PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Stewart Cink played the last of his 28 holes Saturday in near darkness, eager to finish a long day in the toughest conditions the PGA Tour has seen this year.
Even after his lone bogey in the third round for a 2-under-par 69, he couldn’t wait to get started again.
Playing in 30-mph wind at the PODS Championship for the better part of 12 hours, Cink’s fortunes turned quickly when he ran off three straight birdies and went from four shots down to a two-shot lead that will likely put him in the final group for the third time this year.
He was at 5-under 208, two shots ahead of former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.
Brandt Snedeker, who had a four-shot lead until his momentum changed on a three-putt from 12 feet, was at 3-under and had three holes to play. Billy Mayfair also was at 3-under playing the 16th hole when darkness suspended the third round.
Only nine players remained under par.
“I’ve got to keep pushing,” Cink said. “My goal is to give no one a chance tomorrow.”
That sounds like the MO of Tiger Woods, and Cink knows that all too well. He was in the last group at Torrey Pines with Woods, albeit eight shots behind. And Cink was in the final at the Accenture Match Play Championship, which Woods won by a record margin for the final match, 8 and 7.
“I’ve seen him do that,” Cink said, “and it looks like it’s a lot of fun.”
Even better? Woods has the week off.
“When the cat’s away . . .” Cink said.
Cink rarely sets goals for himself, but he decided this year to aim for getting into contention more often. This will be his second good chance at winning in five events, so he’s off to a solid start.
“That’s a step in the right direction,” Cink said.
At one point, Snedeker was at 7-under, leading by four, and had a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 eighth. But he three-putted for bogey, hit into the trees on the right at No. 9 for another bogey, three-putted the 13th, and suddenly was two shots behind.
“I’m disappointed with two three-putts on the par 3s. They were both stupid, boneheaded mistakes, but those are going to happen,” Snedeker said. “You’ve got to be patient. I’m still right there.”
Sean O’Hair and Tom Pernice Jr. each shot 71 and were at 2-under 211. The nine players under par included defending champion Mark Calcavecchia, who was 1-under with two holes to play.
Footnotes.
Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer moved into position for his second Champions Tour victory, shooting his second straight 6-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead at the Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach, Calif.
Morris Hatalsky (64), Jeff Sluman (65), first-round leader Tim Simpson (70) and Mark Johnson (69) were tied for second at 9-under.
• Defending champion Peter Hedblom shot a bogey- free 65 to take a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.
