Steven Alker (Photo by By Jhansen23)
Steven Alker carded a second consecutive bogey-free round to total 17-under 127, his lowest opening 36-hole score on PGA TOUR Champions, to carry a five-stroke lead into the final round of the Simmons Bank Championship.
Alker, who had carded a sensational 61 in his opening round, is seeking his 10th win on PGA TOUR Champions.
The 54-year-old, who won the Cologuard Classic earlier this year, is the only player in the field without a bogey through 36 holes.
His five-stroke lead marks the largest 36-hole lead on PGA TOUR Champions since the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship (Paul Broadhurst, converted five-stroke 36-hole lead into three-stroke win)
This is his 16th time leading/co-leading after the second round on PGA TOUR Champions (5-for-15)
He Is projected to move to No. 1 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings after starting the week No. 4, having won the Charles Schwab Cup in two of the last three seasons (2022, 2024).
Former University of Arkansas golfer Tag Ridings is in second spot, having carded a second consecutive 6-under 66. The 51-year-old seeks his first win.
Justin Leonard, who won last week’s Dominion Energy Charity Classic, sits solo third after second-round 68. He looks to become the first player to win back-to-back weeks since Ángel Cabrera (2025 Regions Tradition, 2025 Senior PGA Championship).
Charles Schwab Cup leader Miguel Angel Jiménez is tied 30th posted 70 and enters the final round at 1-underTwo-time defending champion Padraig Harrington (T38) followed a 2-under 70 with a 2-over 74.
Meanwhile, at the Bank of Utah Championships Michael Brennan, playing in his first as a professional, claimed a two-stroke lead entering the final round
He carded a 64 via seven birdies and one eagle on the par-5 seventh hole against one double bogey. He is now on 17 under par 196.
Should he win in Utah, he would become the 14th first-time winner this season.
Defending champion Matt McCarty is in second spot in 15 under par and seeks to become the first player to successfully defend a title on TOUR since Scottie Scheffler (2024, 2025 Memorial Tournament).
Second-year member Rico Hoey is tied third on 14-under together with Kevin Yu and Pierceson Coody.
Hayden Springer (T6/-13) posted 6-under 29 on the back nine en route to a 62 for the low round of the day.
Eight-time DP World Tour winner Thorbjørn Olesen is also tied sixth.
