By Roy J. Akers — www.skyviewsports.net
Grand Blanc, Mich. — The 9th annual Ally Challenge has been won by PGA journeymen Paul Broadhurst and Joe Durant all the way to major champion winners Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and solid pros including two-time defending champion Stewart Cink. After two rounds with one round to go, it could be a sponsors invite. Michael Block and PGA Tour Champions rookie Vaughn Taylor leading multiple World Golf Hall-of-Famers at Warwick Hills Country Club. Block held firm on Saturday finishing at (-13) Steven Alker is just two strokes behind and will be joined by Paddy Harrington in the final group. Would that hold up? Read on.
A solid rain left Warwick Hills CC with a soggy surface delaying the final day of the Ally Challenge with a late start (2+ hours) on Sunday. Once play started most of the D2 leaders treaded water while ….
Your Champion… Steven Alker pulls away.
Steven Alker is not a household name on the PGA Tour Champions. His fellow competitors can tell you a different story. The 55-year-old golfer from New Zealand had the look of a steely-eyed salesman knowing when to close the deal and pulled away with rounds of 68-65-68 to win the 9th Ally Challenge by three strokes over the hard-charging Retief Goosen. Alker wins back to back weeks and scores his third victory of the 2026 season. Alker birdied four holes in a row (12-15) and went into cruise control on the 447 par four 18th , three-putting by playing it safely with a four-shot lead.
Michael Block leads or is tied for most of the final day but…
he makes too many mistakes. Three birdies vs. five bogeys and oodles of missed putts gave Block a happy ending of T-3. Block has his second top ten of the season and he qualifies to be in the Schwab Cup playoffs. Block is a PGA club pro out of California and one more player for the leading Schwab Cup qualifiers to worry about.
PGA Tour Champions Rookie Vaughn Taylor
After opening the tournament with the first day lead after shooting a nine under 63, Taylor found the birdies hibernating on day 2 shooting a 72 and fell 28 spots to 32nd place. Taylor leaves Warwick Hills CC in 40th place and in great position to make the 72 man field later this field to compete for better than eight million dollars in prize money.
The Round of the Day Goes to…
Retief Goosen. Goosen birdied eight of the first 12 holes to make things interesting until a bogey on 15 stymied his charge. Goosen was in the hunt and in second place for most of the back nine, but Alker was up by two shots when the Goose left the course. Goosen opened with a 71-68 before his final round of 64. Goosen is 5th in the Schwab Cup points race battle. He is the defending champion of the PGA Tour Champions event in South Dakota.
Playing hookey… Mark Calcavecchia
Calcavecchia did not show up to his tee time. No reason was given. John Daly would have been proud if he had not withdrawn after R2.
What’s Next?
The Sanford International on Sept. 11-13 at Minnehaha CC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Roy J. Akers covers professional golf, college and top amateur golf and golf courses for www.skyviewsports.net
