New Zealand golfer Steve Alker continues his stunning form on the PGA Champions Tour.
Steve Alker Photo: Photosport
Alker has won two of the Tour's last three tournaments after stretching out to a four-shot victory at the Insperity Invitational in Texas on Monday morning (NZ time).
It came as compatriot Lydia Ko came up just short of her second win of the season on the LPGA Tour.
The world No 3 finished tied for third, two shots back of American winner Marina Alex at the Palos Verdes Championship in California.
Ko struggled to find rhythm throughout her final round, carding a one-under par 70 to finish at eight-under.
There appeared no such struggles for Alker, though, who streaked away after firing a seven-under par in the third and final round.
The impressive closing round, which included five birdies, an eagle and a bogey, clinched his third Champions Tour title and the winner's prize of $534,000.
It followed a win at the Rapiscan Systems Classic in Mississippi early last month, and a runner-up finish at the ClubCorp Classic, also held in Texas.
The 50-year-old had been superb since joining the Tour for players 50 or older last year.
Along with picking up his maiden Tour win at the TimberTech Championship in November, Alker bagged eight other top 10 finishes to finish second in the 2021 overall season standings.
Alker competed on the European Tour in the late 1990s and the PGA Tour in the early 2002s but never won an event.
He made the cut in major tournaments only twice.
"I'm just most proud of shooting low scores," Alker said.
"My short game and putting's come around. Yeah, it's just all coming together. I'm just having so much fun, it's been great."
He had continued that form this year, with his latest win giving him two victories, two runner-up finishes and one other top five in seven starts.
That had sent Alker to the top of the Tour money list, with season earnings so far of more than $1.6 million.
- RNZ