Canizares takes lead with record 61

When Jose Maria Canizares said there was a difference between his first two rounds at the Kaanapali Classic, he wasn't kidding.

After shooting a solid 68 Friday, the 54-year-old Spaniard came within a stroke of the Senior PGA Tour record with a 61 today to vault into the lead with some breathing room.

His 13-under-par with 18 holes to go gave him a four-stroke lead over Hale Irwin. Allen Doyle and Gary McCord shared third place at 134. Stewart Ginn and Joe Inman were another stroke behind.

``It was a big difference from yesterday,'' Canizares said of his second-round play. ``I hit the ball near the hole yesterday, but made only three birdies. Today, I hit my second shot closer to the hole and putted very good.''

He was especially tough on the three par-5s, narrowly missing eagles on two of them.

With barely a trace of breeze blowing over Maui's Kaanapali North Course, Canizares nearly matched Isao Aoki's tour record of 60 in the 1997 Emerald Coast Classic.

And a run of seven consecutive birdies by Canizares -- one short of the record shared by Chi Chi Rodriguez and Jim Colbert -- left Canizares with a course record-tying round of 10 under.

With near-perfect weather Saturday, Canizares, still looking for his first Senior Tour win, had three birdies over the first five holes. He then put together his string at the 185-yard ninth.

That put him five strokes in front, but Irwin regained a shot with a birdie on the 17th to finish the round with a 62.

Irwin was more than pleased with his play.

``Considering I was on the 14th hole yesterday at 3-over and be where I am right now is quite a turnaround,'' he said. ``Some things that went sideways yesterday, I corrected today.

``Getting back to even par yesterday from 3-over really set the stage for today. Over the last 23 holes, I'm 12-under-par.''

As the first-round leaders faltered, Doyle, who shot an opening 71, also made a serious charge. So did Gary McCord, who was at 1-under 70.

Doyle, starting on the back nine, birdied six holes to make the turn in 30 and finished up with two more for a 63 and a two-round total of 134.

That matched him with McCord, who finished with a 64 -- helped by an eagle on the second hole.

Doyle felt he had his ``A'' game after a birdie on the third hole.

``But I missed some chances at 7, 8 and 9,'' he said. ``I thought I had made all three putts, but the grains affected them. They all turned a little bit.''

He needed the birdies, too, he admitted.

``If you shot par today, you'd have 77 people passing you,'' he said.

Inman and Ginn, who started the round in a five-way tie for second place, were at 135 after shooting 68s. First-round leader Bruce Summerhays was at 136 after a 70.

Jim Thorpe, looking for his third consecutive victory, also was at 136 with defending champion Bruce Fleisher. Both had 67s.

The $1.1 million tournament is sponsored by EMC, an information storage company.

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