Ernie Els closed with a one-under-par 70 on Sunday as he finished just two shots out of a play-off after final round of the PGA Tour Champions Cologuard Classic at La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Arizona.

It was a round during which he never really got things going, as he made four birdies and three bogeys to finish on 10-under-par for the tournament in fifth place.

Steven Alker of New Zealand and American Jason Caron were locked at the top of the leaderboard on 12-under-par after they had carded closing rounds of five-under-par 66 each. They were one clear of Australians Rod Pampling and Greg Chalmers.

Alker beat Caron with a 12-foot birdie putt on the first hole of the play-off. “Just got to keep knocking on the door,” Alker said. “You just grind away. I’ve been top-10s, top-fives, just been in the hunt, so it’s just being patient, just working hard on the body this preseason.”

Retief Goosen was two strokes behind Els on eight-under after he closed with a one-under-par 70 to finish in a share of eighth.

Els’ finish left him at the top of the Charles Schwab Cup rankings.