Boeing Classic Notebook | Hale Irwin in contention to be Champions Tour's oldest winner

SNOQUALMIE — The greatest player in Champions Tour history has put himself in contention for another record: oldest winner on the Tour.

Hale Irwin, 63, shot a 3-under 69 Friday in the Boeing Classic to finish the day in a tie for sixth, and what should give his opponents a scare is that he wasn't completely happy with how he played.

"I feel like I left some shots out there, and didn't hit my irons well, but at least I had some semblance of good putting, something I haven't done well for eight months," said Irwin, who had skipped this event at the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge the past two years.

Irwin has won a record 45 times on the Champions Tour, but his last win was the opening tournament in 2007. His best finish this season in 15 events is 12th place, and he is 62nd in earnings. Still, Irwin said he is capable of winning again, which would knock Mike Fetchick out of the record book. Fetchick won on his 63rd birthday in 1985. Irwin turned 63 on June 3.

"I know that I can still do it if I play up to my capabilities, and that is what I strive for every time I play," said Irwin, who is the Tour's all-time leading money winner.

Fitness definitely will not be an issue for Irwin, who chipped in for a birdie on the 18th and finished his day with a birdie on the par-3 ninth hole. The former University of Colorado football star walks the course (unlike many of the players) and looks much younger than his age.

Irwin, a defensive back with the Buffaloes, said the key this weekend is creating opportunities and then taking advantage of them with his putter.

"It just seems like I've been hitting into the wind, uphill all the time," he said. "When you're going well, it's like you're always hitting downhill with a tail wind. I just want to be in contention with nine holes left on Sunday."

Three terrific shots

D.A. Weibring said he had never seen a feat like the one he was a part of on the 202-yard, par-3 sixth hole. Weibring knocked his tee shot 2 ½ feet from the hole, and he was the farthest away in the group.

Bob Gilder hit first and just missed a hole-in-one, finishing about a foot past the hole. Allen Doyle hit almost an exact copy of Gilder's shot, and his shot nudged Gilder's ball and settled about a foot away. Gilder put his ball in the original spot and all three tapped in for birdie, with a combined distance of less than five feet.

Notes

• Ray Stewart, the Monday qualifier from Abbotsford, B.C., who led through two rounds last year and appeared on his way to a win until a late collapse, was not offered a sponsor's exemption. Tournament director Chuck Nelson said Stewart has not been competing and that is why he was skipped.

• Scott Hoch, fourth in this year's Tour earnings, withdrew after eight holes with a wrist injury.

• Talk about a turnaround: Phil Blackmar went from a triple-bogey on the par-3 13th hole to an eagle 2 on the par-4 14th. He finished with a 2-over 74.

Seattle Times staff writer Craig Smith contributed to this story.