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Irwin Wins at Turtle Bay Again

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From Associated Press

The Turtle Bay Championship has become the Hale Irwin Invitational.

Irwin, 59, became the first player to win a men’s professional tour event five consecutive times, easily holding off Dana Quigley by five strokes Sunday.

“It’s always good to be a part of history and I think this is a very proud moment,” said Irwin, who closed with a five-under-par 67 for a record 16-under 200 total.

With his fourth consecutive victory at Turtle Bay and sixth overall title in the event, Irwin pushed his Champions Tour-record victory total to 41.

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The three-time U.S. Open champion had shared the mark of four victories in a row in an event with Tiger Woods (Bay Hill Invitational, 2000-03), Gene Sarazen (Miami Open, 1926, 1928-30), Walter Hagen (PGA Championship, 1924-27) and Tom Morris Jr. (British Open, 1868-70, 1872).

Irwin controlled the Turtle Bay Resort’s balmy, oceanside Palmer Course, breaking his tournament mark of 11-under 205 set in 2001. He earned $225,000.

Irwin hit all his greens in regulation and overshot only one fairway, on No. 17.

“Hale was just on another planet,” Quigley said. “He was in a different world. No one could’ve beaten him today.”

Quigley, the MasterCard winner, shot a 69 and took home $132,000 to push his two-week winnings to $404,000.

“Finishing 1-2 in the first two weeks is beyond what I expected,” he said.

Allen Doyle (71) tied for third with Tom Watson (67).

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