Darren Clarke saved his best for last and closed with a five-under 67 to move him into the top five at the PGA Tour Champions’ Simmons Bank Championship, but there was no stopping the Steven Alker show.
Trailing by a distance after rounds of 68 and 71, Clarke knew it was only minor placings that were up for grabs in Sunday’s final round at Pleasant Valley Country Club, but there was still a decent cheque to be earned and a bogey-free five-under-par 67 saw him climb eight places and end up sharing fifth along with Freddie Jacobsen, Cameron Percy, and last week’s winner, Justin Leonard.
Pádraig Harrington arrived in LIttle Rock as the defending champion after a two-stroke victory in 2024, but knew that there would be no repeat as he went into the final round 17 shots off the lead.
A two-under final round was his lowest of the week, carding five birdies, five bogeys and an eagle, and he ends the week in a tie for 18th, knowing that any hopes of topping the Schwab Cup rankings after next week’s season-finale are all but over.
With a five-stroke lead after rounds of 61 and 66, New Zealander Alker was in cruise control. HIs course-record setting round on day one put him in a position to go wire-to-wire, and he never really looked like loosening his grip.
A closing three-under 69 was enough to secure a seven-stroke win at -20, and push him to the top of the Schwab Cup rankings.
Richard Green and Tag Ridings shared second place on -13, with Stewart Cink taking solo fourth at -11.
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