James descends from Alps to win Allianz Championship by two
 
Feb. 11, 2007

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) -- England's Mark James won the Allianz Championship on Sunday in his first tournament of the year, closing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory over 2006 Champions Tour Player of the Year Jay Haas.

Mark James
Mark James only picked up his clubs a few days before winning in Boca Raton. (Pete Fontaine/WireImage)
ALLIANZ CHAMPIONSHIP
FINAL TOP-10 LEADERBOARD
Player Score
1. Mark James 201 -15
2. Jay Haas 203 -13
T3. R.W. Eaks 204 -12
T3. Morris Hatalsky 204 -12
T3. Brad Bryant 204 -12
T6. Loren Roberts 205 -11
T6. Keith Fergus 205 -11
T6. Dana Quigley 205 -11
T9. Scott Hoch 206 -10
T9. David Eger 206 -10
T9. Allen Doyle 206 -10
T9. Mike Reid 206 -10
T9. Des Smyth 206 -10
T9. Andy Bean 206 -10

James spent the previous three weeks skiing in the French Alps.

"I came out here fairly cold from the winter off and only started practicing this week," he said. "It's a nice surprise and gives me a lot of confidence."

James finished at 15-under 201 on The Old Course at Broken Sound, and earned $240,000 for his third career victory on the Champions Tour. Haas birdied the par-5 18th for a 70.

"As good as I played yesterday was as poorly as I played today," Haas said. "Off the tee, I had been bragging about how good my driver was, but I maybe hit three or four fairways today."

R.W. Eaks (68), Morris Hatalsky (70) and Brad Bryant (69) tied for third at 12 under, and Loren Roberts (67), Keith Fergus (68) and Dana Quigley (70) were another stroke back.

James, tied for the lead with Haas and Craig Stadler at the beginning of play Sunday, birdied six of the first 12 holes to reach 16 under. James bogeyed the 14th to drop back to 15 under, where he stayed for the final four holes.

James most difficult moment of the day came when he bogeyed the nine hole for his first bogey of the tournament. James took a calculated risk on the ninth when he took off his shoe to hit a ball out of shallow water, but only managed to chip it about 2 feet. Haas and Stadler also bogeyed the hole to stay one stroke behind.

Stadler double bogeyed the 14th and 16th en route to a 74 and a 9-under total.

Nick Price closed with a 68 to tie for 20th at 6 under in his Champions Tour debut.

"I'd have liked to play a little better in my debut," Price said. "My game left a little to be desired. But it's been great and it's nice to feel wanted again.

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