Steve Alker – file photo PGA of America Montana Pritchard
If there was any concern about Steve Alker’s stunning 2022 PGA Tour Champions season being an aberration, then his powerful finish to the opening event of 2023 has put an end to any such thoughts.
The New Zealander has finished with a final round of 63 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hualalai in Hawaii and will finish in a four way share of the runner-up position which, after a slow start to the event on Friday and a stuttering finish to his second round on Saturday, was a reminder of the domination he prevailed over on the PGA Tour Champions last year.
Alker stormed home in 30 including five birdies in his last six holes today to improve from 12th overnight to yet another top three finish and he begins the season with a cheque for US$137,000.
Alker will play the New Zealand Open in Queenstown in early March where many will be keen to see how this long time journeyman but now hugely successful over-fifty phenom will compete against a field of younger Australasian Tour players at the Millbrook Resort but if his consistently good form is anything to go by then he could well challenge for his first New Zealand Open title, after being runner-up on two occasions in earlier years.
The event was won by Steve Stricker who was on 59 watch for much of his second round in the 54 hole event before recording a round of 60 on Saturday and then finishing with a round of 65 today to win by five shots.
Rod Pampling was the only other Australasian in the field and finished tied for 29th.
