The champs want more

NEWPORT BEACH ? Hale Irwin may be the only two-time winner of the Toshiba Classic, having won the event in 1998 and 2002, but he may be getting some company.

The 2004 Toshiba Classic winner, Tom Purtzer, along with last year’s champion, Mark Johnson, are in the running for this year’s title going into the final round at Newport Beach Country Club.

Purtzer, one of the longest hitters on the Champions Tour, shot a four-under-par 67 ? tied for tops on the day ? and is tied for first place with Bob Eastwood and Graham Marsh at seven-under-par 135 heading into today’s action.

Johnson, dubbed “The Beer Man,” delivered for his fans again, shooting a two-under-par 69 to stay in contention with a two-day score of 137, just two shots behind the leaders.

Purtzer, who opened the 2004 Toshiba Classic by shooting a course-record 11-under-par 60, had an eagle on the 10th hole on Saturday and tallied six birdies in very windy conditions.

“The course played tricky,” Purtzer said. “Anytime you get this much wind on a course this small, it’s enough to cause problems.”

On the par-4, 429-yard 10th hole, Purtzer used his 7-iron from 150 yards out and holed it.

“I couldn’t see it from where I was, but the people above the green let me know it went in,” Purtzer said.

Purtzer bogeyed the 16th hole after what he called one of his poorest tee shots of the day, but finished strong with a birdie on 18. Purtzer two-putted from 60 feet away.

Purtzer said he didn’t feel he played extraordinarily well, making the fact that he’s tied for first place that much better.

“The encouraging thing for me is I haven’t hit it very good and I’m still in pretty good shape,” Purtzer said. “I’m finding ways to score.”

Johnson started fast, carding birdies on holes three and four, but didn’t get another birdie until the 18th hole.

On the par-5, 510-yard 18th hole, he kept his drive on the right side of the fairway, then used a 3-iron to get on the green. His putt for eagle from about 30 feet stopped two feet short, then he sunk his birdie putt to finish on a positive note.

“My nerves were very good today,” said Johnson, who broke par at Newport Beach Country Club for the fifth consecutive round dating back to last year. “I felt confident in everything I was doing.”

Marsh, who shot a 66 in the first round on Friday, was in danger of falling out of contention after shooting a 37 on the front nine. But the Australian found new life on the back nine, where he recorded four birdies and finished with a 69.

“To go four-under-par from there is a good effort,” Marsh said.

Like Marsh, Eastwood had to rally to stay among the leaders after bogeying four of five holes during one stretch.

“I hit some good shots and made bogeys,” Eastwood said. “That’s golf. That’s going to happen sometimes. But I did have two ugly holes. On 11 and 13, I just didn’t play very well.”

Eastwood bounced back and tallied four birdies in his last five holes to stay tied for first place after two days.

“It was a tough day with the different wind conditions. It made some shots interesting ? real interesting,” Eastwood said. “It was a tough day to score. A three- or four-under is a pretty good score today.”

Eastwood said he was tickled to be among the leaders going into the last day.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in this position, but I love being in this position,” Eastwood said. “You strive for this.”

With so many players in the hunt ? 13 players within three shots of the leaders ? Purtzer said he wasn’t feeling comfortable in the top spot.

“On this golf course, you really have to stay on the gas,” Purtzer said. “If you coast a little bit, you’ll get passed up by 10 guys.”

With the top 28 players only five shots apart, today’s finale promises to be captivating.

“It’s going to be an interesting day. A winner could come out of anywhere,” Marsh said. “It could come down to the last hole.”dpt.19-toshiba-lietzke-CPhotoInfo6J1P3SDN20060319iwcufckn(LA)Bruce Lietzke watches the flight of his chip shot at the 18th hole. dpt.18-toshiba-CPhotoInfo6J1P3TRD20060319iuebthnc(LA)dpt.19-toshiba-2-dz-CPhotoInfo6J1P3SG820060319iwcudzknPHOTOS BY DOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Tom Purtzer, above, looks after his shot from the 18th fairway during Saturday’s second round. Purtzer ended the day in a three-way tie with Bob Eastwood and Graham Marsh for the lead.