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Kiwi Steven Alker runs away at Champions event
Reuters •  October 25th, 2025 1:12 pm
Steven Alker went on a birdie-blitz to open up a five-shot lead in the Champions event in Arkansas | Photo: AP
Steven Alker ripped off six straight birdies to finish his opening round with a bang and a five-shot lead in the PGA Tour Champions event in Arkansas.
Alker posted an 11-under-par 61 thanks to his birdie binge.
The New Zealander's run began at the par-3 13th hole with a right-to-left birdie putt, and he also holed a putt from the fairway for birdie at the 16th hole at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
No other player in the field shot better than a six-under 66, a score held by Tag Ridings, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink and Australia's Greg Chalmers.
Australian Greg Chalmers is tied second after shooting a six-under 66 | Photo: Craig Golding/AAP
For Alker, his day was reminiscent of his first round at this event last year, when he shot a 62.
"I just kind of felt like a bit of dejà vu," Alker said. "I got there on the back nine and started making a couple birdies through 13 and 14, I was like, 'This could be a nice round.'
"Just kept the momentum going. You never think you're going to shoot 61, you just don't see it coming, and that was really nice to keep momentum."
Alker won the Charles Schwab Cup in 2022 and is trying to put himself in position for another season-long title.
Only 52 players, including eight Australians, are in the field for this week's penultimate playoff event.
Alker entered the week No.4 in the Schwab Cup standings and would rise to No.1 with a victory in Arkansas. The current points leader, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, struggled to a one-over 73 on Friday.
"Obviously, the golf course is in fantastic shape, and you get it in the fairway and you can attack the pins," Alker said. "Then the greens are just so good. This is probably the best putting surfaces we putt on all year."
Cink is second in the points standings and had seven birdies on his day, including an exclamation point at No.18.
Then there's Ridings, who stood No.35 entering this week. Only the top 36 players will advance to the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship next month in Phoenix.
A strong week for the 51-year-old Ridings, who's yet to win on the PGA Tour Champions, would get him into that crowning event.
"You know, obviously, being in Arkansas is a great place, I love it," said Ridings. "And a challenging golf course, so if you can keep it in play, then you've got a chance."
Billy Andrade and Australian Cameron Percy shot five-under 67s to be tied sixth. Charlie Wi of South Korea and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland were tied at four-under 68.
Chalmers (No.28), Percy (No.11) and compatriots Richard Green (No.10, three-under 69), Michael Wright (No.27, one-over 73), Steve Allan (No.10, two-over 74) and Mark Hensby (No.22, three-over 75) are tipped to make the final Cup field next month.
But Stuart Appleby (currently No.47 at two-under 70) and Rod Pampling (currently No.50, one-under 71) have their work cut out for them.
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