Stephen Ames opens and closes with eagles, wins Boeing Classic for 4th Champions victory of year
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (AP) — Stephen Ames opened and closed with eagles Sunday in a runaway victory in the Boeing Classic, his fourth PGA Tour Champions win of the season.
The 59-year-old naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad shot a 9-under 63 at Snoqualmie Ridge for a seven-stroke victory over defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez.
“Just kind of freewheeling it a little bit,” Ames said after playing the final five holes in 6 under. “I hit the shots that I needed to hit coming down the end and everything just clicked.”
Ames matched the tournament record at 19-under 297 after opening with consecutive 67s to take a one-stroke lead into the final round.
Jimenez, also 59, closed with a 69.
K.J. Choi (65) and Steven Alker (71) tied for third at 10 under. Bernhard Langer had a 69 to tie for fifth at 8 under with Stuart Appleby (65) and Keith Horne (66).
Ames started fast Sunday with the eagle on the par-5 first, added a birdie on No. 6 and reeled off four straight on Nos. 14-17 before capping the victory with a 4-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th.
Ames has six career senior victories, also winning the Trophy Hassan II in February, the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in May and the Principal Charity Classic in June. Steve Stricker leads the tour with five victories this season.
Local favorite Fred Couples shot a 73 to tie for 26th at 3 under. The 63-year-old former Masters champion grew up playing public golf courses in the Seattle area.
Boo Weekley tied for 66th in his Champions debut, shooting 75-73-78.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
going. Today’s 63 was special, so it was nice.
Q. Pacific Northwest, are we keeping it at home here? You’re a resident of
Vancouver?
STEPHEN AMES: No, I’m not a resident, no. Resident somewhere else.
Q. Last one I’ve got, the fourth win of the season, how much success do you give to
your swing coach for your --
STEPHEN AMES: Oh, he’s -- it’s not the swing coach, it’s part of the whole team. It’s Allen,
my psychologist, Harry here, my trainer who works with Jon Rahm and Jerry Kelly. After
2020 with the COVID, you know, I injured myself and it was like, you know what, I need to
get back in shape. So I called Harry and Harry says let’s get the shoulder going. From there,
being very regimented with my working out. I would say that was probably the biggest thing
right there in the fact of being able to be very clear, very free-minded when I’m playing. That
helps big time.
Q. And with that close, the 19 under ties the tournament record.
STEPHEN AMES: Oh, shit, really?
Q. Yeah.
STEPHEN AMES: And I told Alker to stand in my line. Good thing I made the putt then. OK,
well, that’s good. I do have a record, I didn’t know.
