While Bunky Henry is testing some new waters, Hale Irwin is in some very familiar surroundings.
Henry birdied Nos. 17 and 18 in a 6-under-par 65 Saturday and held a two-stroke lead over Irwin after two rounds of the Senior PGA Tour's inaugural Boone Valley Classic.Henry's 11-under 131 total is two better than St. Louis native Irwin, who shot a course-record 63 at the 6,670-yard Boone Valley Golf Club.
Henry has never led a tournament heading into a final round either on the regular or senior tour. There will also be the added pressure of playing in the final group with Irwin, who is playing near his hometown.
"I think I'll be more pumped up because of the crowd," Henry said. "I know they'll be pulling for him, but the crowds have been great, and I don't think they'll be rooting against me.
"I'd love to come into his hometown and beat him."
After battling through a sinus infection on Thursday and Friday, Irwin was feeling just fine after Saturday's record round.
"I'd love to continue playing," Irwin said. "Mo's on my side. He's wearing my color jersey right now. He's a good guy, and he's my kind of guy, and I'd just love to go out and play another 18 holes.
"However, you've got to stop, you've got to have dinner, you've to go to bed and tomorrow, you've got to start all over again. You never know if old Mo got fickle last night and changed teams. I'm going to talk to Mo tonight and see if we can't get him back and thinking good things."
The week near his hometown has been a good and bad for Irwin.
"I've found it's hard playing in your hometown," Irwin said. "It's my own bed, which is great. It's home cooking which is wonderful. It's my own car which is nice, and knowing people which is better.
"But you don't have those things when you travel, so it's not the thing you're used to. Therefore, you have to acclimate yourself to something new, so it's a tradeoff."
Nevertheless, Irwin has been pointing to this event for quite some time.
"Let's put it this way. When this tournament got on schedule, this became a very important event for me."
Gibby Gilbert is another shot back at 134 after a 66, while Gary Player and Vicente Fernandez, a first-round co-leader, were tied at 135 after a 66 and a 70, respectively.
The last time Henry and Irwin were paired together was at the 1967 NCAA championships. Irwin, who attended Colorado, won the event with Henry, representing Georgia Tech, finishing second.
Henry began play Saturday one shot behind co-leaders Fernandez and Bruce Summerhays. He shot a 32 on the front nine Saturday, then parred seven consecutive holes before recording another birdie at the 430-yard, par-4 17th when he hit a pitching wedge within three feet. On 18, a 401-yard, par-4, he hit a 9-iron within 12 feet and made the putt.
Graham Marsh shot a 70 and was at 137. The winner of the Franklin Quest last week, Marsh has shot 14 consecutive subpar rounds.
Summerhays shot a 1-over 72 to fall seven strokes off the lead.
Kermit Zarley is also far off the pace at 142. However, Zarley recorded a career highlight when he became the second player this year on the Senior PGA Tour to record a double eagle. Zarley hit a 5-iron into the hole from 189 yards at the 505-yard, par-5 6th hole.