New Sr. PGA Champion Crowned Memorial Day Weekend

By Tom Lang

New Zealander Steve Alker tore up Harbor Shores along the sandy beach of Lake Michigan on the final day with an 8-under 63 despite very high winds, to snatch away the Sr. PGA Championship trophy from his over-age-50 competitors.

It was Alker’s 3rd win in his rookie season on the PGA Tour Champions, following an average pro career prior spread out in more than 550 tournaments over three decades across the globe. The $630,000 payday raised his season winnings to nearly $2 million.

Alker began the day making birdie on three of the first five holes while many other players went backwards. There was a three-way tie with Bernhard Langer and 54-leader Stephen Ames on the back nine before Alker made birdie at the 508-yard, par-5 15th along the Paw Paw River. A final birdie at 16 and two par saves coming in secured the title.

We hope you enjoy these images from the day, provided by MI Golf Journal photographer David Lee of Lansing.