Ames 45th in Colonial tournament

FORT WORTH: Trini-dadian Stephen Ames carded an outstanding final round 66 but could only finish 45th at the US $5 million Colonial tournament on Sunday. Ames had lost ground with over-par scores on Friday and Saturday and ended with a one-under 279 total, a long way behind winner Kenny Perry, whose final round 68 took him to a tournament record 19-under 213 and the US $900,000 winning prize. Justin Leonard tied Perry’s course record with a closing nine-under 61 to place second, six shots behind at 267.

Jeff Sluman was third at 268, after a final round 65. The 39-year-old Ames, the first Caribbean player ever on the US PGA Tour, was positioned sixth after a first round 67, but slipped on Friday (72) and Saturday (74) to fall out of contention. He shared 45th with six other players for a US $14,000 cheque and is still in search of his third top-10 finish this season. Ames placed eighth at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and 10th at the Bay Hill Invitational earlier this year.