Many Cink holes
Stewart Cink played the last of his 28 holes Saturday in near darkness, eager to finish a long day in the toughest conditions the PGA Tour has seen this year.
Even after his lone bogey in the third round for a 2-under-par 69, he couldn’t wait to get started today.
Playing in 30 mph wind at the PODS Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., for the better part of 12 hours, Cink’s fortunes turned quickly when he ran off three straight birdies and went from four shots down to a two-shot lead that likely puts him in the final group for the third time this year.
He was at 5-under 208, two shots ahead of former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.
Brandt Snedeker, who had a four-shot lead until his momentum changed on a three-putt from 12 feet, was at 3 under and had three holes to play. Billy Mayfair also was at 3 under playing the 16th hole when darkness suspended the third round.
Only nine players remained under par. The tournament is still up for grabs.
“I’ve got to keep pushing,” Cink said. “My goal is to give no one a chance tomorrow.”
That sounds like the M.O. from Tiger Woods, and Cink knows that all too well. He was in the last group at Torrey Pines with Woods, albeit eight shots behind. Cink was also in the final at the Accenture Match Play Championship, which Woods won by a record margin for the final match, 8 and 7.
“I’ve seen him do that,” Cink said, “and it looks like it’s a lot of fun.”
Cink rarely sets goals for himself, but he decided this year to aim for getting into contention more often. This will be his second good chance at winning in five events, so he’s off to a good start.
“That’s a step in the right direction,” said Cink, who hasn’t won since Firestone in 2004.
Cink had no problem with fatigue. He played 32 holes on Saturday of the Match Play (winning twice), and played 29 holes in the final match against Woods, who is not playing in this event. But neither of those days featured such a vicious wind on an Innisbrook course that requires so much thought.
He had to think twice about his wedge from pampas grass on the 10th, playing left of the flag because it presented the best opening. It came out perfectly to 30 feet, and he holed the putt for the first of three straight birdies.
The next leaderboard he saw was on the 14th hole, and he wasn’t surprised.
“One gust can mean two shots. It’s as simple as that,” Cink said.
Sean O’Hair and Tom Pernice Jr. each shot 71 and were at 2-under 211.
The nine players under par included defending champion Mark Calcavecchia, who was 1 under with two holes to play.
Champions Tour
Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer moved into position for his second Champions Tour victory, shooting his second straight 6-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, Calif.
Langer, the Administaff Small Business Classic winner last October in Texas in only his fourth start on the 50-and-older tour, had an eagle, five birdies and a bogey on the Newport Beach Country Club course.
Morris Hatalsky (64), Jeff Sluman (65), first-round leader Tim Simpson (70) and 2005 winner Mark Johnson (69) were tied for second at 9 under.