BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Stewart Cink shot a 7-under 65 for the second consecutive 12 months on Friday, constructing a two-shot lead at Areas Custom and aiming for his second consecutive senior main title.
Cink received the Main Senior PGA Championship in Florida two weeks in the past, his third win of the 12 months on the 50-and-over tour.
On Friday at Greystone Golf & Nation Membership, Cink once more had eight birdies and one bogey. He began the spherical tied for first place with Alex Cheika.
“I made some nice photographs,” Sink mentioned. “I made a protracted putt on the seventeenth. There have been two two-putt birdies and a few fairly easy ups and downs. Nothing actually historic, only a good play.”
Charlie Wie shot his second 66 to take second place.
“It was a pleasing shock,” mentioned Wie, who was winless on the PGA Tour Champions. “I missed 5 in a row from the beginning. I do not assume I’ve ever accomplished that earlier than, so I am glad I received off to a very good begin. I used to be slightly dissatisfied that I hit two bogeys, however general I performed rather well.”
Sink, 52, opened the season with a win on the Mitsubishi Electrical Championship in Hawaii in January and received the Hogue Traditional and Senior PGA in back-to-back begins in late March and April. He’s an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and has seven titles in his senior profession, led by a playoff victory over Tom Watson on the 2009 British Open.
“We’ve got family and friends from North and Central Alabama coming right here for the remainder of the weekend, so it’ll be good to see them,” mentioned Sink, a Huntsville native. “Give them one thing to cheer them up in case you can.”
Cheika, the 2021 winner, shot a 68 and moved right into a tie for third place with 11 underneath par, together with Retief Goosen (65) and Thongchai Jaydee (66). Goossen received the Mitsubishi Electrical Traditional in Georgia final week.
Steven Alker shot a 69 to complete at 9 underneath.
Defending champion Angel Cabrera began with a 72 for a 67 to complete tied for twentieth at 5 underneath.
