Forty-nine years after Bob Charles won the 1963 Open Championship and there is another New Zealander on top of the leaderboard at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

Steve Alker, who was out in the third group of the morning, carded a second straight one under par 69 to move to two under par and into the clubhouse lead.

Steve Alker sets the early pace on day two of the 2012 Open.

Alker, 40 dropped shots early but then birdied three of his last six holes including a gem on 18.

“It was damp and it was cold and I kind of struggled for the first five or six holes but got it going,” he said.

“I’ve played the back nine great this week.  I stayed patient and made a few birdies there at the end.”

Alker had been the leading qualifier at West Lancashire Links in Local Final Qualifying and is making his return to The Open after missing the cut in 2007 at Carnoustie.

Alker, who is based in Phoenix, and competes on the Nationwide Tour, has his British-born wife, Tanya caddying for him.

Charles became the first-ever left handed player to win a Major when he defeated American Phil Rogers in a play-off.

And if Alker should succeed this week in lifting the Claret Jug he will become the third Kiwi0-born golfer to win a Major after Michael Campbell won the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.