India, March 24 -- Steve Alker won the Cologuard Classic with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff for the second straight year, beating Padraig Harrington with a 4-footer Sunday in mid-90-degree heat.

Last year at La Paloma, Alker beat Long Island club pro Jason Caron with a 12-foot putt on the first extra hole. Alker won for the 11th time in 100 career starts on the PGA Tour Champions.

The 54-year-old New Zealander was nine strokes back after opening with an even-par 71, then shot a 62 on Saturday to pull within two.

"I just made some simple mistakes in the first round," Alker said. "A couple of three-putts and missed the odd green here and there, and it was kind of silly stuff. I tidied that up. I knew my game was in good shape."...