Stewart Cink watches his drive off the ninth tee Saturday during the third round of the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Stewart Cink maintained his five-stroke lead and set another scoring mark at the RBC Heritage with a 2-under 69 on Saturday, moving closer to his third victory at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Cink, 47, cooled off from his pace in the first two rounds, when he shot a pair of 63s for his lowest career 36-hole score and shattered the event’s halfway scoring mark shared by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson.
This time, Cink scrambled his way to 18-under 195 – a tournament mark for lowest 54-hole score. The record had been held by Justin Leonard at 16-under 197 in 2002.
PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa was at 13 under after a 67. Emiliano Grillo of Argentina shot a 69 and was another shot behind in third.
While Cink slowed down, no one else could dent his large lead amid Harbour Town’s narrow fairways and smallish greens. That left Cink in prime position for a third plaid winner’s jacket for his collection after finishing first in 2000 and 2004.
EUROPEAN TOUR: Martin Kaymer joined Alejandro Canizares at 9 under after the third round to share the lead at the Austrian Open as both players seek their first European Tour title since 2014.
Two-time major champion Kaymer carded a 69 to make up his one-stroke deficit on the Spaniard, who has led since the first round.
Maximilian Kieffer had a 68 and was one stroke back, followed by John Catlin (71) at 7 under. Former winner Joost Luiten (69) was part of a group of three at 6 under.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Fred Couples birdies his last two holes for a 3-under 69 and a share of the lead with Robert Karlsson in the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida.
Karlsson, a former Ryder Cup player from Sweden, shot a 66 to join Couples at 12-under 132.
Steve Stricker (67), Bernhard Langer (68) and Alex Cejka (65) were one shot back.
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