 21st in stroke play at the NCAA Championships that year and was UW’s top finisher at 10 of 12 tournaments.
As a freshman in 2010, Williams became the first Husky to claim Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors and won the Mickelson Award as the nation’s top freshman after finishing ninth at the NCAA Championships. He helped lead the Huskies to a conference title as a rookie and earned second team all-league honors.
“Coaching Chris was inspiring,” said Matt Thurmond, Williams’ former coach at Washington and the current head coach at Arizona State. “He’s tough, passionate, kind, sincere, and very driven. He’s an incredible golfer with countless victories and awards. Many times he got locked into courses and facilities well past dark because he was quietly practicing beyond what anyone could imagine. That drive led him to become the top amateur golfer in the world and someone a coach could always count on to be prepared and ready to play great.
“I’m confident that as he puts that same energy into his coaching he will be a tremendous coach. He really understands the game and will be invaluable in helping guys along their own golf journey. I’m really happy for Chris and for Marquette Golf.”
Williams served as project coordinator with the University of Washington Athletics Department in the spring and summer of 2019, working with the Assistant Athletic Director preparing marketing materials and helping coordinate the volunteers for the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship hosted at Tumble Creek.
The Moscow, Idaho native returned to Washington following his professional career to finish his bachelor’s degree in sociology, which he completed in 2019
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