Golf: Alker finishes strong

Kiwi golfer Steven Alker has shot a horror third round of 82 overnight to fall off the pace at the Chiquita Classic in Davidson, North Carolina. Photo / Getty Images.

Kiwi golfer Steven Alker has completed a yo-yo effort at the Chiquita Classic in North Carolina today with a five-under 67 in his final round to finish in a tie for 53rd in the second tournament of the four-leg Web.com Tour finals series.

Alker missed the cut in Fort Wayne last weekend and needed a strong effort in North Carolina to push his way up the rankings in a bid to earn a PGA Tour card for next season.

The top-25 money earners from the Web.com Tour finals - who haven't already secured their tour card - will punch their ticket for the game's most lucrative tour in 2014.

Alker's disastrous third round of 82 saw him plummet down the leaderboard but he finished well today in a bogey-free round that included five birdies as he finished three-over for the tournament.

He earned USD$3,275 (NZD$4,100) for his North Carolina performance but will need to find some consistency and a top-10 finish in the last two tournaments of the finals series if he wants to earn his PGA Tour card.

Fellow Kiwi Tim Wilkinson, who has been uber-consistent throughout the year, finished in a share of 14th at seven-under for the tournament after he closed with a one-under 71. Danny Lee missed the cut.

American Andrew Svoboda won the tournament after he defeated Will MacKenzie in a playoff. Both players finished the tournament at 12-under.

Meanwhile, Japan Tour players Michael Hendry and David Smail finished tied for 20th at two-under for the week at the Fujisankei Classic, seven strokes back from winner Hideki Matsuyama.

Matsuyama shot a two-over 73 in his final round but managed to win the tournament in a three-way playoff.