Alker snatches lead at midway point of Senior major

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

New Zealand’s Steven Alker rose to the top of the leaderboard at The Senior Open Championship amid tougher conditions on Saturday, carrying a one-shot lead into the weekend at Bridgend, Wales.

Alker celebrated his 52nd birthday by shooting a three-under-par 68 to get to four-under 138 through two rounds at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.

He’s was the only player to shoot under par both days.

Alker is one stroke better than Germany’s Alex Cejka, who remained in second place with an even-par 71. Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon posted a 68 to climb to third place at two-under.

Paul Lawrie of Scotland (71 Friday), Anders Hansen of Denmark (69), Vijay Singh of Fiji (72) and Englishman Paul Broadhurst (71) are tied at 1 under.

Alker burst onto the PGA Tour Champions scene in late 2021 and has won six tournaments on the 50-and-older circuit, including one major, the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

He’s playing Royal Porthcawl for the first time this week.

“I think the big thing is off the tee,” Alker said.

“Obviously if you’re in the bunkers you’re penalized, so a lot of different clubs off the tee. I think I’ve hit everything in my bag this week, and that’s the sign of a good golf course, when you’re hitting every club in your bag. Getting in the fairways is the key, and then trying to take the flag if it’s available.”

He made two birdies on the front nine, bounced back from his only bogey with a birdie at No. 11 and birdied the par-5 finishing hole to turn in one of the best scores of the day.

“It was actually fun, it was enjoyable,” Alker said. “I love playing links golf and I’m kind of relishing it, to be honest.”

Ko drops places at LPGA major

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko dropped more than 20 places with a disappointing second round at the Evian Championship women’s major in Evian-les-Bains, France.

A champion at the tournament in 2015 and a seven-time top-10 finisher, Ko raised hopes of a return to form with an opening round five-under 66 leaving her in a tie for second place.

However, her second-round 76 on Saturday – which included four bogeys and a triple bogey on the par-three fifth hole – saw her slip back to a share of 22nd.

She is seven strokes behind French leader Celine Boutier who carded a two-under-par 69 to claim a one-stroke lead.

A three-time LPGA Tour winner who is seeking her first career major title, Boutier was born in Clamart, France, a little more than five hours southeast of Evian Resort Golf Club.

“Just really fun, you know, that they’re cheering so hard for me,” Boutier said of the local fans.

“I feel like it’s definitely fun when you’re hitting good shots and you’re making putts and stuff like that, so I’m just trying to ride the wave and enjoy it.”

Boutier, 29, is one shot ahead of Patty Tavatanakit (67) of Thailand and Yuka Saso (69) of Japan at the fourth of five women’s majors of the year. Tavatanakit and Saso each won a major championship in 2021 and are on the hunt for their second.

– Reuters