Steven Alker success on the Championship tour has continued in Arizona. Photo: photosport
New Zealand golfer Steven Alker has held on to win the Charles Schwab Cup Championship event in Arizona by one stroke, earning him almost $2 million.
Alker went into the final round of the US Seniors event with a four shot lead but saw that whittled down to one shot over the final few holes as South African Ernie Els and Canadian Stephen Ames closed in.
The pair eventually finished at 17-under, meaning Alker had to par the final hole to avoid a playoff.
He duly completed his round with with one under par 70, holding his nerve over the back nine to par all the holes extricating himself from a couple of situations where he could easily have dropped a shot.
The tournament win earns him $895,000, with the victory also promoting him to second on the overall season standings which earns him a further $850,000.
The victory is Alker's second of the season and his seventh at seniors level.
American Steve Stricker won his first Schwab Cup title after winning six tournaments in 2023, including three major championships.
He clinched the title after the first leg of the playoffs.
Stricker withdrew from this week's tournament at Phoenix Country Club after his father was admitted to the hospital for a medical emergency.
"I didn't get it done this year," said Alker, who won the Schwab Cup in 2022.
"Stricker had an amazing year, he was phenomenal, so we were chasing him all year," he said.
"But to get second after going first last year, that means a lot just to keep the consistency. And I get a couple of wins, it's nice. The guys are just getting better out here and just pushing harder, so you've just got to try a little bit better every year."
"I made it exciting here at 18, but that wasn't the plan, I'll tell ya," Alker said.
-RNZ/Reuters
