Kiwi Steven Alker at The Open, first Kiwi Appearance since 2009
Steven Alker. Photo / Simon Baker
Kiwi Steven Alker will contest The Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, he is the first Kiwi to appear in the Open Championship since 2009. Royal Lytham & St Annes is the same venue where Sir Bob Charles won his only major title from American Phil Rodgers in 1963. Steve’s last tournament victory also came in 2009, when he won the New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Steve, from Hamilton New Zealand, won the qualifying tournament in West Lancashire with rounds of 69 and 68 to finish on seven under par, and win by two shots from a group of four players. The top three players from this tournament qualified to play in The Open Championship. Joining Steve at Royal Lytham & St Annes will be American Scott Pinckney (75, 64) and England’s Steven O’Hara (70, 69) they were the other two professionals to secure a spot in the year’s third major.
Michael Campbell, whose best result at The Open was a tie for third place in 1995, had disappointing rounds of 71 and 73 to finish with an even par total and a share of 16th place.
