Dougherty gains narrow lead

Ed Dougherty shot a 6-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round in the Coldwell Banker Burnet Classic today.

Dougherty, a four-time runnerup last year, has put himself in position for his first Senior PGA Tour victory. He has had 14 birdies and just one bogey in shooting a two-round total of 131 en route to a 36-hole tournament record of 13-under.

Among the prime obstacles for Dougherty in Sunday's final round will be Hale Irwin, the 1997 and `99 Burnet champion. Irwin, Allen Doyle and Senior rookie Chuck Moran are one stroke back at 12-under in the hunt for the $240,000 first-place prize.

"Hale is licking his chops right now,'' Doyle said, referring to Irwin's experience and 28 Senior PGA Tour victories. "He isn't worried about me, Ed or Chuck.''

Irwin said he likes his spot, but predicted that a score of 17-under or better will likely be needed to win the final round. Irwin set the 54-hole tourney record in 1997 with a 17-under-par 199.

"I have to just look at what I need to do,'' Irwin said. "Sundays present a sense of urgency, and I love that. It tends to energize me. My game hasn't been quite as efficient or crisp as I'd like it to be, but if my best game can surface Sunday, I'll be happy.''

Dougherty started the day in a three-way share of the lead after an opening-round 65. He played a bogey-free round and birdied Nos. 15 and 16 to regain the lead from Moran.

Dougherty, who won just once in 23 years on the PGA Tour, led for three rounds at the 72-hole 1999 U.S. Senior Open before finishing second. A back injury has slowed him in 2000, however. He's ranked No. 33 on the Senior money list.

"We'll see what happens Sunday. I know if I shoot the low round, I'll win the tournament," Dougherty said.

Dougherty downplayed the pressure of leading the tournament on the final day.

"Sure, it's a thrill to be in the lead, it's what we all play for,'' he said. "But I'm 52 years old and on the back nine of my life, so I don't worry about too many things.''

Irwin's 5-under 67 was highlighted by a 50-foot birdie putt on No. 14. Irwin has played 10 consecutive subpar Burnet rounds at the Bunker Hills layout with a combined score of 51-under.

Moran, a virtual unknown in PGA Tour and Senior Tour circles, tied the tournament single-round record with a 64, including a 30 on the front nine.

He surged with an eagle on the par-4 No. 7 and had six birdies. He was on pace to become the first Burnet tourney player to shoot 63, but parred the last four holes.

Moran played in just one PGA major, the 1980 U.S. Open, where he missed the cut. He has just one top-24 finish in 13 career Senior events -- a 17th-place tie in June at the Cadillac NFL Classic.

"There's a lot of golf to be played, so I'm not getting too excited,'' Moran said. ``For me it will be a good experience playing under pressure. That's always good for a person.''

Doyle, the runner-up last week at the Long Island Classic, had six birdies and a bogey in his 5-under 67.

Tom McGinnis was alone in fifth place at 11 under. McGinnis, whose lone Senior win came in a 1999 playoff over Irwin at the BankBoston, birdied his final three holes to post a 65.

Gil Morgan shot a 68 and was in sixth place at 10 under.

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