Stewart Cink fired a course-record 63 to break away from the pack and win the Senior PGA Championship by six strokes on Sunday at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.
Cink, 52, began playing on the PGA Tour Champions less than two years ago and racked up six victories before this week, including two in 2026. Now the 2009 Open champion has his first senior major title, capping the week at 19-under-par 269.
“It means a lot,” Cink said. “Obviously the game we play, your year is kind of broken down into the main events and then the major events. They’re all important, don’t get me wrong, but the majors just have a little bit more history behind them. There’s more rounds. The golf courses are usually set up a little bit more testing and exacting, like Concession. Then there’s more players. You know, simply there’s just more players you have to beat.
“It means a lot to me to be attached to a trophy like this.”
Cink shot rounds of 69, 67 and 70 Thursday through Saturday to become part of a four-way tie — one shot behind 54-hole leader Keith Horne of South Africa.
After his first birdie of the day came at the par-3 fourth, Cink went eagle-birdie-birdie at Nos. 7-9 to launch himself into the lead. He didn’t slow down on the back nine, adding four birdies while avoiding bogeys.
His birdie at the par-5 17th and par at the final hole gave him the 63, beating the course record set by Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau when Concession hosted the PGA Tour’s Workday Championship in 2021. Concession will host the Senior PGA again in 2027 and 2028.
Cink nodded to the course’s nickname, “The Concussion,” earned for its difficulty.
“There’s never been a day at Concession that is not difficult,” Cink said. “It’s a hard golf course. I think the nickname is well-known out there. I don’t need to say it.
“It’s been a pleasure being here. I felt like I played pretty well every day. My tee-to-green game was pretty similar every day. Today I just had a little bit better rhythm in my putting, and the ball just found the hole.”
Ben Crane (68) was the distant runner-up at 13 under. He had three birdies and a bogey on each side of the card, unable to keep up with Cink’s torrid birdie pace. It was the 50-year-old’s first start at a senior major.
“Man, it couldn’t have been more rewarding, encouraging, fun,” Crane said. “Just, like, man, I don’t get any more excited than that. Things were going the right direction. Had a solid day today.
“I didn’t know Stewart was that far ahead. I thought I was in it, and then I signed my scorecard and I’m like, ‘Oh, I got beat by a mile.’ But we’re in second, so that was good.”
Australians Scott Hend and Steve Allan each shot 71 Sunday and tied for third at 11 under. Horne plummeted on a back nine that included three bogeys and a double bogey; he shot 75 and tied for fifth at 8 under with New Zealand’s Steven Alker (68) and Pat Perez (69).
