Alker leads Rapiscan Systems Classic after record round

BILOXI, Miss. — Steven Alker shot a tournament-record 10-under 62 on Saturday to take a onestroke lead over Bob Estes after the second round of the Rapiscan Systems Classic.

Alker had an 11-under 133 total at Grand Bear Golf Club, the firstyear venue after the previous 10 editions were played at Fallen Oak.

“I just kind of dialed in my irons early on and took advantage of the par 5s, and obviously putted better,” Alker said. “You always putt well when you shoot 62. I just gave myself a lot of chances. Seemed like I was inside kind of 10 feet, 12 feet a lot today and I made some nice up-and-downs at the end.“

The 50-year-old from New Zealand won the TimberTech Championship in November for his lone PGA Tour Champions victory.

“I know I’ve got to keep the pedal to the metal and just keep going,” Alker said. “As I said, I just dialed in my wedges and hit some close shots early on. That’s the key out here. You’ve just got to keep hammering away.”

He broke the tournament record of 63 set by Fred Couples in 2012 and matched by Gene Sauers in 2017.

The 56-year-old Estes had a 64. He’s winless on the 50-and-over tour.

“It would mean a lot,” Estes said. “I haven’t won a tournament since 2002 at the Kemper on the PGA Tour. … I’ve been through a lot. I’ve worked hard for the most part on my game, equipment, training, stuff like that. I’m just enjoying hitting more quality shots and putting better, too.”

Retief Goosen (67) and Paul Broadhurst (67) were 8 under. Goosen won the Hoag Classic a month ago in Newport Beach, California, in the last Champions event.

Alex Cejka (66), Doug Barron (67) and Paul Goydos (68) were 7 under.

Padraig Harrington, set to play in the Masters next week, was 5 under after a 72. Bernhard Langer, also headed to the Masters, was even par after a 71.

Shibuno leading final Mission Hills major

Hinako Shibuno’s first impression of Mission Hills Country Club was far from confidence-inspiring — and, in hindsight, mistaken.

“It was a hard course for me. I couldn’t even imagine I could play here,” the 23-year-old from Japan said through a translator

Friday, recalling the initial time she played the event now known as The Chevron Championship.

She shot a 6-under 66 in the second round for a 9-under 135 total at Mission Hills at Rancho Mirage, Calif. A year and a half after tying for 51st in her debut, she took a one-stroke lead into the weekend on the mountainframed course hosting the major championship for the last time.

The tournament that started in

1972 and became a major in 1983 is shifting to Houston next year after failing to attract a sponsor willing to keep it at Mission Hills.

Shibuno opened with a tap-in birdie on the par-4 first and had another on the par-4 10th.

“That makes it easier to play golf,” she said.

The 2019 Women’s British Open champion chipped in on the par-4 13th for the last of her seven birdies, against a lone bogey in warm and sunny morning conditions. She’s sticking with the routine that has worked so far.

“I’m going to do just same thing,” Shibuno said. “I’m going to eat and I’m going to sleep.”

Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit (69), Annie Park (67) and Jennifer Kupcho (70) were a stroke back. Sei Young Kim (67) and Hyo Joo Kim (67) followed at 7 under.

“I feel like I left a lot out there,” Tavatanakit said. “But at the same time, that’s just golf. There is no way you’re going to have a perfect day with no mistakes. ”

She closed with birdies on the par-3 17th and par-5 18th.

Park played by herself the first two rounds with the players grouped in twosomes and an odd number in the field.

“Playing by myself was kind of weird yesterday, but today I kind of got used to it,” Park said.

Kupcho, tied for the first-round lead with Minjee Lee at 66, birdied two of the last three holes after parring the first 15.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen (67) and Ally Ewing (68) were 6 under.

Lee had a 75 to drop to 5 under. Lexi Thompson, the 2014 champion, also was 5 under after a 70.

Top-ranked Jin Young Ko, the 2019 winner, followed an opening 74 with a 68 to get to 3 under.

Mike Mulholland / Getty Images Steven Alker chips on the 11th hole during his record round of 62 at the Rapiscan Systems Classic at Biloxi, Miss.