Stewart Cink (-7) has started strongly in Phoenix. The American signed a round of 64 strokes on Thursday, seven under par and flawless, to position himself as the leader after the first day of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the tournament that marks the end of the PGA Tour Champions season. It is also the second consecutive edition in which Cink starts this tournament leading at the top at Phoenix Country Club.
His card leaves him with a one-stroke lead over Jerry Kelly (-6) and two over a large group that includes the annual ranking leader, Steven Alker (-5). Cink, third in the Charles Schwab Cup at the start of the week, has already positioned himself as the projected leader after this start and depends on himself to be crowned champion of the year. A victory in Phoenix gives him the annual crown.
Aiming to prevent this is Miguel Ángel Jiménez (-2), who began with a round of 69 strokes, in the middle of the leaderboard (T15). The Spaniard, who arrived in Phoenix after leading the standings for much of the year, started somewhat lukewarm in his play and seeks from this Friday to close the gap with Cink and Alker if he wants to keep alive his chances of becoming the first Spanish player to win the Charles Schwab Cup. He has more than enough margin.
Jerry Kelly (-6), on the other hand, delivered a solid round of 65 (-6), with seven birdies, to place second on his own. The American, 18th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings before the tournament, arrives with room to climb and finish the year on a high note.
Steven Alker continues to show the solidity he has displayed throughout the season. The New Zealander delivered a card of 66, also bogey-free, to share third place with Tommy Gainey, Jason Caron, and Steve Flesch. It is his ninth round of 66 or better in Phoenix in seventeen attempts, not bad at all his affinity with this course.
Three days ahead will decide who lifts the great trophy of the American senior circuit.
