Steven Alker fired a tournament-record 10-under 62 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Rapiscan Systems Classic at Biloxi, Miss.
Alker’s bogey-free round at Grand Bear Golf Club allowed him to hold a one-shot lead over Bob Estes, who shot 8-under 64. Alker is at 11-under 133 entering Sunday’s final round.
South Africa’s Retief Goosen and England’s Paul Broadhurst each shot 67 and are tied for third, three shots behind Alker.
Alker, a New Zealander, broke the tourney record of 63 shared by Fred Couples in 2012 and Gene Sauers in 2017.
“It’s always nice to get it,” Alker said of the record. “You never know at the start of the day kind of shooting for 62, you just try to go out and do your best and stay aggressive and make some birdies because you know the guys behind are going to make a few as well.”
Alker, 50, had five birdies on both the front and back nine. He drained five in a row on Holes 9-13.
It was quite a turnaround after Alker shot 71 in the opening round.
“I just kind of dialed in my irons early on and took advantage of the par 5s, and obviously putted better,” Aiker said. “You always putt well when you shoot 62. I just gave myself a lot of chances.”
Estes, 56, had a stellar round as well with eight birdies and no bogeys. He made four straight birdies on Nos. 11-14.
“I hit a lot of good iron shots and made lot of good putts, so that was the key to it for the most part,” Estes said. “I drove it fairly well also, I was usually in play. Hit some iron shots close and the few times I didn’t, I made some longer putts. For the most part, I just putted really well today.”
Goosen carded five birdies with four of them coming over the last five holes. He didn’t have a bogey.
Broadhurst had six birdies and one bogey during his round.
Doug Barron (67 on Saturday), Paul Goydos (68) and Germany’s Alex Cejka (66) are tie for fifth at 7 under. Brandt Jobe (69), Canadian Stephen Ames (70) and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) are tied for eighth at 6-under 138.
Defending champion Kevin Sutherland is part of a seven-way tie for 11th. He shot 69 on Saturday and is at 5 under.
–Field Level Media