Golf: Alker needs a touch of alchemy

A final round of 67 and a tie for 23rd place in the last regular-season tournament of the United States Nationwide tour had special significance for Waikato professional Steve Alker.

The money he earned nudged him by a couple of hundred dollars into the top 60 on the tour money list and gave him a start in this weekend's US$625,000 ($909,000) Tour Championship at Prattville, Alabama.

The season-ending tournament is restricted to the top 60 and there is no 36-hole cut.

As well as offering one of the larger purses on the tour, it can be vital in the race to finish in the top 20 money winners, who gain automatic entry to the US PGA Tour next season.

Alker, who took time off mid-season when wife Tanya gave birth to their first child, Ben, has earned US$98,518 this season.

He would need to win the tour championship first prize of US$112,500 to get into the top 20. His former Waikato team-mate, Michael Long, with earnings of US$196,693 is presently 17th.

The 20th player, David McKenzie, is on US$188,956 and there are several others within striking distance.

For those who don't finish in the top 20, the road to the big tour is through qualifying tournaments. Aucklander Brad Heaven got through the first of three stages last week. Manawatu lefthander Tim Wilkinson, who took a share of fifth place in the last Nationwide tournament, is due to play this weekend.

The second stage is in a couple of weeks and the final, offering around 30 cards for the US PGA tour, is at La Quinta, California, in the first week of December.

A signature lineup of former New Zealand Golf Open champions will be auctioned on behalf of junior golf and melanoma awareness as part of Sir Bob Charles' national tribute tour.

The framed item (330 x 560mm) features the original signatures of every New Zealand Golf Open champion since 1954, with the exception of Harry Berwick, the 1956 winner, who died 15 years ago.

Berwick's family have made his signature available to be scanned and included with 32 of his fellow champions, who include Peter Thomson (1950-51-53-55-59-60-61-65-71), Kel Nagle (1957-58-62-64-67-68-69), Sir Bob Charles (1954-66-70-73), Corey Pavin (1984-85), Bruce Devlin (1963), Rodger Davis (1986-91), Bob Shearer (1978-81), Bob Gilder (1974), Ian Baker-Finch (1983), Greg Turner (1989-97) and Michael Campbell (2000).

Only nine of these items will ever be available, and they will be auctioned during the ING Sir Bob Charles Tribute Tour stops in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, Mt Maunganui, Manawatu, Masterton, Wellington and Wairakei.

The tour schedule includes visits to eight centres during which Charles will host a 30-minute coaching clinic before playing a round of golf as part of a tournament to raise funds for charity.

His partners are likely to be young professionals or promising amateurs from the respective host club, local celebrities and businessmen.

After each appearance, Charles will be the guest speaker at a fundraising function.

His first stop is at the Mt Maunganui Golf Club on Tuesday. He will be at Titirangi on November 11.

Pupuke golfer Josh Carmichael continued his excellent form by retaining the North Harbour strokeplay title with a one-under total of 275 at Huapai.

Carmichael won the Auckland matchplay title at Akarana last month and was the leading individual in the Southland Invitational at the start of the season.

He will be No 1 for the North Harbour team at the interprovincial championships in Napier before trying to qualify for a professional card on the Australasian tour.