Steven Alker Closes Strong To Win Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic

Steven Alker is playing his best golf at exactly the right time.

The 55-year-old New Zealander birdied the 16th and 17th holes Sunday at Lehigh Country Club, then closed with a 4-under 66 to win the inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic by one stroke over Tag Ridings.

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Alker finished at 14-under 196, earning his fourth PGA Tour Champions victory of the season and the 14th of his career.

The win continues an impressive late-season run.

Alker has now finished first or second in each of his last four starts. He won the Rogers Charity Classic and The Ally Challenge, finished tied for second at the PURE Insurance Championship, then returned to the winner’s circle in Pennsylvania.

He began the final round one shot behind 54-hole leader Michael Block but erased the deficit immediately with a birdie at No. 1.

After giving a shot back at the third, Alker responded with consecutive birdies at Nos. 4 and 5.

A bogey at No. 8 tightened the race again, but Alker birdied No. 11 before delivering his decisive push late.

Birdies at 16 and 17 gave him the cushion he needed.

Ridings made things uncomfortable with a closing 6-under 64 featuring seven birdies. He finished at 13 under, one stroke short of forcing a playoff.

Block remained in contention throughout the afternoon. He reached the 18th tee only one shot behind Alker but made bogey to finish third after a 69.

It was still Block’s best finish in seven PGA Tour Champions starts on sponsor exemptions.

Stewart Cink made one of the biggest moves of the day, firing a 7-under 63 to climb into a tie for fourth with Robert Karlsson and Richard Green.

Alker’s victory keeps him No. 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings and gives him four wins in 17 starts this season, trailing only Zach Johnson and Cink in total victories.

And Alker had a local twist to his winning week.

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Nineteen-year-old Lehigh Country Club caddie Whyatt O’Rourke took over Alker’s bag during Friday’s opening round after longtime caddie Troy Martin became ill - and stayed with him all the way to the trophy.

No verified post-round direct quote from Alker was available in the official event recap I found, so I left quotes out rather than manufacture one. The scoring, finishing order and season totals were checked against PGA Tour Champions.