Steven Alker, Tim Petrovic, Ricardo Gonzalez share lead at midway point of Kaulig Companies Championship

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Tim Petrovic shot a 4-under 66 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead with Steven Alker and Ricardo Gonzalez in the Kaulig Companies Championship, the third major of the year on PGA TOUR Champions.

Petrovic closed with a birdie on the par-4 ninth to match Alker and Gonzalez at 5-under 135 at Firestone Country Club. Alker, from New Zealand, had a 66. Gonzalez, the Argentine player who shared the first-round lead with Søren Kjeldsen, shot 68.

Miguel Angel Jiménez was a stroke back after a 66. Freddie Jacobson was 3 under after a 67.

Àngel Cabrera, who already has won two majors this year at the Regions Tradition and the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional, was 1 under after a 68.

The winner of the tournament gets a spot in THE PLAYERS Championship in 2026 at TPC Sawgrass.

Firestone South previously hosted the World Series of Golf and then a World Golf Championship. It’s a strong test for players who next go to the U.S. Senior Open in Colorado.

Steven Alker, 68-67 – 135 (-5)

• The 53-year-old seeks his 10th win on PGA TOUR Champions (86th start)
  • Would move into T35 on the PGA TOUR Champions all-time wins list, becoming the 42nd player to win 10 or more tournaments.
• Seeks his second win of the 2025 season (11th start)
  • Previous win: Cologuard Classic (March 7-9)
  • Has eight top-6 finishes in 10 starts this season
  • Entered the week No. 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings •
• Looks to become the third multiple winner of the 2025 season, joining Miguel Angel Jiménez (3) and Ángel Cabrera (3)
• Would be his third multi-win season on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Previous instances: 4 wins (2022); 2 wins (2023)
• Seeks his second major title on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Previous major win: 2022 Senior PGA Championship
• This is his 14th time leading/co-leading after the second round on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Is 5-for-13 converting those into victories (1-for-5 in 72-hole events)
• Making his fourth appearance at the Kaulig Companies Championship, he has finished T3 (2022), T16 (2023) and T7 (2024)

Ricardo Gonzalez, 67-68 – 135 (-5)

• Was the first-round co-leader after opening with 3-under 67
• The 55-year-old seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions (49th start)
  • Previous win: 2024 Trophy Hassan II

• Seeks his first major title on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Best finish in a senior major: T15 (2024 ISPS HANDA Senior Open)
• Making his 13th start of the 2025 season, he has one top-10 finish
  • Best finish: T8 (Principal Charity Classic)
• Making his second appearance at the Kaulig Companies Championship, he finished T40 in 2024
• This is his third time leading/co-leading after the second round on PGA TOUR Champions (first time in a 72-hole event)
  • Is 1-for-2 converting those into victories
    • Co-led at the 2024 Trophy Hassan II (Won)
    • Led at the 2024 Galleri Classic (finished T2)

Tim Petrovic, 69-66 – 135 (-5)

• Matched the low round of the day (66) with Miguel Angel Jiménez (4th) and Michael Wright (T6)
• The 58-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (190th start)
  • Best finish: 2nd/T2 (11 times)
  • His 11 runner-up finishes are the most by any player without a win in PGA TOUR Champions history
• Has finished runner-up in a senior major three times
  • 2nd (2018 Senior PGA Championship)
  • T2 (2018 U.S. Senior Open)
  • T2 (2019 Kaulig Companies Championship)
• Looks to become the fifth first-time winner of the 2025 season on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Previous instances: Justin Leonard (Chubb Classic); Steve Allan, (The Galleri Classic); Ángel Cabrera (James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational); Thomas Bjørn (American Family Insurance Championship – team event with Darren Clarke)
• Making his 13th start of the 2025 season, he has one top-10 finish
  • Best finish: T8 (Chubb Classic)
• Making his ninth appearance at the Kaulig Companies Championship, he has two top-10 finishes
  • Best finish: T2 (2019)
• This is his fourth time leading/co-leading after the second round on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Is 0-for-3 converting those into victories (0-for-1 in 72-hole events)
    • Led at the 2023 Shaw Charity Classic (finished T2)
    • Co-led at the 2022 Kaulig Companies Championship (finished T11) – 72-hole event
    • Co-led at the 2021 TimberTech Championship (finished T4)

Other notes

• Charles Schwab Cup leader Miguel Angel Jiménez (4th) matched the low round of the day (66) and enters the weekend at 4-under. The 61-year-old looks to become the first four-time winner of the 2025 season on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Previous wins in 2025: Trophy Hassan II (Feb. 6-8); Hoag Classic (March 21-23); Principal Charity Classic (May 30-June 1)
  • His three wins are tied for the most by any player this season on PGA TOUR Champions with Ángel Cabrera
• Rookie Freddie Jacobson (5th) shot 67 and sits 3-under after two rounds. The 50-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (12th start).
  • Best finish: T2 (2025 Hoag Classic)
• Looking to win three consecutive senior majors, Ángel Cabrera posted 68 and sits T9 at 1-under. The 55-year-old won the first two majors of the 2025 season (Regions Tradition, Senior PGA Championship).
• First-round co-leader Søren Kjeldsen carded 2-over 72 and sits T9 at 1-under.
• For the second consecutive day, there were no eagles recorded.