MEMPHIS, Tennessee CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s Stephen Ames will enter today’s final round of the US$5.6 million St Jude Classic in contention, after he carved out a solid two-under 68 in the third round here yesterday. The 47-year-old Ames, who has endured a wretched run of late, counted three birdies and a bogey to move to five-under, 205 overall, just six strokes off leader Robert Karlsson of Sweden at TPC Southwind.
Karlsson is one stroke ahead of American Harrison Frazar, with another American John Merrick a further two strokes back in third.
After comfortably making the cut at two-over on Friday, Ames started shakily yesterday, bogeying the par-4 first after his second shot from the middle of the fairway found the rough but quickly regained his balance, before sinking a 10-foot putt to secure birdie on the par-4 two and return to even par.
Ames, who has missed the cuts in his last four outings on the PGA Tour, made the turn at even par and had to wait until deep on the back nine to pick up another shot.
He set up a seven-footer on the 15th for his second birdie and registered his third on the 490-yard par-4 17th with another impressive approach play and will tee-off at 11:45hrs (12:45hrs) in the final round playing alongside Charles Howell III.