A flawless final 36 holes of 12 birdies and not a single dropped shot has propelled Kiwi Steven Alker to a top-five finish in the opening tournament of the 2019 Web.com Tour season.

Played from Sunday to Thursday, Alker comfortably made the cut at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic and then went to work in the third and fourth rounds, registering six birdies and no bogeys to climb to a tie for fourth.

American Steve LeBrun was the only player with a lower cumulative score in the final two rounds.

China’s Zecheng Dou triumphed by two shots, however, Alker’s cheque for $108,750 a great way to begin his pursuit of a return to the PGA TOUR in 2020.

Although he couldn’t quite match the pace set by Alker it was also a productive final 36 holes for Aussie veteran Cameron Percy.

Kick-started by an eagle at the first hole of his third round, a second straight 4-under 68 in the final round lifted Percy up into a tie for 16th as he too works towards a PGA TOUR recall.

With rounds of 70-70-70-71 Brett Drewitt’s consistent week resulted in a tie for 24th while a second round of 7-under 65 was the highlight for New Zealand left-hander Tim Wilkinson who finished tied for 52nd.

Rhein Gibson, Jamie Arnold and Brett Coletta all failed to make the cut.

The next event on the Web.com Tour schedule is The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic that will also be played from Sunday to Wednesday where Stuart Appleby will make his first start for 2019.

Kiwi PGA Tour Pro Tim Wilkinson will venture home for the first time in over a decade to play in the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open in Queenstown in March.

He will be joined by fellow US-based professional Steven Alker as the first players to confirm their entries, on the same day that tickets have gone on sale for the 99^th ISPS Handa New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort and The Hills on 1-4 March 2018.

The left-handed Wilkinson has confirmed he will also return to his hometown of Palmerston North to play in the New Zealand PGA Championship on 22-25 February at Manawatu Golf Club, where Wilkinson learned the game.

While Wilkinson has been unable to sidestep his US schedules for 10 years, Alker has been a reasonably regular starter at the New Zealand Open, especially since its move to Queenstown, finishing sixth in 2016.

Both players will ply their trade on the Web.Com Tour in 2018, after missing PGA Tour status in their final qualifying opportunities.

“I am excited to be able to play in New Zealand. For around 10 years of my golfing prime I’ve not been able to because of my schedule,” said Wilkinson.

The New Zealand Open has clashed with the Florida swing of the PGA Tour, with all the tournaments within close driving distance of his home. A strong early-season start has been mandatory for his survival on the major golf tour in the world.

Wilkinson, 39, who has won nearly NZ$7 million in his career, is excited by the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open format, with paying amateurs included alongside ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour professionals.

“I play quite well in this format and I enjoy getting to know people from different walks of life. You just have to chill out and enjoy a more relaxed approach,” said Wilkinson, who has enjoyed three top-10 finishes in the AT&T Championship at Pebble Beach, on which the Queenstown event is based.

Wilkinson, who will play in Queenstown for the first time, is looking at opportunities that playing in New Zealand might present, as he chases more starts on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and beyond.

“Obviously I am disappointed not to be playing the PGA Tour in 2018 but I still feel some of my best golf is ahead of me. If I can get into tournaments in Australia as well it may open some doors in other events or to play a different Tour. I am definitely more open to it.”

He is also excited about heading back to Palmerston North to a course where he learned the game, and a club that has also produced PGA Tour winners Grant Waite and Craig Perks. The trio have maintained friendships in the US.

“I have won quality amateur tournaments there and it would be nice if I can repeat the scores I shot back then.

“It is amazing for such a small town and a small golf club to produce three players on the PGA Tour, which is something you don’t see in the US.

“The year that Craig won the Players Championship, he came home and we played a lot of golf together. We see each other in his commentary roles for television.

“And I have known Grant for a long time. We first met when I was 12 and did some chipping practice together. I talk to him often and know his sons well.”

On the other hand, Alker, 47, has a real affinity with the Queenstown courses, having spent time there in his early days with his coach John Griffin.

“I pencil Queenstown in for the New Zealand Open if I can. It is a bit of a second home for me and I enjoy the format. It is more laidback and for some reason I play well in them, and get the chance to enjoy the walk a bit more.

“The location, of course, is incredible and both John Hart and Michael Glading have done their homework well and done a heck of a job.”

Alker said while his year was inconsistent, he did not take advantage of his opportunities when he hit the ball well.

“It was an up and down year. When I played well in the summer I made a lot of cuts but could not get inside the top-30.”

“That said I think there were more positives than negatives and if I stay fit and stay positive then anything can happen including winning the New Zealand Open. I’m not coming home to have a hit, I want to compete and win it.”

Alker is also eying up the potential of the Seniors Tour in three years time, and would like to continue playing both in the US and in Europe, with his wife from England.

“It’s a realistic option if I stay healthy and stay hungry. I am looking forward to the second chance and if I get the right course and get my ducks in a row, there is enough in me to get a win wherever I play.”

Tickets for the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open go on sale from Wednesday 22 November through www.nzopen.co.nz