Golf: Alker blitzes field for second Canadian title

SARNIA - New Zealand golfer Steve Alker has captured his second Canadian tournament in a row, firing a five-under 66 to pull away from the field and win the $200,000 Bayer Championship in Ontario by five shots.

Alker, who began the final round with a two-shot advantage over playing partner Arron Oberholser, of the United States, went up by three when he sank a 10ft birdie putt on the 11th at Huron Oaks.

He then followed with birdies on the 12th, 15th and 17th holes to claim victory, which followed his win in the McDonald's PEI Challenge three weeks ago.

"To win two in a row is special," said 29-year-old Alker. "My game has peaked at the right time."

He finished with a 72-hole total of 22-under 262. Oberholser was second after a 69, while 1998 Bayer winner Chris Tidland, of the US, took third at 16-under with a 67.

"When Arron birdied 13 to get within three I started to get a bit worried because it seemed like he was about to get on a roll," Alker said. "After I made the birdie on 15 I felt a lot more comfortable."

Oberholser said: "It was one of those days where a 69 was the best I was going to shoot.

"But I never thought I was out of it until Steve's birdie on 15."

The $36,000 winner's cheque moved Alker into first spot on the Canadian Tour's Order of Merit, and he also won the tour's scoring title with an average round score of 69.14.

The tour's final money list will be decided after the Panama Open in January.

Alker played the Canadian Tour in 1997, finishing fifth on the money list, and then went on to earn a spot on the European Tour in 1998.

He lost his card in Europe and has been hampered with injuries for the past 18 months.

"I knew my game was there but at the weekend something just clicked with the putter and I was off," he said.

"The last two days were the best I've putted all year."

- NZPA