WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia, CMC – Stephen Ames had one of his best days on the links this season, carding a two-under 68 in the opening round of the US$6.1 million Greenbrier Classic here yesterday.
The Trinidad and Tobago-born golfer finished the day the Old White TPC tied for 22nd, five strokes adrift of former World number one Vijay Singh who held the clubhouse lead after a superb 63.
Ames, who had not played since the US Open nearly three weeks ago, made a shaky start to his round when he bogeyed the par-4 11th after teeing off on the back nine.
He found the rough to the right of the fairway off the tee and then missed a nine-foot putt to save par.
Ames picked up his first shot when he birdied the long par-5 17th by making a nine-foot putt, and make the turn at even par.
On the front nine, Ames flourished with birdies on the par-3 third and the par-4 fifth.
He knocked down a long 25-footer after finding the green with his tee shot on the 205-yard par-3 third.
On the fifth, he found the middle of the fairway off the tee and then nailed his approach shot to set up an easy birdie putt.
