KA’UPULEHU-KONA — Almost everyone knows the common saying of “third time’s a charm.” But for New Zealand PGA Tour Champions golfer Steven Alker, that motto came to life in West Hawaii over the weekend.
After finishing runner-up for two consecutive years, Alker finally broke through in the final round of the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf Course on Saturday — finishing the last 18 holes with a 63 (-9) for a final score of -25 to claim first overall in the season-opening tournament.
Alker’s 191 cumulative score additionally tied the lowest 54-hole round in Champions Tour history.
“Today, I got it done on the putting green,” Alker said after Day 3. “I made some nice putts — I knew (Steve) Stricker and Harrison (Frazar) were going to come at me, so just kept the pedal to the metal.
“I knew I had to be aggressive, (so I) stayed aggressive and just kept committing to my shots, and it worked out.”
Alker’s performance comfortably outlasted his last two go-arounds at Hualalai, in which he posted a -17 overall a year ago and in 2022. After winning the 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship in November, he became the first player on the Champions Tour since Steve Stricker in 2023 to win consecutive tournaments following Saturday’s victory.
The 52-year-old began the tournament tied with World Golf Hall of Fame member Vijay Singh at -7 after Round 1 on Thursday, but then elevated his play Friday to separate himself from the pack. Following an impressive eagle on Hole 14, Alker ended the second day with a 63 (-7) and a two-stroke lead over the defending champion Stricker and Harrison Frazar — heading into the final round with a career-low 36-hole score of 128 (previously 129).
“I had a beautiful 5-wood in there, it was the best shot of the day and rolled that one in,” Alker said of the Hole 14 eagle. “I just got off to a nice start (to Day 2) — I kind of took my chances when I had them. It kind of seemed like I kept doing that all day.”
Alker continued that momentum into Day 3, which included seven birdies and another eagle. Holding a two-stroke lead going into the par-5 Hole 7, Alker missed the green, but the ball bounced off the cart path, ricocheted off dark lava rock and rolled onto the inviting green. Alker then sank an improbable 40-foot putt to complete the eagle.
“I didn’t see where it landed obviously, but someone said it kind of kicked off the path and rolled up and went left,” Alker said of No. 7. “Just a fortunate break.”
After Frazar and Stricker birdied the same hole, it was all smooth sailing for the first-time Hualalai champion.
In the $2 million purse, Alker will pocket $340,000 to begin the new season. He additionally will take the lead in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup standings.
Other notable finishers
Frazar finished second following strong bounce-back performances in Day 2 and 3. After shooting a 67 in the opening round, the American star responded with a 63 and 65 in the final two days to earn a collective -21 and a podium finish — including a seven-birdie performance Saturday.
Last year’s champion Stricker couldn’t repeat glory as a back-to-back champion at Hualalai, but still posted an impressive outing. Over three rounds, Stricker scored a -20 overall in his third-place finish. On Saturday, he collected seven birdies to help tally a Day-3 score of 66.
“I would have needed something pretty special to catch Steve today; he played great,” Stricker said. “I hit the ball solid —
I didn’t make some of the putts today like I should have, but all in all, it was a good start to the year.”
Stricker and Frazar were tied for second heading into the last round, but Stricker’s bogey on Hole 1 ended up being the slight difference-maker in the final tally.
In fourth, American David Toms posted a -17 for the week — including a tournament-best 65 in the final round.
Official results
The final rankings of the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Championship can be found below:
1. Steven Alker, -25
2. Harrison Frazar, -21
3. Steve Stricker, -20
4. David Toms, -17
T5. Scott Parel, -14
T5. Stewart Cink, -14
7. Darren Clarke, -13
T8. Jerry Kelly, -12
T8. Rocco Mediate, -12
T8. Stephen Ames, -12
T8. Justin Leonard, -12
T12. Mark Hensby, -11
T12. Alex Cejka, -11
T12. Ken Duke, -11
T12. Ernie Els, -11
T16. K.J. Choi, -10
T16. Vijay Singh, -10
T18. Mike Weir, -9
T18. Miguel Angel Jiménez, -9
T18. Thongchai Jaidee, -9
T18. Colin Montgomerie, -9
T22. Brett Quigley, -7
T22. Bernhard Langer, -7
T22. Lee Janzen, -7
T25. Tom Lehman, -6
T25. Steve Flesch, -6
T27. Joe Durant, -5
T27. Stephen Dodd, -5
T27. Scott McCarron, -5
T30. David Duval, -4
T30. Rod Pampling, -4
T30. Ken Tanigawa, -4
T33. Olin Browne, -3
T33. Corey Pavin, -3
T33. Marco Dawson, -3
T33. Paul Broadhurst, -3
T37. Billy Andrade, -2
T37. Dicky Pride, -2
T37. Mark O‘Meara, -2
T37. Fred Couples, -2
41. Jay Haas, -1
42. Jeff Sluman, E