Needing a solid start after opening tied for the lead, Cink wasted little time shifting the tournament in his favor, turning a tight leaderboard into a commanding position by the turn.
The turning point came with a burst of momentum on the back nine, starting with an eagle at the par-5 seventh and followed by back-to-back birdies to close the front nine, transforming a deficit into a growing advantage.
A highlight moment sealed the surge: a pristine 35-foot birdie at the par-3 11th, capped by continued pressure with a birdie at the 13th and another at the 14th. “I just kind of went back to a few basics and changed my philosophy on reading the greens a hair,” Cink said, noting the added break helped him today.
Ben Crane finished solo second in his event debut, while overnight leader Keith Horne slipped with a costly double bogey on the 12th. Scott Hend and Steve Allan finished tied for third, but never mounted a serious challenge as Cink ran away with the title, finishing 19-under and just short of the championship record relative to par.
This victory adds another significant chapter to Cink’s career, which includes a major championship crown at the 2009 Open and now a strong start to his senior-season run. He has three wins this season on the Champions Tour and has yet to post a round over par in his first 16 rounds on the circuit.
The win underscores a resurgent chapter for Cink, who has established himself as one of the most consistent and dangerous players on the PGA Tour Champions through a blend of experience, precision, and steady scoring.
