Defending champion Steven Alker of New Zealand shot a bogey-free, 6-under 66 to capture an emotional victory at the Insperity Invitational on Sunday in The Woodlands, Texas.
It was Alker’s first win since his longtime friend and caddie, Sam Workman, died in February of liver cancer that had also spread to his stomach. Workman was 55.
Alker honored Workman by going 66-69-66 for a 15-under 201 and a four-shot win over Steve Stricker.
The victory came in the suburbs of Houston, making it even more pitch-perfect. Workman was a Texas native and a big fan of the Houston Astros; players in this week’s field wore Astros ribbons on their hats in Workman’s honor.
Alker’s son Ben made his debut on his father’s bag this week. And a number of Workman’s family members and friends were in attendance, decked in Astros jerseys.
“I just saw a sea of orange today. It just reminded me of Sam,” Alker said on the Golf Channel broadcast. “I had his son on the bag and it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Earlier in the day, Stricker shot a 7-under 65 — nine birdies and one double bogey — to rocket to 11-under 205 and set the number Alker had to beat.
Alker was 1 under for his round through 10 holes before surpassing Stricker with three straight birdies at Nos. 11-13. He added a birdie at the par-5 15th, and at the par-4 17th he stuck his approach shot to around 10 feet before rolling in his sixth and final birdie of the day.
The 2022 Charles Schwab Cup champion nearly chipped in for birdie from across the green on the 18th hole. His ball stopping inches shy of the cup, and he flipped his club in the air in disbelief.
“The back nine’s been nice to me, and it was great to get another one,” Alker said. “And I haven’t defended a championship. I had a whole bunch of reasons today to try and win this golf tournament, and it worked out.”
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland (68 Sunday) and David Toms (70) tied for third at 8 under. Matt Gogel sank a long birdie at No. 18 to shoot 71 and finish in solo fifth at 7 under, and Bob Estes (67) and South Africa’s Ernie Els (72) tied for sixth at 6 under.
–Field Level Media