(Photo credit: Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Steven Alker is two rounds away from his third championship in four years as he leads Stewart Cink by one shot at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship after Friday's second round at Phoenix Country Club.

The 54-year-old from New Zealand, who won the Schwab Cup title in 2022 and 2024, entered the week atop the season-long points standings. Thanks to his 6-under-par 65, he leads the field in Arizona at 11 under.

Cink posted a 68 and relinquished the lead he held after 18 holes thanks to an opening 64. Tommy Gainey moved into third place at 9 under with a 67.

Alker rolled in five birdies in a six-hole stretch from Nos. 3-8. He escaped with only one bogey on the day and said he wasn't scoreboard-watching during the round.

'I didn't watch the board at all,' Alker said. 'I walked off and just took a look, saw what's going on. No, it's kind of -- as good as the conditions are and the golf course as good as it is, just put it in the middle and just keep going, try and get out of your own way and just play golf.'

Winning the event would be plenty for Alker to win the season-long championship; he mathematically has a chance to win the cup regardless of his finish in the tournament.

His biggest pursuer is Cink, who was third in the standings entering the week. There's also second-place Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, who carded a 65 Friday to move to 8 under and a tie for fourth with Jerry Kelly.

Cink put together a five-birdie, two-bogey round but had Alker pass him by. They'll play together on Saturday.

'I've probably played with him a half dozen times at least this year,' Cink said. 'He's great to play with ... and he's obviously the guy with the number on his back. I don't even know what the scores are as far as like who's in the lead or tied or whatever, but if I'm playing with him I know that we're pretty close together. But it's exciting to be in the group with the guy that you need to hunt down and a lot of other mathematical things.'

--Field Level Media