ALKER ON THE CUSP AGAIN

                                                                            By Neville Idour

Not surprisingly Steve Alker has again provided the best hope of a kiwi win on the various world tours. Starting the third round in the Senior Open at Gleneagles he was a little off the pace in 20th place, four shots behind leader Darren Clarke on -4. An early bogey set him back but six birdies saw him race up the leaderboard to end the day just one behind Clarke and Jerry Kelley on -8 after rounds of 68,68,66. His irons and putting were outstanding.

Pleasingly Michael Campbell’s comeback continues as he ground out rounds of 71,70,72 to make the cut in 57th place. Amazingly he has eagled the 11th hole, a par5 twice.

Lydia Ko had got within two shots of the lead in her second round after 13 holes but some off line tee shots saw her derail late in the round with two bogeys and a double bogey to tumble down to 20th. She started her third round with three birdies in the first four holes to again rocket into the top three. However she again derailed with another ugly double bogey, this time on the par5 ninth then  bogeyed the 11th, leaving her back where she started. However she recovered beautifully with three birdies in the last five holes to finish on -10 which leaves her seven shots behind leader Brooke Henderson in 11th place.

Meanwhile on the Korn Ferry Tour Nick Voke has missed another cut. On the DP World Tour Cazoo Classic in England Daniel Hillier is 61st with a lot of work to do while Josh Geary had one to forget well outside the cut.

On the WAPT Tour Babe Zaharios Open in Beaumont USA, Munchin Keh with 70,71,73 is T8th. Julianne Alvarez had a poor third round and after 73,75,78 has just made the second cut on the mark at+10. Wenyung Keh and Laura Hoskin both missed the cut.