Canada's Ames finishes 2nd, Alker rallies to claim Senior PGA Championship

Canada's Stephen Ames placed second at the Senior PGA Championship, finishing three shots shy of Steven Alker's title-winning effort on Sunday in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Fellow Canadian Mike Weir finished tied for fourth, seven shots back of the lead with a total 9-under 275.

Alker avoided mistakes down the stretch and closed with an 8-under 63 in the final round for a three-shot victory to claim his third title this year and first major.

Alker started the final round four shots behind and forged a three-way tie with Ames and Bernhard Langer on the back nine.

WATCH | Canada's Ames finishes 2nd at Senior PGA Championship:

Langer missed the green on consecutive holes and made bogeys to fall back. Ames hit his drive into the water on the par-4 14th and had to scramble for bogey.

Alker birdied the 15th and 16th holes playing in front of Ames to seize control, and Ames couldn't catch up.

Alker, a 50-year-old from New Zealand, spent the bulk of his career on the Korn Ferry Tour and a few seasons on the PGA Tour and European tour. Since he turned 50 last summer, he has taken over the PGA Tour Champions.

He started as a Monday qualifier and had top 10s that kept getting him into the next events until he finally won during the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs. This year, he now has a tour-leading three victories and has two runner-up finishes.

The victory gets him into the PGA Championship next year at Oak Hill. Alker had such an ordinary career before 50 that he never qualified for the PGA Championship.