Alker beats Yang in a playoff to win Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary
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CALGARY – It’s not the way Steve Alker wanted to win the Rogers Charity Classic, but he’ll take it.
The 55-year-old golfer from New Zealand beat South Korea’s Y.E. Yang in a one-hole playoff Sunday to win his second PGA Tour Champions event of the season and the 12th of his career.
“You never like to see someone make bogey,” said Alker in regards to Yang, who needed two shots to hit his ball out of the hazard in front of the par-5, 18th hole at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.
After Yang two putted for bogey, Alker rolled in a seven-foot putt for birdie before fist pumping to celebrate his playoff win in front of the fans gathered around the finishing hole.
“It was great,” said Alker, who finished in a tie for fifth at last year’s tournament and in sixth the year before. “There’s no pressure, though. I had two putts to win, so I think the putt becomes a little bit easier after that.”
Yang carded a final round of 7-under 63 to take the clubhouse lead before Alker shot 65 to tie him for the 54-hole lead at 16 under.
Alker had a chance to win the tournament on the final hole, but he missed a lengthy birdie putt with Yang looking on from the clubhouse.
“I had a chance in regulation,” said Alker, who had a great drive before hitting his second shot over the green. “I had a flush 5 iron, but I just pulled it left of my target and then the chip wasn’t very good, so it was kind of a sloppy finish with 5 irons into the green, but I got it done. What can you say? You just try and find a way to get it done.”
Alker had two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine of the par-70, 7,086-yard course before getting hot with five birdies in a six-hole span from the 11th to the 16th hole.
“Yesterday I shot 6 under (on the back nine) and I was kind of thinking about that,” Alker said. “There’s birdies out here to be made. I had a nice stretch there. Those are not easy holes, so birdies there were great and kind of got me on a positive note.”
Yang had one birdie on the front nine before adding six more on the back, including a tap-in on the final hole to take the lead.
Americans Jerry Kelly and Zach Johnson, who shot 63 and 65 respectively on Sunday, finished in a tie for third at 15 under, two shots ahead of a group of four golfers that included defending champion Richard Green.
Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., carded his second-straight round of 66 to finish as the top Canadian at 11 under.
After watching Steve Flesch chip in for eagle from behind the green on 18, Weir tried to replicate his playing partner’s shot from almost the same spot.
“Almost,” said Weir after his eagle chip came up just short.
Nonetheless, he tapped in the birdie putt to move into a six-way tie for 14th place, which is his best showing at the tournament since finishing in a tie for ninth in 2021.
“It was a good finish to birdie 17 and 18 to finish off the week,” said Weir, who had five birdies and one bogey in his final round. “I played well enough to be really in contention this week, just the flat stick was a little cold.
“Overall, I played solid. It was my best finish of the year so far, so it was very encouraging. A lot of good things to take away from this week.”
Weir will play in next weekend’s The Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich.
“Next week’s a home game kind of for me,” he said. “My family’s real close by, only an hour away. I have a lot of friends and family there, too.”
Weir will then take a week off before taking part in his favourite event of the season, the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links from Sept. 18 to 20.
Fellow Canadian Stephen Ames had a good start to his round on Sunday with four birdies in his first six holes on his way to shooting 65 to get him to 8 under.
“I’m glad he played well today,” said Weir of his fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer. “He got off to a slow start (at the tournament), but good for him today.”
Calgary’s Wes Martin shot 71 on Sunday to finish well back of the leaders at 3 over.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2026.