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Ames Takes Disney Event in Playoff; Streelman Hauls in $1 Million

Stephen Ames closed with an 8-under 64 to finish the Children's Miracle Network Classic at 18-under 270. The Trinidad-born Canadian then waited in the clubhouse as 54-hole co-leaders George McNeill and Justin Leonard shot 5-under 67s to fall into a tie with Ames.

Leonard had a chance for the outright win on the final hole, but his 16-foot birdie putt lipped out. The Texan was then eliminated on the first playoff hole - the 18th - with a three-putt bogey on the par-4. Both Ames and McNeill moved on with pars. On the second playoff hole, the par-3 15th, Ames two-putted for par while McNeill three-putted from off the fringe.

Ames' win, the fourth of his PGA career, was worth $846,000. Needless to say, the 45-year-old was pleased with his performance on Sunday at Disney's Magnolia and Palm courses in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

"At the end of the day yesterday, I said if I shot 64 I had a good chance at winning the tournament," Ames said. "Sure enough, I ended up shooting a 64, which was great."

Leonard played well throughout the tournament, and was disappointed with the outcome. "To be this close and not be able to pull it out is disappointing. Obviously, I thought I made it by my reaction. I was surprised it didn't go in," he said of his missed putts at the end.

Ames had nine birdies and a solitary bogey in his final round. "I played well today," he said Ames. "It's nice."

England's Justin Rose, who also had a share of the 54-hole lead, closed with a 68 to finish in a tie for fourth with Australian Nick O'Hern (67) at 17-under.

The final event of the PGA Tour's 2009 season was a tense event for several players who needed to play well to finish in the top-125 on the money list and secure their tour cards for next year. Among those who came through was Nicholas Thompson, who shot a 66 and moved from 132nd to No. 123.

Former PGA champion Rich Beem was another. He carded a 68 in the final round to finish at 10-under, moving him to No. 122 on the money list. "I never expected myself to feel the way that I did," he said. "When somebody tells you that you can't do your job next year when you know you're so close, that's not such a good feeling."

David Duval is one of the players who must go through qualifying to earn a spot on next year's tour. Golf's former No. 1-ranked player was on the bubble entering the Disney, but played poorly in the first two rounds and missed the cut to finish outside the top 125.

The big bucks at Disney went to Kevin Streelman, who earned $1 million for winning the season-long Kodak Challenge. Streelman carded a birdie in the second round on the 17th hole of the Magnolia Course to secure the top points' position in the winner-take-all event.

"It's been in the back of my mind for a long time now," said Streelman, who led the Kodak Challenge since July. "It's a huge relief to have it over with. It's almost like the pressure of leading a tournament, but being constant. It just sits in the back of your mind all the time. I feel very fortunate and very blessed with the way it all ended. It was awesome.

"This whole week, everyone's been talking about it," added Streelman, who hit a 118-yard sand wedge approach on the 485-yard par-4 that led to the winning 3-foot putt. "To finally finish it off in style is exactly what I wanted to do."

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