Charity Classic win-win for Ames
Former Calgarian loves to play and lauds charitable aspect of Champions event
Stephen Ames doesn’t mind a crowd.
Especially if it involves thousands of golf-crazy, communityminded Calgarians lining the fairways and greens of Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club to take in the Shaw Charity Classic. The more, the merrier. After all, that means more money for charities throughout the city and a merrier sixth edition of the PGA Tour Champions event slated to tee off Friday in south Calgary.
“Exactly,” said Ames, the former Calgary resident-turned-Vancouverite who spearheaded the push for the city to host the senior tour golf tournament. “It’s done a great job for us. The event’s done wonders for the charities. That definitely says what Calgary and Calgarians are doing for the world.
“We need more of that in the world, especially right now.”
With the Shaw Charity Classic, there appears to be nothing but positives.
The award-winning tournament has already set records for the single largest charitable donation in PGA Tour Champions history in each of its first five years, exceeding $22.1 million since its inception in 2013.
This year, its aim is to raise a whopping $10 million alone for 182 Alberta children’s charities.
“Ten million dollars for the community, ” Ames said. “That’s unheard of on the Champions Tour.” And nothing brings that trademark grin to Ames’ face quicker than that.
“A pat on the back for what the people do to make this happen. It’s worked out very well,” Ames said. “Definitely, that’s a bigger plus than me winning it.”
Ah, yes. There’s that whole winning thing for Ames that plenty of Calgarians hope to see at the Shaw Charity Classic.
It’s another thing he wouldn’t mind seeing.
The 54-year-old has teased fans here before by finishing fifth, six strokes behind winner Jeff Maggert, three years ago. Last year, he was tied for 19th, finishing nine shots back of champion Scott McCarron.
This year?
Well, Ames comes in just a month removed from a tie for third, with a 10-under 278, at the Senior Open Championship at historic St. Andrews in Scotland.
Then came a tie for 37th in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y., followed by this weekend’s tie for 11th effort at the Boeing Classic in Snoqualmie, Wash.
It’s been what Ames calls an “up and down” season as he still chases his first win of the season and second of his PGA Tour Champions career.
“Winning is winning, it’s nice to do,” said Ames, who is also a fourtime winner on the PGA Tour. “Definitely, the Sunday night party would be awesome in Calgary.
“But I’m still playing because I love it,” Ames continued. “So like I say, when wins come, they come. But the competition is fierce, you’ve got to stay on top of your game.”
So while a win would be nice, mostly the annual trip back to the city he used to call home is all about the event itself.
“I get excited about seeing the familiar faces from the last 23 years,” Ames said. “You see everybody, and you recognize all the friendly faces. It’s fun.
“The golf gets in the way of the fun.”Ames is only half-joking when he says that.
Really, the Canadian Golf Hall of Famer is fuelled by the fans of Calgary, offering their best wishes and wanting a second or two of his time. So, again, he doesn’t mind the crowd while he’s out there on the Canyon Meadows track.
“Not really, because it’s my personality,” Ames added. “It helps me play better when I have that all around me.”
The event’s done wonders for the charities. That definitely says what Calgary and Calgarians are doingforthe world. We need more of that in the world, especially right now.