Golf: Four to forget as Alker fades

It had all the ingredients for a big party night for Kiwi pro Steve Alker in Christchurch yesterday. But, in four holes, party night turned into horror night.

Alker, 35, had worked himself into equal fourth place after a sensational seven-under par second round 65 on Friday. Yesterday, he was third equal after 15 holes during the third round of the ING NZ PGA golf tournament at Clearwater Resort.

It was all going according to script.

Friday was the third wedding anniversary for Alker and his wife Tanya, while yesterday it was his mother Maree's 60th birthday. So it looked all on for a big celebration as he left the 14th green, six-under par and one under for the day.

Then a bogey at 15 was followed by a disastrous triple-bogey seven at 17. It didn't stop there. A pushed tee shot on 18th left Alker with an impossible second. He made the green with his third but just lipped out with his par putt, for a third round 76, four-over par. If there was any consolation, it was the fact that it was an improvement by six shots on his third round 80 at the same event this time last year.

So, as in previous years, Australians looked in control at the end of round three.

Jarrod Lyle, equal leader after rounds of 71 and 66, held his nerve the best in the tricky wind conditions to post a three-under 69 late in the day to leave him at 10 under - two strokes clear of fellow Aussie Brett Rumford. He closed with a third round 71 and this pair are two strokes clear on Kevin Stadler (USA) and Paul Marantz (Aust) who share third place at six under.

For a while it loooked like the young US 'rocker', Jimmy Hendrix (full name: James Matthew Hendrix), was going to blast his way well clear. Playing in the last group and starting at six under, Hendrix birdied holes two, four, seven and nine to be 10 under and turned two strokes clear on the field. It had been a virtuoso performance by Hendrix, who goes by the name of Matt to avoid confusion with the guitarist. However the music quickly went off key on the homeward nine and he lost five shots to the card in the first four holes to fade away.

But he'll be back. A typically fresh-faced, All-American guy, Hendrix is in his rookie year on the Nationwide tournament. He has the game and the temperament, despite some lapses during the third round, to make the grade.

He certainly has the right pedigree. He is a 24-year-old graduate from Clemson University in South Carolina which has, in recent years, produced Lucas Glover, D J Trahan, Jonathan Byrd and Charles Warren - current regulars on the full PGA tour.

Of the other Kiwis, few made serious ground on the leaders in the face of a challenging noreasterly.

Michael Long, who started the day all square, finished two under, thanks to a closing stretch where he birdied three of the last four holes to card a 70. Long shares that spot with Mahal Pearce, who had an even round of 73, while Phil Tataurangi, one of the early starters at two over, had an even round of 72.

Meanwhile, the big-hitting American Kevin Stadler, who blew away some of the best in the world at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth two weeks ago, confirmed he may spend some time on the European tour this year. The Perth tournament was a European co-sanctioned event and, following his win, Stadler earned a two-year exemption on the tour.

While the Nationwide tour will remain his priority, Stadler said he "likes to party and travel".

"So I will definitely look to play maybe five or six times in Europe this year." Stadler, who was paired with Alker yesterday, struggled to get his long game going in the wind, and several times his touch also deserted him on the greens.

But while Alker and Kiwi hopes faltered over the closing stages, Stadler stayed strong and he has many here in Christchurch picking him to win by the close of business today.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY