Ames opens with 67

HONOLULU—Stephen Ames continued his PGA Tour season in much the same inconsistent way he finished the previous year in the US $5.5 million Sony Open on Thursday. The 47-year-old Trinidad & Tobago-born pro golfer made an incredible turnaround in form during the first round to finish with a three-under 67 for a share of 22nd place with nine others, including Rory Sabbatini, Jimmy Walker, Charles Howell III, Rickey Barnes and Keegan Bradley. Graham DeLaet of Canada, where Ames resides with his wife and two children, grabbed the early lead in the tournament, after sinking an eagle and twice holed 35-foot birdie putts for a seven-under 63. He held a two-shot lead over a group that included Carl Pettersson and former Sony Open champion KJ Choi, with Steve Stricker, Webb Simpson and Bud Cauley one stroke back.

 

Ames was in Hawaii for his annual winter vacation, playing the Bay Course at Kapalua during the Tournament of Champions on the Plantation Course. When he got to Waialae, he was three-over through eight holes after starting on the front nine—but he birdied six of the next nine holes to finish strongly. Ames, a four-time winner on the Tour, hasn’t won a tournament over the last two years, when fitness concerns played into a severe lack of form. He finished 139th on the money list with US $547,589—his lowest total since 1999—his back was not a problem and still feels good at the outset of this year, leading him to plan to play in eight of the first ten events on the schedule. (CMC)