Posted by Blogger Name. Category:
golf
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PGA Tour
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Pinehurst No.2
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Steven Alker
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US Open
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Web.com Tour
Last week we brought you the good news that Steven Alker had qualified for this week's US Open.
Alker's good fortune got better today, as the Golf Channel reports:
While some say happiness is the journey, not the destination, there’s a good chance Steven Alker was elated when his voyage to the winner’s circle finally came to an end Sunday … after 11 extra holes.
Alker, a 42-year-old from New Zealand who briefly played on the PGA Tour in 2003, outlasted another journeyman, South Africa's Dawie van der Walt, 35, at the Web.com Tour’s Cleveland Open by sinking a 3-foot birdie putt to end the longest playoff in Web.com history.
The marathon session tied the PGA Tour record for most playoff holes set at the 1949 Motor City Open, during which Carey Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum were declared co-winners when it was deemed too dark to play.
The most recent PGA Tour playoff even close was the 2012 Mayakoba Golf Classic, where John Huh beat Robert Allenby on the eighth extra hole.
Tied at 14 under after the final round, Alker and van der Walt made matching pars on 18, 18, 16, 17, 18, 16, 17, 18, 16 and 17 before Alker finally made a birdie on 18.
The win marks the 10th professional victory for Alker, his fourth on the Web.com Tour.
As if playing 36 holes in a day last week wasn't enough, Steven Alker played almost two rounds today. But with a pay cheque of US$106,000 in his pocket, and two high-pressure victories, he will carry plenty of confidence to Pinehurst No. 2.
And today's result has rocketed Alker to #12 on the Web.Com Tour money list. One more high finish this year, and he is likely to find himself back on the PGA Tour next year.
Steven Alker is the quintessential Kiwi battler. We congratulate him on today's gritty win, and wish him well for his trip to the US Open.
