Alker bests Yang in playoff to win Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary

Steve Alker of New Zealand beat South Korea’s Y.E. Yang in a one-hole playoff Sunday to win the Rogers Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.

Yang carded a final round of seven-under 63 to take the clubhouse lead before Alker shot 65 to tie him for the 54-hole lead at 16 under.

The pair then went back to the 18th tee for the playoff. After Yang finished with a bogey on the par-five finishing hole, Alker rolled in a seven-foot putt for birdie to win his second PGA Tour Champions event of the season and the 12th of his career.

Earlier, Alker had a chance to win the tournament on the final hole, but he missed a lengthy birdie putt with Yang looking on from the clubhouse.

Alker had two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine of the par-70, 7,086-yard course before getting hot with five birdies in a six-hole span from the 11th to the 16th hole.

Yang had one birdie on the front nine before adding six more on the back, including a tap-in on the final hole to take the lead.

Americans Jerry Kelly and Zach Johnson, who shot 63 and 65 respectively on Sunday, finished in a tie for third at 15 under, two shots ahead of a group of four golfers that included defending champion Richard Green.

Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., carded his second-straight round of 66 to finish as the top Canadian at 11 under.

After watching Steve Flesch chip in for eagle from behind the green on the par-five 18th hole, Weir tried to replicate his playing partner’s shot from almost the same spot.

“Almost,” said Weir after his eagle chip came up just short.

Nonetheless, he tapped in the birdie putt to move into a six-way tie for 14th place, which is his best showing at the tournament since finishing in a tie for ninth in 2021.

“It was a good finish to birdie 17 and 18 to finish off the week,” said Weir, who had five birdies and one bogey in his final round. “I played well enough to be really in contention this week, just the flat stick was a little cold.

“Overall, I played solid. It was my best finish of the year so far, so it was very encouraging. A lot of good things to take away from this week.”

Weir will play in next weekend’s The Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich.

“Next week’s a home game kind of for me,” he said. “My family’s real close by, only an hour away. I have a lot of friends and family there, too.”

Weir will then take a week off before taking part in his favourite event of the season, the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links from Sept. 18 to 20.

Fellow Canadian Stephen Ames had a good start to his round on Sunday with four birdies in his first six holes on his way to shooting 65 to get him to eight under.

“I’m glad he played well today,” said Weir of his fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer. “He got off to a slow start [at the tournament], but good for him today.”

Calgary’s Wes Martin shot 71 on Sunday to finish well back of the leaders at three over.