Associated Press
Saturday, July 8

COLUMBIA, Md. -- The Iron Man, an Irishman and a fisherman are tied atop the leaderboard in the State Farm Senior Classic.

Dana Quigley, playing in his record 98th straight tournament, shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday to tie defending champion Christy O'Connor and Leonard Thompson after two rounds of the $1.35 million tournament.

	Christy O'Connor birdied the final three holes Saturday to claim a share of the lead.

Quigley made four birdies during a bogey-free front nine and finished with six birdies for an 8-under 136.

"I played better yesterday and didn't shoot a low score. Today I didn't play so well and had a better score," he said.

Although he's known primarily for his Iron Man streak, the former club pro has won four tournaments and nearly $4 million since joining the tour in 1997.

"Dana is tournament tested. He's not going to back off," said Hubert Green, who shot a 67 to finish the round in a four-way tie at 138. "He doesn't have reverse in his game."

Said Quigley: "Whoever putts the best will win."

O'Connor, a native of Ireland, shot a 70 and Thompson, an avid fisherman, had a 69. All three leaders birdied 18.

O'Connor was 1 over for the day before getting birdies on 16, 17 and 18.

"I couldn't make a putt. I thought the greens had no hole," he said.

His touch returned when it counted, though, as he nailed putts of 15, 12 and 35 feet on the final three holes.

Thompson had his only bogey when his short par putt on No. 4 lipped the cup.

"I didn't play nearly as well today as in the first round," he said. "The first five or six holes were a struggle."

Larry Nelson, ranked third on the money list, shot a 67 and is tied for third at 138 with Walter Hall, Green and Jim Albus.

Nelson got into contention with a three-birdie run beginning at No. 3, then added three more birdies over the final five holes, sinking putts of 30, 15 and 25 feet in the process.

"It was one of those days where I missed some I should have made and made some I should have missed," he said.

Lee Trevino, edged in the Super Seniors competition by Albus, shot a 5-under 67 for a 139. He started the round eight shots behind Jose Marie Canizares, but had six birdies while Canizares fell out of contention.

"I didn't think I had a shot after what (Canizares) did yesterday," Trevino said. "Now, if I shoot a hot round, I've got an outside chance of winning. That's a big plus."

Canizares, coming off a course-record 64, had two double bogeys and faded to 139 after shooting a 75.

After opening with four straight pars, Canizares ran into trouble on the par-5 fifth hole. His tee shot veered right and landed behind three large rocks and a tree. He escaped that jam, but his third shot cleared the green. He chipped 25 feet past the pin, then passed the hole by three feet before missing again for a double bogey that left him at 6 under.

He tumbled farther down the leaderboard with a double bogey at 11.

Thompson's 5-foot par putt on No. 4 spun out of the cup, but he rebounded with a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 5. Thompson and O'Connor both birdied 9, le