
Steven Alker has carded a remarkable final round to win the latest PGA Tour Champions event in Arizona.
The New Zealander started the final day on Sunday (Monday NZ Time) four shots off the lead at the Cologuard Classic in Tuscon, only to shoot a five-under 66 to climb six places, along with American Jason Caron.
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The pair went to the clubhouse tied for the lead and watched as others tried to chase down their 12-under for the tournament.
Australians Greg Chalmers and Rod Pampling fell one shot short to finish at 11-under, while South African major winner Ernie Els ended at 10-under.
On the first playoff hole, the par-four 18th, Alker had a chance to putt for birdie to win the tournament and the reigning Charles Schwab Cup Champion held his nerve.
The 53-year-old was even-par at the turn after a pair of birdies and bogeys. His charge to the title began with an eagle at the par-five 11th, before he made three straight birdies at the 15th, 16th and 17th to join Caron.
Alker has now moved to second on the overall tour standings, with a second and a tie for fourth in his first two starts of the year.
Despite a consistent 2024 - with his lone victory coming in the season-opening tournament in Hawaii - he said it was nice to win a tournament for the first time in a while.
"You just grind away, I've been in a lot of top-10s and top-fives, been in the hunt so it's just being patient and working hard on the body in the pre-season.
"It's been 13-14 months since my last win so just to get over that little hurdle and get that win. The game has just been feeling good, just consistently week in week out so that's what I want, to give myself chances.
"Moving forward, I've got a Charles Schwab Cup to defend so I've got to get it going ... the competition is just getting so good, so you've got to keep getting better."
Meanwhile, fellow New Zealand golfer Danny Lee made a final-round push at the LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament on Sunday.
Lee fired a four-under 66 at the Hong Kong Golf Club, featuring six birdies - including three in his last five holes - and two bogeys, to climb into a tie for 20th at seven-under, 11 strokes behind the winner, Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
Fellow Kiwi Ben Campbell closed with a two-under 68, with four birdies and two bogeys, to finish in a share of 35th at five-under.
Campbell's RangeGoats GC finished seventh and Lee's Iron Heads GC 10th.