Steve Alker makes it three in a row
Alker’s amazing run continues with success in Northern Ireland – image Staysure Legends Tour
New Zealander Steve Alker has made it three wins in succession with a two-shot victory over South African Hennie Otto at the NI Legends Galgorm in Northern Ireland, an event on the Staysure (European Senior) Legends Tour.
Alker, who in the previous two weeks had won in Canada and in Michigan on the PGA Tour Champions, led after his opening round of 67 and was tied for the lead through 36 holes of the 54-hole contest with Scotland’s David Drysdale.
Drysdale’s birdie at the first to Alker’s bogey saw a two-shot swing in Drysdale’s favour, but a birdie at the 3rd by Alker and consecutive bogeys at the 5th and 6th by Drysdale had Alker back in front. A powerful back nine of 32 was enough to see off a strong challenge from Otto whose bogey-free 64 ensured Alker needed to remain vigilant over the closing stages.
Birdies at the 16th and 18th saw Alker home to win his second standalone Staysure Legends Tour event nearly two years after his first, which came at his last start on that tour.
“It’s pretty special, three in a row doesn’t happen very often, so you’ve got to make the most of it,” Alker told the Staysure Legends Tour after his two-stroke victory.
“It was a tough day — it got pretty close. The front nine, nothing was really happening, so to finish strong on the back nine, just hitting some better shots and making a couple of putts. That was really nice. There were some good players up there, guys who’ve played on the European Tour for a long time, so I knew I had my work cut out.
“The birdie on 16 was huge for me. I hit a nice 3-wood and wedged it to four or five feet. That meant I didn’t have to birdie 18 — it’s always nice when you don’t need to birdie the last. Having that one-shot cushion meant the heart wasn’t going as fast. It was nice to have that feeling.
“I’ve had a blast on the Staysure Legends Tour this week — always do when we come over here. My wife and I stayed in the hotel, it’s been a special week for us, and one we’ll remember for a long time.”
Alker’s next appearance is likely to be at the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links in ten days where he has regularly finished inside the top 5.
Mark Brown 17th and Michael Campbell 21st were the next best of the New Zealanders in the field.
