Morgan joins Irwin on top of leaderboard

Hale Irwin shot a 3-under 69 at Pebble Beach on Saturday for a share of the second-round lead with Gil Morgan in the First Tee Open.

The 60-year-old Irwin, the Champions Tour's career victory leader with 42, birdied the final two holes to match Morgan at 9-under 135. Irwin, a two-time winner this year, played in cool afternoon conditions.

``In this kind of weather, I'm extremely pleased with the way my body performed,'' Irwin said. ``I didn't make a lot of putts, so there was some frustration. But I don't think I was alone out there. Still, I was pleased with the round.''

Morgan, a 23-time winner on the 50 and over circuit who is trying to win a tour event for the 10th straight year, had a tournament-best 65 at Del Monte.

``I started fast,'' Morgan said. ``I played well all the way around, except for the last three holes.''

Defending champion Craig Stadler (68), Dan Pooley (67), Lonnie Nielsen (67) and Morris Hatalsky (68) were 7 under, and Mark McCumber (69), Keith Fergus (68) and Walter Hall (71) were another stroke back.

Dana Quigley, the tour money leader who shared the first-round lead with Irwin, shot a 73 at Pebble Beach to drop four strokes behind. Sixty-nine-year-old Gary Player shot his age at Del Monte to finish at 2 under.

The tournament pairs the 78 pros with a junior partner in foursomes that also include two amateurs. Nielsen and Colby Smith of Roseville, Calif., have a three-stroke margin in the pro-junior competition. The top 22 pro-junior teams advanced to the final round Sunday at Pebble Beach.

The winner will receive $300,000 from the $2 million purse.

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