Cink and Wi Share First-Round Lead at U.S. Senior Open

On Thursday, Stewart Cink and Charlie Wi shot a 3-under-par 67 to lead the U.S. Senior Open after round one at Scioto Country Club in Upper Arlington, Ohio. Cink erased a 2-over front nine with five back-nine birdies; Wi made five straight birdies from holes 3-7 before a double-bogey on the eighth. Heat reached 95 °F with an index of 103.

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Scioto, a Donald Ross-designed course, hosts its third U.S. Senior Open. Cink entered having already won the Senior PGA Championship and the Regions Tradition, a feat last matched by Jack Nicklaus in 1991.

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Key figures are Stewart Cink (53), who posted a 67 (-3) with five back-nine birdies and leads the Charles Schwab Cup; Charlie Wi (54), who also shot 67 (-3) with a five-birdie run on holes 3-7, a double-bogey on 8 and a bogey on 18, becoming the 14th Senior Open player with five straight birdies; and defending champion Padraig Harrington, tied for sixth at 1-under 69.

Stewart Cink, Charlie Wi share first-round lead at U.S. Senior Open

Cink said he needed to prove he could play decent golf after being off and credited the back nine for confidence despite heat. Wi stressed staying mentally engaged, noting hot conditions could cause a loss of focus. Harrington called the course tough but said it played nicely once players settled.

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• “I've been off for a little while, and I started like I've been off for a little while. I had to prove it to myself again that I could play decent golf a certain way,” — Stewart Cink

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• “The heat is a factor for sure. It affects your focus and your energy level. Sometimes even the simplest shots just kind of -- it's easy to fall asleep at the wheel when the conditions are like that,” — Stewart Cink

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• “I hit the ball pretty solid today, made a couple of putts. It was a hot day. I just made sure that I stayed in the ballgame, meaning like mentally, because you could easily lose it out there,” — Charlie Wi

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• “Wi thought his best shot came on the par-3 fourth, when he hit his tee shot within a couple feet with a 5-iron on the 205-yard hole.” — Charlie Wi

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Cink’s lead puts him to chase a third consecutive senior major, a rarity matched only by Jack Nicklaus. Wi’s five-birdie streak signals a strong bid for his first senior tour win. The extreme heat adds a challenge that could affect scoring.

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The tournament resumes Friday and Saturday. Cink and Wi will try to extend their leads as observers watch whether Cink can complete a historic trifecta and Wi can turn his strong start into a win.

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