ESPN Golf

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Stephen Ames undoubtedly felt pressure over the closing holes at the Children's Miracle Network Classic on Sunday.

He held a 1-stroke advantage over Tim Clark and had to confront a couple of treacherous par-4s before he could celebrate victory. And let's face it, as a 43-year-old golfer with just two PGA Tour titles, nothing was certain, and a win could not be taken for granted.

But if Ames failed, all was not lost.

One of his reasons for coming to Walt Disney World was simply to get out of the cold of Calgary, his adopted hometown. Winning was an added bonus.

He would be fully exempt for 2008. He already had secured a spot in the Masters by virtue of his 2006 Players Championship victory. And he had all but locked up a spot among the top 70 money winners, getting him into next year's invitationals.

That was not the case for several players toiling further down the money list. The tournament played at the Walt Disney World Resort was the final one of the 2007 season. And with that came the last opportunity to gain full or partial exemptions for next year and an invitation to the Masters.

Here is a look at how it unfolded:

Kevin Stadler: The Walrus' son shot a final-round 71 to finish tied for 15th and move into the top 125. He started the week 127th and avoids a trip to Q-school -- a very real prospect through nine holes Sunday.

J.B. Holmes: Already exempt for 2008 by virtue of his '06 FBR Open victory, he nonetheless moved into the top 125 and gets a spot in next year's Players Championship.

Mathias Gronberg: Hung onto the 125th spot after a tie for 37th. Gronberg was 124th on the money list last year.

Robert Gamez: A final-round 68 and a tie for third moved Gamez from 152nd to 132nd on the money list, meaning he avoids the second stage of Q-school because he finished inside the top 150.

Jeff Gove: With a final-round 71, Gove tied for 15th and moved from 153rd to 143rd on the money list, thus avoiding a trip to the second stage of Q-school by being among the top 150.

Justin Leonard: It was a very nice Fall Series for Leonard, who won the Texas Open last month. He also had a chance to win at Disney, but his final-round 71 left him for 4 back. That also kept him from finishing among the top 30 money winners, which would have meant a trip to the Masters. Leonard finished 33rd; 2 shots better -- he played the back nine in even par including a bogey at the par-5 10th -- would have got it done.

Craig Kanada: He couldn't quite get it done. He started the week 129th on the money list, made the cut, but tied for 26th to move up to 128, missing the top 125 by just more than $40,000.

Ted Purdy: He was 125th starting the week but lost the ability to control his own destiny when he missed the cut. As it turned out, he needed to finish in the top 36 to have kept his card.

Harrison Frazar: He also lost a chance to control his own destiny by missing the cut. Frazar started the week at 130th and fell to 131.

Tripp Isenhour: He began the week 152nd on the money list and then put himself in excellent position to move into the top 150 and gain conditional status and avoid the second stage of Q-school. He was 9-under-par through three rounds and had he shot even par on Sunday he would have made it. But Isenhour shot 75 and remained 152nd on the money list.

Bob Harig is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com.