Irwin, 007 Capture Lexus Challenge

Sun., Dec. 22, 1996

Compiled From Wire Services

Hale Irwin and actor Sean Connery fired a 10-under-par 62 to capture the Lexus Challenge golf tournament on Saturday.

Their 21-under-par, two-day total of 123 shattered the 17-under record set by host Raymond Floyd and Michael Chiklis in last year’s inaugural event.

Actor Kevin Costner and Lee Trevino’s closing-round 62 pulled them into a three-way tie for second at 17-under par with the teams of Chi Chi Rodriguez and actor Robert Wuhl, and John Brodie and baseball star Ken Griffey Jr.

Rodriguez and Wuhl shot a 9-under-par 63 as did Brodie and Griffey.

The Lexus field consists of 12 players off the PGA’s Senior tour and 12 celebrities from the fields of entertainment and sports. The celebrities play with their full handicaps.

Connery, well-known for his movie role as James Bond, recorded 13 net birdies to nine natural birdies by Irwin. The pair had only one bogey in two days.

“It was great fun to play with Sean,” Irwin said. “And now I know why we won. He is the ironman of golf. This weekend was just a walk in the park for him.”

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Irwin, 007 Capture Lexus Challenge

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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