Steven Alker pulled off an absolute masterclass on the back nine at Warwick Hills Sunday, dropping four straight birdies to snatch The Ally Challenge crown right out from under a loaded leaderboard, including a visibly struggling Michael Block. Alker, 55, finished his final round with a 4-under 68, capping off a 15-under total that gave him a three-stroke victory. It was his second win in as many weeks and his third this season, marking his 13th overall on the 50-and-older PGA Tour Champions. The guy is just on fire right now!
Alker’s Back-Nine Takeover Was Unstoppable
Trailing by two shots heading into Sunday’s final round, Alker flipped the script in dramatic fashion. The New Zealander took sole possession of the lead with a birdie on the par-4 12th hole. But he really turned up the heat on the par-5 13th, hitting what he called a “perfect number” on his second shot, a 3-wood from 245 yards. He then nailed a two-putt birdie while Michael Block bogeyed, suddenly putting Alker three shots up. He wasn’t done, though, adding birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, including an insane 60-foot putt on the latter. “Worked out well,” Alker said about his approach on the 13th, and yeah, you could say that again. This victory also bolsters his standing in the Charles Schwab Cup points race, which he’s won twice before. He clearly knows how to get it done under pressure, especially in Michigan, where he also won the Senior PGA Championship back in 2022.
Block’s Struggles Showed the Pressure Was Real
For Michael Block, Sunday was a tough lesson. The 50-year-old PGA Tour Champions rookie, who entered the day with a two-shot lead, just couldn’t find his rhythm. He was looking for his first win in any PGA Tour-sanctioned event, but the rain-delayed final round saw him get “stuck in the mud,” as other big names made charges. Block was still just one shot back heading to the 13th tee, but a crucial mistake on that hole , a double-crossed 3-wood after his tee shot was blocked by a tree , led to a bogey, while Alker birdied. That swing put him three shots behind, and he never recovered. “Steven Alker showed me a couple things I need to do,” Block admitted, adding, “I played a little bit different golf than I did the first two days because I was nervous; I had never been there before. So, it was a learning experience for me.” You gotta feel for the guy; it’s tough when the moment gets to you.
Retief Goosen, a World Golf Hall-of-Famer, also made a push with an 8-under 64 on Sunday to tie for the lead at one point, but short birdie putts missed at 13 and 14 halted his momentum. He finished three strokes back, saying, “It’s been a great week. Obviously wasn’t good enough.” Stewart Cink, a two-time Ally Challenge winner, also tied for third with Block at 11 under. But this was Alker’s week, no doubt about it.
Alker’s on a serious roll, grabbing his second title in as many weeks and showing the PGA Tour Champions what he’s made of. For Block, it’s back to the drawing board after his fifth Tour Champions start, but he did earn a spot in the next tournament. You gotta wonder if he’s already eyeing that next chance to finally grab his first big win, learning from Alker’s incredible performance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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