By Roy J. Akers-www.skyviewsports.net
Grand Blanc, Mich. — When talking to Stewart Cink on Wednesday, he is still easing his way on the PGA Champions Tour. Thus far, has played ten tournaments and has had five top ten performances including winning the 2024 Ally Challenge. Cink played outstanding golf all weekend and pulled away for the largest margin of victory since 2018.
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2024 Champion
Stewart Cink held a two shot lead after Saturday’s moving day and he treated Sunday as a second day ‘on the move’ as he won going away by four shots and took home the $330,000 first place prize on the tournaments 7th tournament dating to 2018. Cink had six birdies on the day, three on each nine and reached the par fives in two and threatened to drive the shorter par fours. The rest of the field just could not keep up with him.
The scary part is Cink does not play the Champions Tour full-time. But it looks like that will change.
When asked by Sky View Sports if he is tilting toward playing the Champions Tour full-time, “ I just kind of decided that, you know what, I’m going to focus more time now on PGA TOUR Champions and shift on over. I’m not going to completely stop playing PGA TOUR events,
but I feel like I have a home out here that needs — I need to come and stay in my home. I’m ready. I like it out here, it’s fun and it’s just a real blessing to be able to have this. To
compete at over 50, it’s awesome.” Cink is the first player to win the Ally Challenge by more than two shots and ties Joe Durant for the lowest score at -17.
KJ Choi brought a cork gun to Day 3
KJ Choi played three solid days of golf 66-70-67 and trailed Cink by three heading into the final day. Choi was solid with three birdies on the front nine and had two more on the back. Choi is solid off the tee but Cink was outdriving him 60-75 yards each hole on the day. Cink was on the par fives in two and drove a couple of the shorter par threes. Choi had one chance for bird while on the par fives, Cink had two chances. Still, KJ is fifth in Schwab Cup points and his second place finish did not move him up the standings. He said this about his game playing this week. “This week is a very comfortable in short game and putting, with the iron, too. A little (indiscernible)but in the putting, in the back swing, but I understand the swing so all week. Nice weather, some good fans here. Many old men in the fans here, very comfortable play. Today starting very strong in the start and then seeing fire this week, is a wonderful play. He’s a great play. My playing is more better, better. Next time is a more better, too.”
The Lefty from Canada shoots 64
Mike Weir had a solid if not spectacular PGA Tour career. On day one of the 2024 Ally Challenge, Weir had two double bogeys and two more additional bogeys. Weir still found a way to shoot an opening round 73. On Sunday, Weir had seven birdies and an eagle on the par five first. His 64 is tied with two others for the Warwick Hills course record. Weir explains his magic. “Today was one of those days that everything was clicking. I hit great iron shots, made a couple of putts, but it was more just tremendous ball-striking, tremendous iron play. It was one of those “could have been” rounds. I made a nice putt on 17 from about 25 feet. Outside of that, there were a couple 12-footers and a bunch of tap-ins. Had a lot of chances, a lot, a lot of chances. Fun to have a round like that. They don’t come around very often like that.”
We have a David Duval sighting
Glad to see David Duval play well. Duval finishes with a five way tie for fifth place. He opened with a pair of 71’s before his final round of 65. Duval had four straight birdies to finish the front nine and three more on the back nine with only a hiccup on the par three 11th. Duval matched his low round on the Champions Tour. He made a big bank with 80K this weekend is 47th in Schwab Cup points. The top 70 make it.
Bernhard has shot his age again
For Bernhard, its no big deal. Three years ago when speaking to me after the Saturday round at the Ally Challenge, Langer was very proud of shooting an eight under 64 at age 64 and wanted to talk to me about that. You bet I listened. At age 67, only he knows how many times he has done it in both competition and playing a casual round. ( We will come back to the actual number). Langer tore his Achilles heel earlier this year playing pickleball and still wears a bandage. Most guys would be home enjoying retirement and changing the batteries in their TV remote. Not Langer. He is not mortal. When talking to Paddy Harrington earlier this week, he said no one will catch Langer in Tour wins. Turns out, Langer has shot his age or better in competition 16 times. He will probably double that number before he fades away.
Say it ain’t so Tom
Tom Gillis is finished. The Lake Orion native is looking forward to being a family man and not miss so many family occasions. He also has a bad back. It is a bad part of the trade. Gillis has not changed his mind in spite of his T-10 place finish. He reflects on his final tournament.” Well, it’s where it all started (Warwick Hills CC) for me in 1993, it was the first Tour event I ever played. I never even knew if I was going to be a member of the PGA TOUR. I happened to Monday qualify. So for it to come full circle and finish here after 34 years doing it as a professional, I just feel extremely blessed. ” Gillis said he is working out his post Champions Tour career.
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Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporter and covers several sports for www.skyviewsports.net