Ames saves best for last in Memphis

MEMPHIS: Trinidad and Tobago’s international golf star Stephen Ames finished with an impressive six-under 65 but his effort came too late and he was forced to settle for joint 14th spot at the FedEx St. Jude Classic on Sunday.

It was the best round of the tournament for Ames and he finished with a 12-under total of 272, eight strokes behind the winner David Toms. Toms carded a final round seven-under-par 64 to win his second PGA Tour title of the season, earning him the winning prize of US $810,000. Last month’s Wachovia Championship winner ended with 20-under 264 total, three strokes better than Zimbabwe’s Nick Price. Bob Estes and Swedish pair Fredrik Jacobson and Richard Johnson, tied for third another stroke behind Price. Ames, who had carded a 68 on Thursday’s opening day and followed with a 71 on Friday and another 68 on Saturday, had entered the final day in 33rd position. He shared 14th with John Senden and Tim Herron for his third best finish of the 2003 PGA TOUR, bettered only by his eighth place at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in February, and 10th at the Bay Hill Invitational in March.