Golf: Alker in contention in Chile

Hamilton professional Steve Alker fired a four-under par 68 in round one of the Chile Classic on the Nationwide Tour to be in a share of 13th place. The former NZ PGA Champion made four birdies, including three in a row, in a bogey-free round at the Prince of Wales country club in Santiago, leaving him three shots behind leaders James Nitties of Australia and American Scott Parel. It is a good turnaround for Alker, after he missed the cut at the opening two events of the Nationwide Tour season in Colombia and Panama. Tim Wilkinson was the next best of the Kiwis, shooting a two-over 74 to be tied in 113th place and in danger of missing the cut. The former PGA Tour player made four birdies but his good work was undone by six bogeys. Similarly, Josh Geary is off the pace in tied 125th after a three-over par 75 that included four birdies and seven bogeys.