Hale Irwin birdied five of the final six holes Saturday for a 7-under-par 65 and a share of the second-round lead with David Graham in the Boone Valley Classic.
Irwin, a Joplin native who lives in suburban St. Louis, has a tour-high six victories this year and leads the money list with $1,511,989 in 16 starts. He matched Graham at 9-under 135 on the Boone Valley course."So far, I'm right on schedule. Because you live in a town where the tournament is, you never escape talking about it," said Irwin, who lost a playoff to Gibby Gilbert last year. "It's almost like a major."
Irwin capped his round by hitting a 9-iron within a foot on the par-4 18th hole. He tapped in for a birdie on the same hole where he lost the tournament last year. His approach in 1996 landed short of the green in the water, giving Gilbert the championship.
"I don't think about last year at all," Irwin said. "But I would like very, very much to win in my hometown. . . . I thought I played better Friday. But the putting is really coming around."
Graham, a two-time winner this year, shot a 68.
"It's fortunate to know that I can reach the 5-pars in two," said the Australian, who eagled the par-5 17th. "That's a comfort zone. The 17th was the turning point because I knew I was in the tournament."
Gil Morgan (67), John Bland (68) and Dale Douglass (69) were two back at 137, and Dave Eichelberger (70) followed at 138.
"It could cause me to go into a real private state," Graham said. "But nowadays that doesn't bother me. It's the way it should be."
"We know that Hale plays well just about every time out," Morgan said. "I'll know exactly what he's doing tomorrow."
Larry Nelson, making his senior debut, shot a 70 to top a five-player group at 139. Nelson, who turned 50 on Wednesday, won the 1981 and 1987 PGA Championships and the 1983 U.S. Open. He tied for second in the Doral-Ryder Open in March, and earned $196,981 in 18 PGA Tour starts this year.
Lee Trevino (71), Mike Hill (64), Dick Hendrickson (68) and Mike McCullough (72) joined Nelson at 5-under.