Stewart Cink leads Heritage

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C., April 18 (UPI) -- Stewart Cink earned the lead Friday midway through The Heritage, shooting a 6-under-par 65 at the Harbour Town Golf Links.

Cink has had three top-six finishes in his last six starts after admittedly having two bad years, never placing higher than third. It took therapy to figure out what was wrong.

"I went through a stretch where I was just playing with a lot of fear and very tentative," said Cink, the 2000 champion who leads at 10-under 132.

Cink has not been the only 2002 American Ryder Cup member struggling.

Battling back problems and a sleeping disorder, Hal Sutton has not had a top-10 finish in 50 starts since his victory in Houston two years ago. He also had a flaw in his swing, which Nick Price brought to his attention Tuesday.

The adjustment has helped Sutton, who was second Friday at 9-under 133. By concentrating on keeping his shoulder in the shot longer, Sutton has fixed his iron play, which he called a "deplorable" part of his game.

"It seemed technical when he first told me about it, but after I did it a few times, it was like a new-found old friend," Sutton said. "I knew that's what I had done a lot in my life."

Sutton was a stroke ahead of Price and Chad Campbell. Four-time Heritage winner Davis Love III, world No. 2 Ernie Els of South Africa, Mark Calcavecchia and Geoff Ogilvy of Australia shared fifth at 7-under 135.