Steven Alker Records 4 Consecutive Bridies on the Back Nine to Win Ally Challenge
By Tom Lang (and PGA Tour notes)
Heavy rain to start the final round at Warwick Hills threaten to rain on the Ally Challenge’s parade.
But once the skies cleared, Steven Alker got hot on the back nine and won his second week in a row by taking the 9th annual Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc. Thankfully, the tournament announced there would be a 10th annual, returning next August to the popular location on the PGA Tour Champions.
It was Alker’s 13th senior career win, and his third this season after winning the Rogers City Classic the prior week, and the Cologuard Classic in March. He became the third three-time winner of the 2026 season on PGA TOUR Champions, joining Stewart Cink (5 wins) and Zach Johnson (4 wins).
Club pro Michael Block, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, led going into the final round but later admitted he wasn’t used to that position as a Champions Tour rookie, and faltered – but still earned his third top-10 finish on the tour. Alker’s win was the largest come-from-behind win in the nine-year history of The Ally Challenge (2 strokes). Alker remains No. 4 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings.
Other Notes
World Golf Hall of Fame member Retief Goosen (2nd) carded the low round of the day (64). This is his fourth top-3 finish of the 2026 season (17 starts).
Two-time defending champion (2024, 2025) Stewart Cink (T3) carded 67 to earn his ninth top-3 finish of the 2026 season (15 starts). He remains atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings for the 20th consecutive week.
On the day before his 55th birthday, World Golf Hall of Fame member Pádraig Harrington posted 1-over 73 to finish T7. He remains No. 3 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings.
John Rollins (T7) made a hole-in-one on No. 8 in the final round.
Rookie Zach Johnson (T21) saw his streak of top-10 finishes to open his PGA TOUR Champions career snapped at 12. The four-time winner in 2026 remains No. 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
