Drawing On Experience - Saturday, July 01, 2006

CROMWELL, Conn. -- Though years have passed since Stewart Cink and Notah Begay III were Canon Greater Hartford Open champions, time hasn't wiped away the memories.

Every step Friday had them reliving their glory days at the TPC at River Highlands.

Cink, the 1997 champion, and Begay, the 2000 winner, were tied for third with Todd Fischer and Scott Verplank at 6-under-par 134 after the second round of the Buick Championship.

Cink shot a 5-under 65, while Begay had a 66.

"I was really relaxed," Cink said. "And that leads to good scoring."

Cink, 33, has had a solid career since he won in Cromwell. He has three PGA Tour victories and has been on two Ryder Cup and two Presidents Cup teams.

Begay, also 33, hasn't been in that league. He has missed the cut in all four of his tour starts this year. He's 106th in earnings ($19,889) on the Nationwide Tour. He has exempt status on the Nationwide Tour, but needs sponsors exemptions to play in PGA Tour events. He received one from the Greater Hartford Jaycees this week.

A major reason for his struggles has been a back injury, which occurred after the 2000 season.

"A lot of painful years as far as just waking up in pain every day," said Begay, who hasn't won in his last 114 PGA Tour starts. "So I'm kind of forced to go to those memory banks [at the TPC at River Highlands], and literally every hole I'm walking out there I'm trying to remember where did I hit it in 2000 and how did it make me feel."

Neither Begay nor Cink had any trouble Friday. Begay had 14 pars and birdies at Nos. 2, 6, 15 and 16. Cink had 13 pars and birdies at Nos. 2, 3, 12, 13 and 15.

"I think I only missed one fairway [of 14]," Cink said. "I felt I was putting for birdie all day and made five. And it could have been more."

Begay, who has returned to putting right- and left-handed depending on the break of the putt, posted his lowest round of the year on the PGA Tour.

Both players recalled shots from their championship years during the second round.

"Shoot, how long do we have?" Cink said.

One of Cink's from 1997 was a 9-iron from a downhill lie in the left rough on 17. He hit the green, two-putted for par and won the title by one shot.

"That was sort of a risky, almost a go-for-broke shot," he said.

Begay's best shot in 2000 was a 22-foot birdie putt on 18 that secured the title.

"[The memories] allowed me to stay calm because I have a lot of nervous energy," he said of his 66 Friday. "I haven't been in position like this before. I just went out knowing I haven't made a cut on tour this year. I'd like to."

He did.

"I'm very encouraged and the fans were pulling for me, and I appreciate that," Begay said.

This weekend, Begay and Cink will try to win again at the TPC.

"I'm not sure I really believe in destiny when I play golf," Cink said. "It comes from within you. I've been given a lot of gifts from above, and I firmly believe that. I don't think it's bestowed upon you that you're going to win the tournament. You're bestowed a gift, and it's what you make of it."