FanHouse Nicholas Thompson

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A sure sign something outside the norm was in the works Sunday afternoon at the Children's Miracle Network Classic came when Nicholas Thompson rolled in a nine-foot bogey putt on the final hole that would leave him five shots out of a playoff eventually won by Stephen Ames and broke into a fist-pumping, arm-slinging celebration.

"It could have been a double," Thompson said. "And I knew if I missed that, I didn't have a chance and I'm going to qualifying school. I knew making it at least gave me a chance."

Sunday's big prize at Walt Disney World was not as much the tournament championship as it was a secure future. Ames shot a final-round 64 and won his fourth career title, outlasting George McNeill and Justin Leonard in two playoff holes, but on this day you didn't have to get a trophy to feel like a winner.

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Nicholas Thompson isn't a household name on the PGA Tour. He's ranked 145th on the money list and is currently playing in the Frys.com Open in hopes of a high finish to possibly secure his card for next season. Oh, and he's the guy that played two holes 5-under on Saturday at Greyhawk Golf Club.

Thompson, who shot rounds of 66-68 on Thursday and Friday, jumped up the leaderboard after a double-eagle on the par-5 11th hole, when he knocked in a 3-wood from 261 yards for the rare albatross. After he made a dinky par on the 12th hole (come on Nick!), Thompson stood on the tee of the par-3 13th and hit a 7-iron ... in the cup.

Double-eagle, par, hole-in-one.

VERONA, N.Y. (AP) -- Scott Piercy wants to be the first rookie to win on the PGA Tour this year, and he's confident he can if he continues to do the things that helped him take a share of the third-round lead in the Turning Stone Resort Championship.

"I feel like my game's where it needs to be to win," said Piercy, who shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday to share the top spot with Matt Kuchar.