Stewart Cink ended the Hoag Classic’s second day with as great a flourish as possible, scoring a two-shot albatross on the par-5 18th, giving him a two-shot lead at 14 under at Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club.
“It was a heck of a walk-off,” Cink said.
Cink nailed a great drive, then sank a 205-yarder using his 6-iron. The veteran golfer said later he knew he hit his second shot well, but he wasn’t sure on location until the crowd reacted.
Cink then reacted himself, posing to flex his muscles to cap off his 9-under-par 62.
“That’s not something we practice. That’s a rare thing that happens,” Cink said of his celebration following the conclusion of his round. “We try not to let the results matter, but when you get a result like that especially at the end of the day, I don’t have to hit another shot, I can’t mess up the next hole.
“So, that’s a cool moment to have happen right there on the 18th hole with the crowd. This is a great crowd here.”
Cink’s big moment overshadowed a great day overall for the five-time Champions tourney winner. Cink also had seven birdies while suffering a single bogey.
That left Cink two shots ahead of the field.
Closest in pursuit are Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson and New Zealand’s Steven Alker, who shot matching 66’s and are tied for second at 12 under.
“I love the course and I also love the area. It’s beautiful,” Jacobson raved about his surroundings. “Tried to swing down by the ocean, we might be looking at hopefully some surfing on Monday. Try to sneak that in.”
South Africa’s Ernie Els and Tim Petrovic each carded a 65 to remain tied at 11 under in fourth place.
Four golfers are tied for sixth at 10 under: David Toms (66), Australia’s Cameron Percy (66), Bo Van Pelt (67) and Brian Gay (69).
Day 1 leader Paul Goydos had a rough day, weathering four bogeys while netting a solitary birdie to settle for a 3-over 74, dropping him into a tie for 21st.
Reigning champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain built off a 1-under 70 Friday to go 7 under on Saturday (64), lifting him into a tie for 12th at 8 under.
