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Ames made a crucial birdie at the par-3 17th
hole and a short par putt at the par-4 18th at Wakonda Club to
finish at 17-under 199 and beat defending champion Jerry Kelly
and red-hot Steve Stricker by one stroke.
The 59-year-old Ames previously won the Trophy Hassan II in
Morocco and the Mitsubishi Electric Classic last month outside
Atlanta. It was also Ames' second victory at the Des Moines-area
event after also capturing the title in 2021.
"When you consider the fact how well (Stricker) has played all
year ... I figured I had to do something this week," Ames told
the Golf Channel broadcast. "And the putter got really nice and
warm, which is good for me, because I've had problems with it
the past couple of events that I've played. It's thrilling again
to come back here and win."
Ames' only bogey of the three-round tournament came Sunday at
the par-3 14th, dropping him back to 16 under for the tournament
after piling up his first five birdies. At the downhill 17th, he
landed his wedge shot inside 10 feet of the pin and made birdie
to get back to 17 under.
Playing with Ames, Stricker made four bogeys and no birdies for
a final-round 68, but he missed birdie putts at Nos. 14, 15 and
16 before getting one last chance to tie Ames at 17 under on the
final hole.
Stricker's makeable left-to-right birdie putt missed below the
hole, and Ames followed with his 2 1/2-footer for par and the
win.
"They love their golf out here, which is awesome, and they do a
wonderful attendance here every year we've come back," Ames
said. "Next year it's gonna be a different golf course so we're
looking forward to seeing what that's gonna look like, but I
think overall it was a great week."
Kelly shot a 7-under 65 to jump into the tie for second with
Stricker. Rod Pampling of Australia (66) and Tim Petrovic (67)
tied for fourth at 15 under.
--Field Level Media
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