Steven Alker
Encyclopedia
Steven Craig Alker is a professional golfer
from New Zealand
.
Alker was born in Hamilton, New Zealand
. He turned professional in 1995.
Alker has competed on several tours
around the world. He has been a member of the PGA Tour of Australasia
since 1995. He played on the European Tour
in 1998 and 1999, also competing on Europe's developmental Challenge Tour
in 1999. In 2000, he won the Canadian Tour
Order of Merit, before moving to the United States
to compete on the Nationwide Tour
in 2002. He was successful enough to graduate to the full PGA Tour
in 2003, but was unable to retain his card and returned to the development tour from 2004 to 2006. In 2007 and 2008, he went back to Europe to play on the European and Challenge tours.
The latest of his nine professional victories came at the 2009 HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship, where he shot back to back 5 under par 67's on the weekend to finish at 15 under par and win by two strokes. The win came with a two year exemption on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Nationwide Tour.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Alker was born in Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
. He turned professional in 1995.
Alker has competed on several tours
Professional golf tours
Professional golf tours are the means by which otherwise unconnected professional golf tournaments are organised into a regular schedule. There are separate tours for men and women, with each tour being based in a specific geographical region, although some of their tournaments may be held in other...
around the world. He has been a member of the PGA Tour of Australasia
PGA Tour of Australasia
The PGA Tour of Australasia is a professional golf tour for men. Official events on the tour count for World Golf Ranking points. The tour was formed in 1973 as the PGA Tour of Australia and adopted its current name in 1991....
since 1995. He played on the European Tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
in 1998 and 1999, also competing on Europe's developmental Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
in 1999. In 2000, he won the Canadian Tour
Canadian Professional Golf Tour
The Canadian Professional Golf Tour is a men's professional golf tour headquartered in Oakville, Ontario. It was formally started in 1970 and was initially known as the Peter Jackson Tour....
Order of Merit, before moving to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to compete on the Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
in 2002. He was successful enough to graduate to the full PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in 2003, but was unable to retain his card and returned to the development tour from 2004 to 2006. In 2007 and 2008, he went back to Europe to play on the European and Challenge tours.
The latest of his nine professional victories came at the 2009 HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship, where he shot back to back 5 under par 67's on the weekend to finish at 15 under par and win by two strokes. The win came with a two year exemption on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Nationwide Tour.
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (4)
- 1996 Queensland Open
- 1997 Ford South Australian Open
- 2001 Toyota Southern Classic
- 2009 HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship (co-sanctioned with Nationwide Tour)
Nationwide Tour wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 Apr 2002 2002 Buy.com Tour The 2002 Buy.com Tour season ran from March 7 to November 2. The season consisted of 28 official money golf tournaments; three of which were played outside of the United States. The top 15 players on the year-end money list earned their PGA Tour card for 2003... |
Louisiana Open | Playoff |  Mike HeinenMike Heinen William Michael Heinen, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.... |
|
| 2 | 8 Mar 2009 2009 Nationwide Tour The 2009 Nationwide Tour was the 20th Nationwide Tour season. It ran from February 5 to October 25. The season consisted of 29 official money golf tournaments; six of which were played outside of the United States. The top 25 players on the year-end money list earned their PGA Tour card for 2010.-... |
HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship (co-sanctioned with PGA Tour of Australasia) |
2 strokes |  Josh Geary, David SmailDavid Smail (golfer) David Smail is a professional golfer from New Zealand.He was born in and resides in Hamilton, New Zealand. He won the New Zealand Open in 2001. He has won five titles on the Japan Golf Tour and has featured in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings... |