Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Stewart and Connor Cink combined to shoot 11-under-par 61 on Saturday to grab the first-round lead at the PNC Father Son Challenge.
"We really were a good team out there," said Stewart. "We had fun. I don't know, we kind of fed off each other. It was a really good effort I thought."
Steve and Sam Elkington carded a 10-under 62 to take second place, while Jack and Gary Nicklaus grabbed third with a 9-under 63.
"I hope Gary plays pretty much the same as he played today, and I just got to give him a little bit more support," stated Jack.
Defending champions Dru and Davis Love III shot 8-under 64 to share fourth place with Hale and Steve Irwin, Vijay and Qass Singh and David Duval and his stepson Nick Karavites.
Curtis and Thomas Strange are tied for eighth place with Lanny and Tucker Wadkins at 7-under 65, while Bernhard Langer and his daughter Christina share 10th with Raymond and Ray Jr. Floyd at minus-6.
The Cinks are making their first appearance at this event. If they go on to win on Sunday, it would mark the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1995 (won by Raymond and Ray Jr. Floyd) that a team titled in their first appearance.
"To be honest, as soon as I won the Open Championship it's the first thing I thought was, 'Hey, I get to play in the father-son now,'" said Stewart. "It was something that entered my mind right away."
NOTES: First-round leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win this tournament 11 times over the past 15 events. The biggest come-from-behind win came in 2001 when Raymond and Robert Floyd overcame a 4-stroke, first-round deficit, posting a 61 on Sunday to edge Hale and Steve Irwin by a stroke ... The format of this tournament is a two-day scramble ... In order for a father to qualify, he must have won a professional major title.
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