Steven Alker wins PGA Champions Tour event with a record-setting performance
Steven Alker won the 2022 Rapiscan Systems Classic in Saucier with an event-record 18-under-par.
Alker’s performance was powered by a record-breaking second round, and a dominant performance on the back nine.
The New Zealand native entered Saturday’s second round in a tie for 18th before setting a Classic record with a 10-under 62. The record previously held by Fred Couples and Gene Sauers.
He followed up on Sunday by shooting a 65, sealing the best two-round performance in Rapiscan Systems Classic history.
“It’s hard to work out the formula, to be honest, but I felt my game was pretty good coming,” Alker said. “It’s always nice when the week gets better and better. It got really better quick so it was great. Glad to be champion.”
The final nine holes proved to be where Alker found his stride. After playing the back nine even in the first round, Alker made 10 birdies over the next two days on the inward nine.
“The front nine, there’s a couple of holes you have to be careful of,” Alker said. “I just kind of freed it up on the back and it worked out nicely.”
The six-stroke victory over second-place finisher Padraig Harrington was the largest margin of victory in the Classic’s history.
Alker collected the $240,000 first place purse, moving him from fourth to third in the Charles Schwab Cup leaderboard.
The event was also an opportunity for Poplarville native and player Glen Day to return to South Mississippi.
“I get to see my family, a lot of people come out and I get to see friends that I hadn’t seen in a long time,” Day said. “I think it’s great. I just hope we can hold it together. I hope Rapiscan steps up and sponsors and we can get a multi-year deal so we can get this going again.”
Day shot five-over-72 for the round on Sunday and finished four strokes over par on a course he had played just once.
“It’s a really good golf course,” Day said. “I think the scores show it. There’s a couple of guys playing really good. I think fourth place is 10-under, so that means it’s a good golf course.”
The tour continues with the ClubCore Classic in Irving, Texas, beginning April 18.
