Closure Is Strong Suit for James
- Share via
NAPLES, Fla. — 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.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
