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Michael Block takes two-shot lead into final round at The Ally Challenge
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Michael Block holes out for birdie on No. 9 at The Ally Challenge
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Written by Staff
Fifty-year-old Michael Block, making his fifth start on PGA TOUR Champions, takes a two-stroke lead over Charles Schwab No. 4 Steven Alker into the final round of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren after carding a bogey-free 65 on Saturday. Alker looks to win in back-to-back starts after capturing last week’s Rogers Charity Classic. World Golf Hall of Fame member Padraig Harrington, who turns 55 on Monday, rounds out the top three as he seeks his second win of the 2026 season.
Michael Block, 66-65 – 131 (-13)
- The 50-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (fifth start)
- Has two top-10 finishes: T5 (Rogers Charity Classic), T9 (DICK’S Open)
- Turned 50 on June 15
- Looks to become the fifth first-time winner of the 2026 season on PGA TOUR Champions
- Previous instances:
- Zach Johnson (James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational)
- Boo Weekley (Insperity Invitational)
- Scott Hend (Trophy Hassan II)
- Ben Crane (American Family Insurance Championship) – team event with partner Darren Clarke
- Previous instances:
- This is his first time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions
- Previous best 36-hole position: T3 (2026 Rogers Charity Classic) – finished T5
- Matched his low 18-hole score on PGA TOUR Champions (15th round)
- Previous instances of 65: 2026 Rogers Charity Classic (Round 1, Round 2)
- Will play in the last group of the final round for the first time on PGA TOUR Champions
- Is the Head PGA Professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club (Mission Viejo, California)
- His best finish in a PGA TOUR event (36 starts) is T15 (2023 PGA Championship); the best finish by a club professional at the PGA Championship since 1986
- Earned PGA Professional Player of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023
- Is a nine-time Southern California PGA Player of the Year with wins at the 2001 California State Open, 2014 PGA Professional Championship and five Southern California PGA Championships (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2025)
- Leads the field in scrambling this week (12-for-12)
Other notes
- Charles Schwab No. 4 Steven Alker (second) matched the low round of the day (65) with Michael Block (first) and Thongchai Jaidee (T6). Alker, who enters the final round at 11 under, looks to win in back-to-back starts after capturing last week’s Rogers Charity Classic.
- Last player to win back-to-back starts on PGA TOUR Champions: Zach Johnson (2026 Principal Charity Classic, 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship)
- Last player to win back-to-back tournaments on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule: Stewart Cink (2026 Hoag Classic, 2026 Senior PGA Championship)
- Two days shy of his 55th birthday, World Golf Hall of Fame member Padraig Harrington (third) birdied three of his last five holes to shoot 69 and enters the final round at 10 under. Harrington, who sits No. 3 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings, looks to become the fourth multi-time winner of the 2026 season on PGA TOUR Champions.
- Multi-time winners in 2026: Stewart Cink (five), Zach Johnson (four), Steven Alker (two)
- First-round leader Vaughn Taylor carded an even-par 72 and sits T4 with Ricardo Gonzalez.
- Two-time defending champion (2024, 2025) and Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (T12) is 6 under after posting a 71 on Saturday.
- Lt. Col. Dan Rooney (wrist) withdrew during the second round. John Daly (wrist) withdrew after his second round.
