Steven Alker erased a two-stroke deficit on Sunday, firing a 4-under 68 at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club to win The Ally Challenge by three strokes. The victory marks Alker’s third PGA Tour Champions title of the season and the 13th of his career on the 50-and-older tour.
Steven Alker claimed The Ally Challenge crown on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in Grand Blanc, Michigan, surging past a crowded leaderboard during a rain-delayed final round. Alker finished the tournament at 15-under 201, outpacing a field that included major champions and a surging rookie.
The win comes just a week after Alker won the Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta, where he defeated Y.E. Yang in a playoff. Entering Sunday’s finale two strokes behind the leader, the 55-year-old New Zealander captured his second consecutive victory and solidified his standing in the Charles Schwab Cup points race.
Back-Nine Surge and the Turn at Hole 13
Alker began his Sunday chase two shots back of 36-hole leader Michael Block. Through the first 11 holes, Alker sat at 1 under, keeping pace without making major moves on a course historically known for low scoring.
Standing on the tee box at the par-4 12th hole, Alker told his caddie, Let’s just get this party started. He birdied the 12th before striking the decisive blow on the par-5 13th.
Facing a 247-yard approach into the wind with water bordering the green, Alker selected a 3-wood. He landed his shot on the right side of the green and two-putted from roughly 40 feet for birdie, taking sole possession of the lead.
“Perfect number,” Alker said of his second-shot, 3-wood approach from 245 yards into the 13th hole. “Worked out well.”
Steven Alker
Alker expanded his advantage immediately afterward, sinking a 60-foot putt for birdie on the 15th hole and finishing his back nine with four consecutive birdies to pull away from the chasing pack.
Michael Block’s Rookie Lead and the Contenders Behind
For Michael Block, making just his fifth start on the PGA Tour Champions, the day brought valuable experience but stalled championship hopes. The 50-year-old rookie, who gained widespread fame during the 2023 PGA Championship playing alongside Rory McIlroy, admitted to nerves during his first time holding a 54-hole lead.
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“Steven Alker showed me a couple things I need to do. I played a little bit different golf than I did the first two days because I was nervous; I had never been there before. So, it was a learning experience for me.”
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Michael Block, PGA Tour Champions rookie
Block remained within one shot standing on the 13th tee, but an overhanging tree forced him to attempt a cut with his 3-wood. He double-crossed the shot left of the green, left his third shot short of a bunker, and landed his fourth in the sand. He salvaged a bogey, but Alker’s birdie pushed the deficit to three strokes. Block finished tied for third at 11 under alongside two-time defending champion Stewart Cink and Greg Chalmers.
World Golf Hall of Famer Retief Goosen mounted the day’s hardest charge, carding an 8-under 64 to finish alone in second place at 12 under. Goosen briefly tied for the lead on the back nine before missing short birdie putts at Nos. 13 and 14.
“It’s been a great week,” Goosen said. “Obviously wasn’t good enough.”
Retief Goosen
Tournament Outlook
Alker’s victory at Warwick Hills continues a dominant stretch for the veteran on the 50-and-older circuit.
Tournament organizers finalized a one-year extension just prior to the 2026 event, securing The Ally Challenge’s return in 2027 for its 10th year. The tournament is scheduled for August 27–29, 2027, at Warwick Hills.
Steven Alker post-round press conference after winning 2026 Ally Challenge Presented by McLaren
