PHOENIX — Stewart Cink shot a 6-under-par 65 Friday at Phoenix Country Club, building a six-stroke Charles Schwab Cup Championship lead.
The defending champion reached 14-under 128 through two rounds, ahead of Scottsdale resident Steve Allan at 8 under.
Cink produced the day’s lowest round, playing his final 10 holes in 7 under. His closing stretch included birdies on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 and a back-nine 29.
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Meanwhile, Allan followed his opening 65 with a 69. He remained the field’s only player without a bogey through 36 holes.
Zach Johnson, Steven Alker, Darren Clarke and Alex Cejka shared third at 7 under, seven strokes behind Cink.
Johnson opened Friday with five consecutive birdies but finished with bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18. He, Alker and Clarke each shot 66, while Cejka posted 68.
Ernie Els slipped from second into a tie for seventh after a 72 followed Thursday’s 64. Pádraig Harrington rebounded with a 66 to reach 5 under.
Notably, Stephen Ames withdrew before Friday’s round because of illness.
Saturday’s third round pairs Cink with Allan at 1:25 p.m. Johnson and Alker start at 1:15 p.m., following Clarke and Cejka at 1:05 p.m.
The Charles Schwab Cup Championship concludes Sunday, when the season-long points race also ends.
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