Stephen Ames -- A Working Holiday In Paradise

Beginning with a 20th place finish worth $85,000 in the champions-only SBS Championship at Kapalua in Maui a week ago, Ames' strong finish Sunday in the Sony Open in Honolulu produced a tie for 16th place and a cheque for $85,250.

Ames recorded his best round of the tournament Sunday with a 4-under par 66, making up for Saturday's score of 72 and finishing tied for 16th at 7-under 273 . . . eight strokes off the pace of winner Ryan Palmer of the U.S., who captured his third PGA TOUR victory and a first prize of $990.000.

Two other Canadians began their rookie campaigns on the PGA TOUR in Hawaii.

Graham Delaet of Weyubuirn, Sask., the Order of Merit champion on the Canadian Tour in 2009, finished in a respectable tie for 25th despite shooting his only sub-par round, a 1-over 71 that earned him $35,435.71 for finishing at 5-under par 275.

Chris Baryla of Vernon began the Sony Open on the Waialae Country Club course with a par 70 but slipped to 5-over 75 Friday and missed the cut.

Palmer posted a 4-under 66 Sunday to finish one stroke over Robert Allenby (67), finishing at 15-under 265. The victory for Palmer is worth 500 points and moves him into a tie with Geoff Ogilvy in the top spot in the FedExCup standings with 500 points.

The TOUR heads to California next week for the Bob Hope Classic, with Pat Perez set to defend his title. Canadian Mike Weir is in the field to start his 2010 season.

SONY OPEN -- PGA TOUR
1 Ryan Palmer 65 66 68 66 - 265 - - $9900,000

CANADIANS
T16 Stephen Ames, Calgary, AB 68 67 72 66 - 273 - - $85,250
T25 Graham Delaet, Weyburn, SA 69 67 68 71 - 275 - - $35,435.71
cut Chris Baryla, Vernon, BC 70 75 - 145