Closure Is Strong Suit for James

Former European Ryder Cup captain Mark James won his second Champions Tour title Sunday, birdieing the last two holes for a two-stroke victory over Hale Irwin and Tom Wargo in The ACE Group Classic.

James closed with a six-under-par 66 for a 13-under 203 total at the Club at TwinEagles. Wargo finished with a 66, and Irwin had a 68. Second-round leader Mike McCullough (71) tied for fourth at 10 under with Jerry Pate (68) and Mike Reid (68).

James, who sank a 23-foot birdie putt on No. 18, earned $240,000 in the $1.6-million event.

“It’s very satisfying to win again,” said James, the Ford Senior Players winner last year as a senior rookie.

“You feel, well, you might just have gotten lucky once, but to get lucky twice is stretching the imagination a bit. So yeah, it feels good.”

Curtis Strange, playing in his first event on the 50-and-over tour, shot a 74 to tie for 49th at three over. He had a double bogey on No. 18 after hitting into the water.

The 59-year-old Irwin, the tour’s career victory leader with 41, eagled No. 17 from 20 feet to get within a shot, but finished with a par on No. 18.