No Act for Irwin, Connery

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

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

Actor Kevin Costner and Lee Trevino’s closing-round 62 pulled them into a three-way tie for second at 17 under 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 63, as did Brodie and Griffey.

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

Connery recorded 13 net birdies to nine natural birdies by Irwin. The pair had only one bogey in the two-day event.

“I played much more consistent today,” Connery said. “I was only three over par on the front nine.”

Connery, 65, came into the tournament well-prepared.

“I played 14 straight days at St. Andrews in the Autumn meeting,” he said. “The meeting lasts for 21 days and consists of 36 holes a day. I’ve played in the event every year since I became a member at St. Andrews over 20 years ago.”

Connery carries his own bag in the Autumn meeting and has every year he has played.

“There are no buggies [golf carts] allowed on the course except for medical reasons,” the actor said. “The course is relatively flat but it’s the wind and rain that gives you the most difficulty along with some pretty tough bunkers.”

Irwin earned $180,000 for his share of the $1-million purse.

Costner had some experience with golf as a youngster but seldom played before his latest movie, “Tin Cup,” about a driving-range pro playing in the U.S. Open.

“I was trained to look like a golfer,” Costner, a 14-handicapper, said. “Not play like one.

“I knew I couldn’t play like a pro in such a short amount of time. Yet there’s not a shot I hit poorly that I’m not angry about.”