It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for New Zealand’s top golfers across the globe, with Steven Alker and Daniel Hillier notching impressive top-10 finishes, while Dame Lydia Ko and Ryan Fox faced tougher outings.
Alker Maintains Hot Streak with Third-Place Finish
Steven Alker continued his consistent run on the PGA Tour Champions, securing third place at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in Georgia. The seasoned Kiwi carded a stunning seven-under 65 in his final round – the best of the day – to climb into solo third at 16-under for the tournament.
Despite his strong finish, Alker fell short of catching American Jerry Kelly, who claimed the title with a four-stroke buffer at 20-under, thanks to a superb opening round of 62 and back-to-back 67s.
Alker started his final round brightly with a birdie on the first hole, tallying five birdies on the front nine. A bogey on the par-five 10th briefly halted momentum, but he rebounded with three more birdies in the closing stretch. The result marks his sixth consecutive top-five finish this season, and his fourth in the top three.
Hillier in the Hunt in China
On the DP World Tour, Daniel Hillier was also in contention at the Hainan Classic in China, finishing in a tie for ninth. He entered the final round just one shot off the lead but stumbled to a one-over 73 – his worst score of the tournament – ending the week at 10-under.
Compatriot Kazuma Kobori finished in a tie for 45th at two-under.
Despite the final-round setback, Hillier’s top-10 finish helped him climb to fifth in the Race to Dubai standings. A strong end to the season could earn him a spot in the season-ending finale and potentially a PGA Tour card for 2025.
Ko Battles Injury, Misses Contention in LPGA Major
Dame Lydia Ko overcame an early-week injury scare to make the cut at the Chevron Championship – the LPGA Tour’s first major of the year – but couldn’t find her rhythm, finishing in a tie for 52nd.
Ko’s best round was an even-par 72 on day two, while a closing 73 left her at five-over for the tournament. The title was decided in a five-way playoff, with Japan’s Mao Saigo emerging victorious over challengers from the US, Thailand, China, and South Korea.
Fox Falls Short in New Orleans Team Event
In the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic, the alternate-shot format proved challenging for Ryan Fox and his playing partner Garrick Higgo. The pair made a solid start in the four-ball opening round but struggled in the second round’s foursomes, shooting a two-over 74 to miss the cut.
They finished four strokes short of the 10-under cut line after a round that included multiple bogeys and a double-bogey.
Injury Blow for Campbell in LIV Golf
Over on the LIV Golf circuit, Ben Campbell was forced to withdraw from the Mexico event due to a wrist injury. Competing as part of Bubba Watson’s Range Goats team, Campbell had enjoyed a solid start to the season, including a third-place finish.
He was replaced by American John Catlin after an opening-round 74. With the tour heading to Korea next, Campbell will be hoping for a quick recovery.
Hillier Narrowly Misses Cut on Korn Ferry Tour
Finally, on the Korn Ferry Tour, Harry Hillier missed the cut at the Veritex Bank Championship in Texas by a single shot despite back-to-back rounds of 67. He finished eight under after two rounds, but it wasn’t enough in a low-scoring event won by Johnny Keefer at a remarkable 30 under.
