Stephen Ames wins maiden PGA golf title

LEMONT: Trinidad and Tobago-born Stephen Ames clinched his maiden PGA Tour title at the Western Open yesterday, a one-under-par 70 earning him a two-shot victory. Ames, co-leader overnight with Australia’s Mark Hensby, recovered from a bogey at the third with birdies on 12 and 15 before finishing on 10-under 274. American Steve Lowery closed with a 70 at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club to secure second place, with Hensby (73) a further shot back in a tie for third with Britain’s Luke Donald (66).

Defending champion Tiger Woods, who began the day four strokes off the lead and bidding for a fourth title at Cog Hill in eight years, returned a level-par 71 to share seventh at five-under 284. Leading scores after the fourth and final round of the Western Open at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club (par 71, 7,224 yards) yesterday (US unless stated):
274 —  Stephen Ames (TT) 67, 73, 64, 70; 276 —  Steve Lowery 68, 68, 70, 70; 277 — Luke Donald (Britain) 72, 68, 70, 67; Mark Hensby (Australia)  67, 70, 67, 73; 278 — Stuart Appleby (Australia) 71, 68, 67, 72; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 68, 69, 68, 73; 279 — Davis Love III 70, 74, 67, 68; Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 71, 70, 69, 69; Jim Furyk 69, 71, 68, 71; Tiger Woods 70, 73, 65, 71; 280 — Pat Perez 69, 73, 71, 67; Loren Roberts 64, 75, 73, 68; Scott Hoch 69, 69, 73, 69; Scott Verplank 72, 71, 67, 70; Robert Allenby (Australia) 65, 73, 71, 71; Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 70, 72, 67, 71; 281 — Carlos Franco (Paraguay) 74, 69, 70, 68; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 72, 71, 68, 70; Robert Gamez 67, 71, 72, 71; Matt Gogel 72, 64, 74, 71; Charles Howell III 69, 67, 74, 71; John Rollins 71, 69, 69, 72.