Stephen Ames wins Chubb Classic after final round canceled

FILE PHOTO: Stephen Ames of Canada hits from the tenth tee during the first round at the Canadian Open golf tournament at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, July 25, 2013. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File photo

Stephen Ames was declared the winner of the Chubb Classic on Sunday morning after the PGA Tour Champions shortened the event to 36 holes due to inclement weather in Naples, Fla.

The Canadian shot 13-under 131 through two rounds thanks to a 64 on Saturday. He was three shots ahead of Rocco Mediate.

But with 2-3 inches of rain in the forecast for Sunday at Tiburon Golf Club, the tour initially announced Saturday that the final round would be shortened to nine holes, played in the morning.

The golfers did not get to the first tee before the tour had to nix any attempt to play through the rain.

A Monday finish would not have been possible because the tour’s next stop is in Africa, for a tournament that begins Thursday in Morocco.

In post-round comments Saturday, Ames did not seem to be in favor of a nine-hole round.

“You don’t know what the scenario is going to be (Sunday). Still don’t know, but apparently we’re still playing nine holes, which like I said before didn’t know that was in our regulations but apparently it is, so that’s something new,” Ames said. “There will be a lot of players bringing it up with our commissioner and go from there. Leave it at that.”

Ames claimed his seventh career win on the PGA Tour Champions. Four of those victories came last season, including at the Trophy Hassan II, which he will defend in Morocco next week.

–Field Level Media