Steven Alker takes four-stroke lead into final round of Schwab Cup ...
Steven Alker is one solid round away from wrapping up the year with a hefty payday.
The Kiwi pulled away from the pack with an excellent 6-under 65 on Sunday (NZT), finishing with a birdie that extended his lead to four shots going into the final round of the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Alker began the day tied with American Marco Dawson, who couldn't keep up on the front nine and fell out of contention on the back nine at Phoenix Country Club.
Padraig Harrington was trying to keep pace until he took a double bogey on the 14th hole, and then had to scramble for bogey on the par-5 closing hole.
Having mixed six birdies with a bogey, Alker was at 17-under 196, four shots ahead of Alex Cejka, who had a 68. Harrington and Thongchai Jaidee, who each had a 69, were five behind.
Even with a big lead, Alker believes the greens are so pure and the weather so perfect that someone can still come from out of the pack.
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Kiwi golfer Steven Alker will take a four stroke lead into the final round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club.
“Still the mindset is there’s a 63, 62 out there, who knows?” he said. “So I’ve just got to keep pedal to the metal.”
He's done that particularly well on the front nine, playing it in 14-under par over three rounds compared with just 3-under on the back nine.
At stake for Alker is a US$1 million (NZ$1.7 million) payoff – first prize is $528,000, amongst the largest payoffs on the PGA Tour Champions (50s and over), along with a $500,000 bonus for finishing second in the Charles Schwab Cup points race.
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Steven Alker of New Zealand walks off the 15th green during the third round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club.
Steve Stricker long ago clinched the Schwab Cup with his six victories this year, three of them majors. He didn't play in the postseason and had planned to play in Phoenix until his father was hospitalised in Wisconsin.
Stricker said his father was released from the hospital on Saturday.
Harrington also has a chance to finish at No 2, but his chances took a big hit on the back nine with three dropped shots on two holes.
AP & Stuff
