The defending champion of the Insperity Invitational is making a convincing case for two straight, as Steven Alker shot a 3-under 69 Saturday to build his lead in The Woodlands, Texas.
The New Zealand native was tied for the lead after one round, and then built on his blistering opening-round 66 with a five-birdie Saturday in windy conditions to forge ahead by three strokes at 9-under 135.
"I'm from New Zealand, so we get the wind, and it was a little softer (from rain) out there today," Alker said. "You just kind of had to work your golf ball. Just had to play it and hit the spots, and I feel like I did that pretty well most of the day."
If Alker can close the win out Sunday at The Woodlands Country Club, it would be his sixth career victory.
"I think -- hey, if you've got three shots up -- it's not like I'm trying to win for the first time," Alker added. "It's maybe a little different. Three up is great. Chasing, as well, that can go either way. You push too hard or you're just aggressive and it all works out. It can kind of go both ways."
Alker's closest pursuers are a trio of golfers tied for second at 6 under -- South Africa's Ernie Els, Matt Gogel and David Toms.
Els (2-under 70) made two eagles over three holes (Holes 13 and 15) in a bid to win his second tournament over three starts (Hoag Classic).
"Well, I had fun on two holes, on 13 and 15," Els said. "It was tough out there. A lot of really good flag positions. In these windy conditions, tough to get your yardage right. In a lot of cases we had to play away from the flag. I'm really, really pleased with shooting under par. It looked like it was going to be over, but we've got a half a chance tomorrow."
Gogel and Toms both shot 71 on Saturday. Like Els, Toms is seeking a second victory in three starts (Galleri Classic). Gogel is in pursuit of his first career victory.
"I haven't been in this position forever, so this is good for me," Gogel said. "I'm just kind of patiently getting better each week."
The other players tied for the lead after one round fell off a little Saturday. But Colin Montgomerie of Scotland (74) and Justin Leonard (75) both remain in the Top 10.
Montgomerie is tied for fifth at 4 under with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez (70), Ken Tanigawa (71) and Steve Stricker (72).
Leonard is tied for ninth at 3 under with four others: Billy Andrade (71), Glen Day (71), Canada's Stephen Ames (72) and Marco Dawson (72).
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