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MIAMI - Canada's Stephen Ames birdied three of the last six holes to clinch his third PGA Tour golf victory by a shot at the season-ending Disney Classic in Lake Buena Vista today.
Tied for the overnight lead with American Scott Verplank, Ames broke clear of a tightly bunched field for the first time with a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-three 15th.
The Trinidad native calmly parred the last three holes, getting up and down from a greenside bunker on 18, for a four-under-par 68 on the Magnolia course and a 17-under total of 271.
South African Tim Clark, who briefly held the outright lead at 16 under with two holes to play, finished second after closing with a six-birdie 66.
Verplank, hunting his sixth Tour title, edged ahead of the pack three times after making two birdies in the first seven holes.
However, he twice missed birdie putts from inside six feet before slipping back into a tie for third at 14 under with a 71, finishing level with fellow-Americans Tag Ridings (70) and Robert Gamez (68).
In bright, breezy conditions at the Walt Disney World Resort, six players held at least a share of the lead during a wildly fluctuating final round.
For much of the day, the rock-steady Verplank appeared to be the likeliest winner.
Birdies at the second and the seventh helped him reach the turn in two-under 34 for a one-shot cushion going into the back nine.
Although Verplank picked up two more shots at the 10th and 14th, his title bid effectively ended at the par-four 16th where he missed a six-footer to save par.
Bryce Molder, boosted by a 20-foot eagle putt at the 14th, and fellow American Jeff Overton briefly held a share of the lead before Ames took control.
The Canadian shrugged off a three-putt bogey at the 11th with three consecutive birdies from the 13th to all but seal the final event of the 2007 PGA Tour.
- REUTERS
