Home Depot Invitational
Home Depot Invitational
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Doyle, Dill, Fleisher share lead

The PGA Tour has David Duval and Tiger Woods. Now the Senior PGA Tour has Allen Doyle and Bruce Fleisher.

Doyle and Fleisher, the leading money winners this year on the tour, surged to the front of the field today in the Home Depot Invitational to claim a share of the second round lead at 8-under-par with Terry Dill.

"Last year it was the (Hale) Irwin and (Gil) Morgan show, now it's become the Doyle and Fleisher show out here," Dill said. "I've never seen such a turnover in one year."

Fifteen golfers remain within five strokes of the lead entering Sunday's final round at the Tournament Players Club at Piper Glen. Jim Holtgrieve was 7-under and DeWitt Weaver was 6-under. Mike Hill, Isao Aoki and Bob Dickson were 5-under.

Doyle shot his second consecutive 68 on Saturday, a round highlighted by four birdies on the front nine. Fleisher's 67 included five birdies on the front.

"I don't view this is as a rivalry between the two of us," Doyle said. "Maybe there's comparisons because we came out of tour school together, but I think there's enough money out there for everyone."

Dill would like to take home the $180,000 first prize. An 11-year senior tour veteran, Dill shot a 67 to position himself for a run at his first tournament championship since 1992.

Saturday's best round belonged to Weaver, who fired a 65 after shooting 73 on Friday.

Weaver spent Saturday morning in front of the television shaking his head in disbelief at the world's problems. And then it occurred to him that all he had to do was play golf. Relaxed and focused, Weaver made the most of his second round, converting six birdies and finishing with an eagle on the 18th hole.

"Right now we've got so many problems in the world, it's very troubling," said Weaver, who has one victory in 11 years on the senior tour.

"There's so many problems as far as gun control in our schools, the war in Kosovo, drugs, pornography. ... You can go on and on. Then I said to myself, 'How important is golf compared to all of this?' It really helped me gain a new perspective on things."

Bob Dickson, Kermit Zarley and Jay Sigel entered the second round in a three-way tie for the lead at 5-under par. But all three struggled at times Saturday, with Dickson shooting a 72 and Sigel and Zarley firing 73s.

While the leaders struggled, Weaver surged into the lead pack.

Weaver, who birdied the final two holes on Friday, carried that momentum into Saturday. He birdied four of the first six holes to shoot 32 on the front. Weaver finished strongly with an eagle on the 18th, putting a 4-iron from 240 yards to within 10 feet of the cup.

"I felt like John Daly out there," said Weaver, who enthusiastically pumped his fist several times following the eagle putt.

Lee Trevino also made a move to the front on Saturday, finishing with a 68 that left him 2-under for the tournament.

Two-time defending champion Jim Dent shot 70 to get back to even par for the tournament. At eight strokes back, Dent's chance of becoming only the fifth senior to win an event three straight years appear slim.

Dave Eichelberger, two strokes back after a 69 Friday, withdrew before Saturday's round because of the flu.


Ashbury Golf Hotel