Stewart Cink has been added to the field for the inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic presented by Sodexo, giving the new PGA TOUR Champions event an immediate headline name and a current No. 1 to build around.
The tournament will be played from September 28 to October 4, 2026, at Lehigh Country Club in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as part of the Regular Season PGA TOUR Champions schedule before the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. For a first-year event, landing the reigning Charles Schwab Cup champion is a strong sign that the field will carry real competitive weight from the outset.
Why Cink matters to the new event
Cink arrives as one of the most dependable players on the senior circuit. He became eligible for the senior circuit on his birthday in May 2023, earned his first PGA TOUR Champions victory in his 10th start at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren in 2024, and then followed that with a dominant 2025 campaign.
That season included 19 top 25 finishes in 21 starts, 15 top 10s, three wins and three second place finishes, before he went on to win his first Charles Schwab Cup title. Those numbers tell you why his presence matters: this is not simply a popular name on a start list, but the reigning standard-bearer for the circuit.
A field that already has a statement piece
For a newly launched tournament, credibility often comes from the first few commitments. Cink provides that instantly. At 53, he brings a blend of recent form, senior-tour success and profile that helps turn a debut event into something that feels established before a ball is even struck.
It also gives fans in Pennsylvania a clear attraction. A first official PGA TOUR Champions event can only benefit from the presence of a player who has already proven he can win repeatedly at this level and manage the pressure that comes with being No. 1.
What comes next
The Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic is one of the Regular Season PGA TOUR Champions events in 2026 before the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, so the competitive relevance is immediate. With Stewart Cink now in the field, the inaugural edition has a clear centrepiece and a stronger story to sell from the start.
