Cink, at age 50, in 5-way tie for the lead after Day 2 at Innisbrook
PALM HARBOR, FLA. >> Stewart Cink made a great escape from the pine straw for an unlikely birdie and had a 4-under 67 that gave him a five-way share of the lead Friday in the Valspar Championship and a chance to entertain thoughts of winning for the second straight tournament.
There’s just one difference for Cink. The golf course is a lot longer. And the guys he is trying to beat are a lot younger.
The 50-year-old Cink, who blew a chance to win on the PGA Tour Champions two weeks ago with a back-nine meltdown, looked steady on a day of 30 mph gusts in the morning, some wind in the afternoon but not close to the nasty weather expected at Innisbrook.
He was tied at 6-under 136 with Kevin Streelman (72), tour rookie Chandler Phillips (68), Brendon Todd (69) and Mackenzie Hughes (68).
NAM LEADS IN 2ND CAREER LPGA TOUR START>> Malia Nam took a one-stroke lead into the weekend in just her second career LPGA Tour start, shooting a 2-under 69 on Friday in the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship at Palos Verdes Golf Club.
One of seven former University of Southern California players in the field at the scenic course overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the 24-year-old Nam — from Hawaii — played more than 100 rounds on the layout during her time with Trojans.
Nam pulled even with defending champion Ruoning Yin and Madelene Sagstrom with a birdie on the par-3 sixth and took the lead with a birdie on the par-5 seventh. She parred the final two holes to finish at 8-under 134.
SULLIVAN SHOOTS 9-UNDER 63 AT SINGAPORE CLASSIC>> Andy Sullivan made six birdies and an eagle in a stunning nine-hole stretch during his second round at the Singapore Classic to shoot 9-under 63 and take a share of the lead in the European tour event on Friday.
Sullivan was tied with fellow Englishman Richard Mansell (69) and Freddy Schott of Germany (69) on 9-under par for the tournament.
Coming off a level-par opening round, the 280th-ranked Sullivan was 1 under after his first eight holes — after starting at No. 10 — before making three straight birdies, an eagle at the par-5 third and then three more birdies in the next five holes.