After his 6-over-par 77 in the first round of the Ascension Charity Classic in St. Louis, former Ocalan Roger Rowland knuckled down over the weekend and added an even-par 71 on Saturday and a 2-under 69 on Sunday. He ended up at 4 over par, tied for 70th, and earned a check for $1,300, raising his earnings for 13 events to $21,252. It was the first time this season on the Champions Tour that Roger shot in the 60s; he previously shot 1-under-70 twice. 

    Roger will go next in this week's Sanford International at the Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

    Padraig Harrington captured the Ascension with rounds of 65-66-68-199, 14 under par. He edged Y. E. Yang by one stroke, Steve Stricker by two and Bernhard Langer by three.  There was a five-way tie for fifth at 10 under, which included Ernie Els and money-leader Steven Alker.

     The victory for Harrington was his third this season, tied with Alker, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jerry Kelly. Stricker is next with two victories, while perennial money leader Langer has just one. Alker has earned more than $2.5 million, just ahead of Harrington, who has more than $2.4 million in the till.

    GATORS: Scott Dunlap and Chris DiMarco - 5 under, tied for 24th; Brian Gay - 1 under, tied for 41st. Marco Dawson, former touring pro at Ocala's Adena Springs, tied for 12th at 8 under.   

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