PALM HARBOUR–A late bogey ruined Stephen Ames's fightback as the T&T-born golfer shot a one-over 72 in the penultimate round of the US$5.7 million Valspar Championship here Saturday.
Playing on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort, Ames ended the front nine two-over after bogeys on the sixth and seventh but launched a comeback on the back nine. He picked up shots on the 12th and the 16th, both par-fours, and seemed to be ending strongly when he stumbled on the 17th and dropped a shot.
Heading into yesterday's final round, the 49-year-old was tied for 138th at one-over 214, with American Robert Garrigus leading the field by a single stroke at eight-under after going one-under on Saturday.
Ames started the day solidly, if not spectacularly, with pars on the first five holes. Things fell apart on the par-four sixth, however, when he found the rough to the right of the fairway off the tee and then missed a six-footer to save par.
His putting also let him down on the seventh when he should have saved par, sending him to the turn at two-over.
He made amends on the 12th, finding the middle of the fairway before knocking down a monster putt for birdie and followed up on the 16th, easily sealing a six-footer on the green to pick up another shot.
Seeking a strong finish, Ames found the rough to the right of the fairway on the 17th and failed to recover in time, and had to settle for bogey.
Ames, who had previously missed the cut in every tournament he played this year, qualified for the weekend rounds by shooting a 72 in Thursday's opening round and 71 on Friday, to easily avoid the cut set at three-over.
South African Ernie Els, the 2012 Open winner, and former World number one Vijay Singh of Fiji, were not as fortunate.
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