Kiwi golfer Steven Alker is back in the winner's circle, triumphing for the 10th time on the PGA Champions Tour.
He led from start to finish to win the tour's latest event at Little Rock, Arkansas, closing with a three-under 69 in the final round to win by seven shots.
Alker's latest round followed a blistering 11-under 61 in the opening round and a six-under 66 in the second round.
He finished an impressive 20 under in the three-round tournament, with Australian Richard Green second on 13 under.
Alker said things came together beautifully for him at this tournament, after overcoming a couple of issues that had been niggling at him.
"I got my iron game back on song, so I was hitting nice shots and the putter, you know, it just wasn't quite there for the last few weeks, but the greens were so good here.
"You just get it online and, hey, Bob's your uncle. Putting was a difference, obviously, but I just felt more in control of myself in my game," said Alker, who only made one bogey all tournament, at the 10th hole in his final round.
"It kind of annoyed me. It just kind of got me fired up a little bit."
The win for Alker was also important for another reason – it has taken him back to the top of the Charles Schwab Cup standings for the best player at the end of each season.
Alker has won the Charles Schwab Cup twice in the past three years, but he's not taking anything for granted, with quality players just behind – including Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, American Stewart Cink and South Africa's Ernie Els.
"I know there's not much gap," he said. "There's probably 5-6 guys that can win it... but I've been there, I know what it feels like and got it done.
"We'll just keep working on the game."
Everything will be decided mid-November in Phoenix at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
SHARE ME