2.30pm
New Zealand golfer Steve Alker wasted little time in announcing his arrival to United States galleries when he won the US$450,000 ($1.029 million) Louisiana Open today.
Alker survived an action-filled playoff with American Mike Heinen to emerge victorious in his maiden appearance in a Buy.com Tour event on US soil.
He pocketed
US$81,000 for his victory, propelling him from 31st to third on the tour moneylist. The leading 15 money winners at the end of this season gain automatic playing rights on to the 2003 US PGA Tour.
It was his third appearance in a buy.com tour event after missing the cut at the Jacob's Creek Open in Australia and finishing in a tie for 13th at the Clearwater Classic in Christchurch last month when the tour spread to Australasia for the first time.
Alker, who finished in a share of second at this year's New Zealand Open, carded a bogey-free closing round of eight-under-par 64 for a tournament card of 24-under 264 to force Heinen into a playoff.
He then triumphed when winning the second playoff hole with a par after both players posted double bogey sixes on the first extra hole.
Alker hit "my worst shot of the week" off the tee to end up in the water on the right.
Heinen, who shot 61 in the third round to lead Alker by four strokes overnight, then promptly hooked his tee shot into a water hazard on the left.
"Someone was looking after me today," Alker said.
"My game felt good all week and everything just fell into place."
"I knew I had to go out today and make some birdies. There was no wing and virtually no rough, but having said that it was a very good golf course."
Alker steadily moved up the crowded leaderboard with a bogey-free fourth round effort.
"I thought probably 24 or 25-under would be a good number today," Alker said.
"I've been playing well all week and thought a 63 or 64 was out there for me. I didn't have it from tee to green, but my putting was pretty solid."
- NZPA
