An eagle on the opening hole, and no bogeys after it
Michael Block did not wait around on Saturday in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Eagle at the par-5 first. Birdies at the 5th, 7th, 9th, 13th and 16th. Not a single dropped shot all afternoon, and a 65 on the card, seven under par.
That puts him at 13 under through three rounds of the Ally Challenge, two clear of the field, with Sunday at Warwick Hills left to play.
He handed the credit straight to his caddie, who happens to be his son. “Ethan, who carries the bag, is the calmest person in my family. Having him with me is a blessing because I’m the least calm human being on the planet,” said Block, 49.
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Playing on an invite, chasing a top 10
Most people still know Block for the 2023 PGA Championship, where he finished inside the top 15 as a club pro. He has yet to win on the PGA Tour Champions. A top-five last week at the Rogers Charity Classic suggested the game was close.
He is here on an invitation, which reframes the whole week. “A top 10 is huge for me,” he said. A top 10 gets him into the Sanford International in Sioux Falls for a seventh start, which gets him onto the Charles Schwab Cup list, which gets him into the playoffs, which would take him to Norwood Hills outside St. Louis. That last one is home turf.
Alker matched him shot for shot
Steven Alker also went round in 65, also without a bogey, seven birdies on his card. The New Zealander is 11 under and arrives having just won the Rogers Charity Classic. “I’m feeling better and better about my shots, and I’m driving it a bit better,” he said.
Padraig Harrington is alone in third at 10 under after a 69. Ricardo Gonzalez shot the same number and shares fourth at 9 under with Vaughn Taylor, whose 72 undid the lead he held after round one. Thongchai Jaidee, Angel Cabrera, Chad Campbell and Greg Chalmers are all a shot further back at 8 under, five off Block with 18 holes left.
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