Sports News | Steven Alker Leads PGA Tour Champions' Playoff Opener
Get latest articles and stories on Sports at LatestLY. Steven Alker shot a 9-under 63 to take the first-round lead in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, the first of three PGA Tour Champions playoff events.
Richmond, Oct 23 (AP) Steven Alker shot a 9-under 63 to take the first-round lead in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, the first of three PGA Tour Champions playoff events.
Alker had a bogey-free round on The Country Club of Virginia's James River Course, making nine birdies in a 12-hole stretch from No. 12 to No. 5. The 50-year-old New Zealander is 55th in the season standings.
“It's a new chapter for me coming from Korn Ferry and playing with those young guys — big, strong, hitting it forever,” Alker said.
“So in places I was competitive out there, but I'm kind of maybe a little more competitive out here. My game's just coming around at the right time. You've still got to play golf and shoot the scores.”
Steve Flesch was a stroke back. He closed with a birdie on the par-4 18th.
“I've been putting great and I'm not overthinking anything, which is the magic deal,” Flesch said.
“I literally am playing golf like I played basketball. When I got the ball, I just shot it, and that's how I'm playing golf. I'm taking like one look with the putter and I'm going. I'm not giving myself any time to clutter up my melon.”
Charles Schwab Cup points leader Bernhard Langer, the 2017 winner in Richmond, was three strokes back at 66 with Bob Estes, Stephen Ames, Doug Barron and Matt Gogel.
Jim Furyk opened with a 69.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson shot 71, making a double bogey in the par-3 fourth. He won the Constellation Furyk and Friends two weeks ago in Florida for his third senior victory in four career starts. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)