Needing birdie on the final hole to force a playoff with PGA Tour Champions stalwart and final-round playing partner Steven Alker, Michael Block ended up making bogey.
Meanwhile, Alker made par at the last to cap off a 4-under 66 to win the inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic in Allentown, Pennsylvania, while Block signed for a 69 to end up in solo third. Block started the final round with a one-shot lead and was seeking his breakthough win. But that'll have to wait.
For Alker, his 14-under total secured his fourth win in 2026 and 13th of his Champions career. It's been a season where Zach Johnson (six wins) and Stewart Cink (five) have taken control of the Charles Schwab Cup race, but don't look now, here comes Alker, whose last four outings
produced finishes of 1-1-T2-1.
"I just crushed it the last six weeks, the scoring got better, my putting got better, driving it better, doing everything better," Alker said after the round. "I didn't have my A-game today, we didn't have our A-game in the last group, but just good to get it done. Made some big putts there at the end. Just so happy with No. 4."
Alker is third in the points race, a good ways back from Cink and Johnson, but he's cooking now with just two events remaining before the start of the PGA Tour Champions postseason.
Alker's win came after an in-tournament caddie change, as his regular bagman Troy Martin fell ill at the turn during Friday's first-round.
"Whyatt, he's a local guy here, he's only 19. He's done a great job, helped me on some putts here and there I just wasn't sure of because I hadn't seen the golf course, hadn't had enough time on it. So it all worked out," Alker said. "It's pretty special. And I love the golf course. We don't play golf courses like this every day and every week, so that was kind of special. I enjoyed it, I had a blast."
Tag Ridings shot 64 on Sunday to slip past Block into solo second at 13 under.
Sunday was deja vu all over again for Block. A month ago, he took a two-shot lead over Alker into the final round, only to shoot a final-round 74 and finish tied for third while Alker went on to win.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Michael Block bogeys 18, Steven Alker wins for third time in last 4 starts
