Golf: PGA champ Alker loses caddie but still in third

His caddie did not last the distance so New Zealand golfer Steve Alker talked himself into bounding into contention for his second Nationwide Tour title in the space of eight days.

He threatens to achieve something extraordinary on Sunday providing his form persists in the closing two rounds of the US$600,000 ($1.2 million) New Zealand Open at The Hills near here.

Alker completed his second-round duties today, a five-under-par 67 lifting him to 135 for the championship, alone in third place and one back of American Jeff Gove and Australian Jason Norris.

The 37-year-old from Hamilton secured his first win in seven years at last week's New Zealand PGA Championship and now finds himself with a fantastic opportunity to tick off his 10th career title.

Victory on Sunday would also guarantee Alker, 37, will return to the PGA Tour in the United States next year for the first time since 2003 when he battled gamely but without success in his only previous flirtation with the world's top circuit.

But that is for the distant future, because Alker's concentration is focused solely on the here and now.

He expects to have Shane McInnes back on his bag tomorrow after the caddie cried off 11 holes into today's round because of discomfort caused by shin splints.

Alker said a volunteer walking marshal carried his tools for the remainder of the day, but he alone had to calculate his yardages.

"He (McInnes) did well to go 11 holes," said Alker, who netted six birdies and a lone bogey at the troublesome part-three 16th.

"I got concerned on nine and 10 when he was struggling up the hills."

Alker said his replacement bagman, whom he knew only as Johnny, was a novice.

"I gave him a crash course on 12, telling him to stand here and do this, do that.

"I did miss Shane because we'd really got into talking about the shots, and picking the targets. For the last seven holes I did all that on my own.

"It was kind of difficult to get through that period without having Shane there to talk things through, but I got through so that's fine."

Gove was today's standout with a stunning 63 after beginning his round at the 10th. He completed his opening nine holes in a remarkable 29 shots, thanks to an eagle two and five birdies, then added another two birdies on the homeward journey.

"That was really, really fun. I haven't done that for a long time," said Gove, a 37-year-old and a three-time Nationwide Tour winner, whose playing partners included Norris, who shot 65, and American Ryan Armour.

"In the end we ran out of holes and had to stop."

Their threesome ended 18 holes on a collective 19-under.

"We jet fed off each other," said Norris, who broke his jaw in 13 places in a nasty bicycling accident 16 months ago.

Norris continued the form he displayed last week when he finished seventh equal in Christchurch.

He strung together five successive birdies on his front nine then added two more coming home imn a flawless performance.

The leaderboard took on a congested look, with 21 players within five strokes of leaders, among them young New Zealander Josh Geary, who did his cause no harm with a 65 which saw him propelled from 56th equal to a share of seventh place on 137.

Grant Waite was the third New Zealander in the top 20, sharing 16th spot on 139 after shooting 69 despite bogeying the last.

Those lined up behind the leaders include Australian Stephen Dartnall, who shot 69 to be one behind Alker and in the company of joint overnight leader, American Alex Prugh, who shot 71, and compatriot Martin Piller, 69.

David Smail was the fourth local to make the cut, sitting 29th equal on 141 after recording a 67.

World amateur No 1 Danny Lee exited after his 77 gave him a a total of 148, and a similar fate awaited 72-year-old Sir Bob Charles, who was among those to miss the cut after shooting 79.

- NZPA