Around the Green

Irving, Osborne Extend Lead at Texas Four-Ball Championship

Irving, Osborne Extend Lead at Texas Four-Ball 
LUFKIN – Three weather suspensions during the second round of the Texas Four-Ball resulted in players on and off the golf course. However, one team never seemed phased. Joshua Irving and Will Osborne followed their opening round 65 with a blistering 10-under-par 62 on Saturday at Crown Colony Country Club. The duo is 17-under-par for the tournament and head into the final round with a nine-shot advantage. Jerry Hudgins of Tyler and Houston’s Michael Rice followed their first round 70 with a 9-under-par 63 to take a three-shot lead in the Senior Division.
 
Irving and Osborne began the second round right where the team left off on Friday. Osborne stuck his approach shot on the par-4 10^th hole to two feet leading to an opening birdie. They followed it with three birdies, an eagle on the par-5 16^th and a lone bogey on the par-3 17^th hole. The round one leaders carded a 5-under-par 31 on their opening nine. The back nine followed suit. Irving and Osborne totaled 5-under on their final nine holes to post 62.
 
The Dunaway brothers played alongside Irving and Osborne and posted a low number as well. The Dunaway’s played their final nine in 7-under-par 29. Chad Dunaway dunked his second shot on the par-4 eighth hole. His hole-out complimented Lance Dunaway’s eagle on the par-5 16^th. The team posted a 9-under-par 63 to move into a tie for second in the Championship Division.
 
Irving, Osborne and the Dunaway brothers totaled for 19-under-par as a group. Irving and Osborne said the group fed off each other’s quality play.  
 
“We got off to a really hot start and then on the front nine when we were slowing down, they were speeding up,” Irving said. “We kind of kept each other at the same pace and fed off each other so it was really good.”
 
Irving and Osborne, who seek their first Texas Four-Ball Championship title, understand the importance of their game plan. They said a win tomorrow would only build confidence heading into next week’s U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Pinehurst Resort.
 
“Anytime you can win a TGA State Championship you’ve done something good,” Irving said. “It would be exciting to close it out tomorrow.”
 
Play was suspended with two parings playing their final hole late Saturday evening. The second round will resume at 7:30 a.m. with the final round scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Sunday at Crown Colony Country Club. For more information on the Texas Four-Ball Championship click here.