Irwin moves two shots ahead

Hale Irwin wouldn't mind playing all Champions Tour events in Hawaii.

Irwin shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Allen Doyle after two rounds of the Turtle Bay Championship, the Champions Tour's first full-field event of the year.

The 59-year-old Irwin is trying to win the event for a record fifth straight time and sixth time overall.

But Irwin's not thinking about the possibility of setting a record for men's professional golf and moving past Tiger Woods (Bay Hill Invitational ), Gene Sarazen (Miami Open), Walter Hagen ( PGA Championship) and Tom Morris Jr. ( British Open ).

"It's one in a row. That's the way I'm thinking about it," Irwin said. "I try not to get too far ahead of myself."

Irwin is coming off a tie for third place at last week's MasterCard Championship on the Big Island, and has won seven official events in the islands dating to the 1981 Hawaiian Open, earning more than $3.6 million.

"We could change the Champions Tour to the Aloha Tour," said Irwin, who has won 40 senior events. "I wish we could take this Hawaiian tour and just move it around the mainland, (or) we could bring all tournaments over here and sort of play through the islands."

Irwin putted just 23 times and had six birdies in a steady round, moving to 11-under 133. He got a big break on the 161-yard, par-3 13th after his tee shot landed short in a bunker. Irwin holed the 30-foot bunker shot to reach 9 under and tie Gil Morgan (69).

Doyle had just one bogey in his second round, getting three birdies on the front nine and three on the back for a 4-under 68 and a 9-under 135 total.

Dana Quigley, coming off a win at the MasterCard, shot a 68 and was tied for third with Keith Fergus (69) and Morgan three strokes back.

Irwin might be difficult to catch. He has won 21 of 28 tournaments when leading or tied for the lead going into the final round. And, he's comfortable on the Turtle Bay layout.

"I want to make it where the guys have to beat me," Irwin said. "I don't want to back up."

Don Pooley (67) and Larry Nelson (68) were at 137. Jerry Pate (67), Don Reese (68), Tom McKnight (68), Dick Mast (69) and Wayne Levi (70) were at 138.

The group at 139 included Tom Watson (69), Jim Ahern (68), John Harris (69), D.A. Weibring (69) and John Jacobs (69).

Morgan took sole possession of the lead with an eagle on the 433-yard, fourth, moving to 8 under. He bogeyed the 11th to fall into a three-way tie with Irwin and Doyle, but rebounded with a birdie at the 12th.

Morgan shared the lead with Irwin until driving into the water at No. 18 and making a double-bogey 7.

It was overcast, humid and virtually windless day, setting up the Turtle Bay's oceanside Palmer Course for birdies.

Among those who took advantage of the conditions was 69-year-old Gary Player, who briefly shared the lead at 6 under. After three birdies on the front nine, Player had two bogeys on the back and finished with a 71 for a 140 total.

Fan favorite and newlywed Arnold Palmer climbed out of last place with a 77, for a two-round total of 15-over 159. The 75-year-old Palmer married Kathleen Gawthrop in a beachside ceremony Wednesday.

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