Steve Alker leads a senior major once again
Steve Alker – file photo USGA
Steve Alker has moved into a share of the lead at the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship at the famed Firestone Country Club, a second round of 66 having him in a share of the halfway lead in what is one of the PGA Tour Champions major titles.
Alker, who won his fourth PGA Tour Champions title and his first major at this level when successful in the recent KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in May, birdied three successive holes in the middle of his back nine to close in on the leaders who then dropped shots to allow Alker to lead along with Alex Cejka, Tim Petrovic and Joe Durant.
Rod Pampling is also well placed in 13th position and just three from the lead.
Alker expressed satisfaction with his effort on day two especially given the demanding test that the layout at the Firestone Country Club provides.
“First of all, it’s nice to have a bogey-free round at Firestone,” said the 50 year old New Zealander.
“It’s that type of golf course, you’ve just got to keep going. But kind of everything, drove it in the fairway for the most part today and hit a lot of greens except for the last few. I scrambled nicely the last couple holes.
“Overall, just a solid day. Kind of kept my nose clean and haven’t done too much wrong. A few more putts would be nice, but yeah, at Firestone, just fairways and greens around here.”
Alker’s only a month or so away from the anniversary of his debut on the Champions Tour at the Boeing event last August and it has been quite a ride since. He leads the money list in 2022 by a huge margin over Miguel Angel Jimenez and remains thankful for what the tour has offered him.
“It’s gone super quick. It’s amazing. Boeing’s in like whatever, four, five weeks, like wow. Yeah, it’s just great. As I say, it’s just great to be out here and have the opportunity to play these golf courses, play against these guys. It’s been huge. I’ve learned a heck of a lot. As I’ve gone on the whole year, just learning things about just playing on the golf courses and getting to know the guys a bit better. It’s been a lot of fun.
