Golf: Kiwis storm up the leaderboard in Idaho with flurry of birdies

Tim Wilkinson.

Steven Alker and Tim Wilkinson have continued their momentum on the web.com tour in incredible fashion.

Manawatu pro Wilkinson began the Kiwi charge up the leaderboard at the Albertsons Boise Open in Idaho with an eight-under 63 - that included five birdies in the final five holes - at the Hillcrest Country Club.

Late in the afternoon Alker bettered that score with an incredible nine-under 62 to claim a share of the lead with American Hunter Haas as the Kiwis look to secure their cards on the PGA Tour in 2014.

Wilkinson, who is eighth on the Order of Merit, is hoping to return to the PGA Tour for the first time since 2009.

He made the turn in two-under par 34 before setting the back nine alight. The left-hander made a birdie on the 13th to get to three-under par for the round and then came home to sign for an inward nine of 29.

Alker, who is currently 21st on the money-list, was similarly irrepressible coming home.

He made the turn in four-under par 32 and then continued his onslaught coming home. He added a birdie and an eagle on the opening two holes of the back nine to jump to six under and then birdied the final three holes to sign for a 62.

The 41-year-old continued his remarkable turnaround in form in recent weeks and is now firmly in the hunt for a PGA Tour card.

The Hamilton pro, who won two weeks ago at the Utah Championship to resurrect his season on the web.com tour, would climb to fourth on the money list if he was to win.

Wilkinson, who is likely to have already secured his card, is projected to climb to second on the money-list behind runaway leader American Michael Putnam if he were to go on and win.

The top 25 players on the order of merit at the end of the 2013 season automatically qualify for the PGA Tour and Kiwis Wilkinson, Alker and Danny Lee are all inside that mark.

Meanwhile, Lee was up and down in his opening round in Idaho. The former US Amateur Champion signed for a two-under 69 to be tied 74th and in danger of missing the cut. He is expected to drop three places from ninth to 12th on the order of merit.

If all three Kiwis can progress to the PGA Tour in 2014 it will be a return to the heydays of New Zealand Golf.

In 2002 New Zealand golf had its largest presence on the PGA Tour when they had five players (Craig Perks, Frank Nobilo, Phil Tataurangi, Grant Waite and Michael Long) on the game's most lucrative tour.

Meanwhile, Michael Campbell has turned his season around on the European Tour at his debut at the Russian Open.

Campbell, who has missed the cut in his three previous events to be 171 on the Race to Dubai Standings, carded a two-under 70 at the Tseleevo Golf and Polo Club to be in a share of 14th place after round one.

In England Greg Turner has performed well in his debut at the Senior British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The 50-year-old Otago professional, who hadn't played in Europe since 2003, opened with an even par round of 70 at the world-famous links to be in a share of 11th place.