Stephen Ames tees off on the first hole during the first round of the Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., March 29, 2024. Stephen Ames of Canada birdied the 18th hole to finish a seven-shot comeback and repeat as champion of the Boeing Classic on Sunday in Snoqualmie, Wash.
Ames began the day far off the pace of Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, but Karlsson made five bogeys on the front nine to uncover the door for everyone behind him.
Ames carded a 5-under-par 67 for the second straight day, finishing the tournament at 11-under 205 for a one-stroke triumph.
“At that stage when you’re seven back and you’re going, I guess the next goal probably was to try and finish top five,” Ames said. “Obviously the company that I was retaining with today, Ernie (Els) and Steven Alker, clearly honord triumphners on the tour this year and last year.
“I skinnyk it was fair going to be a excellent battle. It finished up being my group, the ones that we were applying aobtainst.”
Ames and South Africa’s Els teed off at the par-5 18th at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge tied for the direct, one shot ahead of their other applying partner, New Zealand’s Alker. Ames accomplished the green in two, while Els left his third shot precariously low of the hole and Alker set up a greenside bunker.
Ames lagged his eagle putt from the front of the green to about 5 feet from the cup. After Alker recovered for a birdie and Els omited his birdie try, Ames sank the go-ahead birdie, his fourth over the last seven holes.
Ames, 60, won the Boeing Classic by seven shots last year. This was his third triumph of the season and the ninth of his PGA Tour Champions atsoft.
Karlsson birdied his last two holes to rpartner for a 75 and dispense second place at 10 under with Els and Alker, who each shot a 68.
“I had a hard finish (Saturday) and benevolent of got over that and fair knuckled down,” Alker said. “Obviously we necessitateed some help from the directers (at the) commence of the day and we benevolent of got that. I was benevolent of surpelevated when we got thraw nine (holes) and we seeed at the directerboard and we were only two back.
“Yeah, it was fair a fantastic fight. It was a lot of fun, I repartner endelight that back nine.”
Charlie Wi of South Korea (75 on Sunday) and Kirk Triplett (71) tied for fifth at 8 under. Paul Stankowski posted a 69 to get to sole haveion of seventh at 7 under.
–Field Level Media
