Stewart Cink leads Charles Schwab Cup Championship, takes over top spot in points race

Heading into the week, there were five golfers with a shot at winning the Charles Schwab Cup. After 18 holes, there's been a change at the top.

---

PHOENIX — Heading into the week, there were five golfers with a mathematical shot at winning the Charles Schwab Cup. After 18 holes, two of them are in the top five, three are in the top 10 and all five are in the top 20. Most notably, the guy who started the week in the third spot has vaulted to the top.
Here's a breakdown of Day 1 at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club.
Who's leading the Charles Schwab Cup Championship?
That would be Stewart Cink, who was No. 3 in the points this morning. He birdied Nos. 17 and 18 and signed for a 7-under 64 and will take a one-shot lead into the second round. He noted, however, that he shot 64 and led by one after 18 holes a year ago and did not go on to win.
There's two events to watch this week: the 72-hole tournament, and the season-long points race. Only three times has a golfer won both trophies. Cink is now in position to become the fourth.
Who else is contending in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship?
In solo second is Jerry Kelly, who fired a 7-under 65 after he carded eight birdies and just one bogey under sunny skies in Phoenix. It was his first birdie of the day that seemed to please him the most
"I birdied the first hole for the first time in about six years, I think. It put me in a good frame of mind right off the bat," he said. "I was hitting the ball decently far today for me, which I really enjoyed that. I had some clubhead speed. If I can build on that, I'll be happy. I know I'm 59 this month, which other than Bernie [Bernhard Langer], I know I'm sunsetting a little bit. Yeah, like I said, I felt great this week and I just hope it continues even this week."
Kelly has 13 PGA Tour Champions wins, including one earlier this season.
There's a four-way tie for third among Jason Caron, Steve Flesch, Tommy Gainey and Steven Alker. Gainey was the clubhouse leader for a while after his 5-under 66. He wasn't all that pleased with his round, though. saying he left several strokes out on the course. He did manage only make par on each of the course's par 5s.
"I'm pretty pissed at the way I played today and I'll tell you why. Hit the ball really good, made a lot of putts. But the par-5 performance has got to get better. I mean, I'm just blowing shots away, throwing them away, blowing them up, whatever you want to call it."
Still, Gainey is in pursuit of his second in win in five weeks after turning 50 over the summer.
Where do the top 5 in the points stand after the first round?
As for Alker, he started the week No. 1 in the points, but has slipped to second. He posted 5-under 66 but sits two shots back of Cink and that was just enough to slide him back in the projected standings.
Stewart Cink (up from 3)
Steven Alker (down from 1)
Miguel Angel Jimenez (down from 2)
Ernie Els (no movement)
Thomas Bjorn (no movement)
Alker is the defending Schwab Cup champion. He also won the Cup in 2023. In 2024, he won this tournament, so for three year's running, he's hoisted one of the two trophies.