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2005 BANK OF AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIP
2nd Round Notes
- In the previous 24 Bank of America Championships, a player in
the lead or tied for the lead heading into the final round has gone
on to win 14 times, including two of the last three years (Tom
Purtzer did not last year). First-round leaders/co-leaders have gone
on to win this event eight times in tournament history.
- Tom Purzter has led or been tied for the lead heading into the
final round a total of five times and has won two of those - 2004
Toshiba Senior Classic and 2003 SBC Senior Classic. Purtzer led this
event a year ago by two strokes over John Jacobs and Walter Hall
before Craig Stadler closed with an 8-under-par 64 and won by four
strokes over Purtzer, D.A. Weibring and Tom Kite.
- Purtzer's 8-under-par 64 was his low round on the Champions Tour
this year and it also matches his final-round 64 at this year's Bank
of America Colonial on the PGA TOUR where he finished T21.
- Purtzer is the only player in the field without a bogey through
36 holes.
- Purtzer had the shot of the day when he made eagle on the par 4,
seventh hole. After hitting his drive, he nailed a perfect 9-iron
from 147 yards for his eagle. It was his sixth of the year.
- Hale Irwin didn't waste any time winning his first
Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions title. Just 22 days after turning 60
and becoming eligible for that competition, Irwin birdied the final
hole on Saturday to earn a one-stroke win over John Jacobs, who made
things interesting by making birdies on his final four holes. Irwin
earned $30,000 for his victory.
- A strong finish on Sunday will probably guarantee R.W. Eaks his
best finish ever on the Champions Tour. Eaks is currently T2, one
stroke behind Tom Purtzer along with Mark McNulty. Eaks' best finish
in his career was a T7 at the 2002 Farmers Charity Classic in
Michigan.
- Current money leader and Charles Schwab Cup leader Dana Quigley
will have to make up some ground if he wishes to keep his string of
top-10 finishes going. He is T18 going into Sunday's final round.
The Rhode Island native has posted six straight top-10 finishes,
including a win in his last start at the Bayer Advantage Classic
near Kansas City.
- Defending champion Craig Stadler is T18 after a 4-under-par 68
on Saturday. Stadler's 36-hole scorecard includes an eagle, 12
birdies, 13 pars and 10 bogeys.
- One of the biggest moves of the day was made by Bruce Lietzke,
who jumped from a T34 to a T7 with a 6-under-par 66.
- The winner of Sunday's event will receive 240 points in the
season-long Charles Schwab Cup race with additional points going to
other top-10 finishers. Dana Quigley (1,341 points) is the current
leader followed by Mike Reid (966), Tom Jenkins (892), Des Smyth
(779) and Hale Irwin (760). Current tournament leader Tom Purtzer
ranks 19th with 252 points.
- Saturday may have been the hottest day on the Champions Tour
this year with temperatures in the mid-90s and the heat index at 100
degrees midway through the day.
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