PENN TWP — Robert McClellan may be seven strokes behind the leader, but he's already made history in the Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Golf Invitational.

The Butler resident was one of 40 golfers who played the first two rounds of the PGA Tri-State Section event Monday at Butler Country Club.

His effort of 69 and 76 currently gives him a score of 145, seven strokes behind Kevin Shields, who managed two straight rounds of 69 for a 138.

But it was what McClellan did on the eighth hole in both of his rounds that will be remembered.

He drove the green in both instances on the par-4, 330-yard hole, then managed to sink his first putt both times.

It is believed to be the only time in the event's 22-year history that a golfer has eagled the same hole in back-to-back rounds.

"I used a 3-wood from the tee and got a good bounce both times," said McClellan, a 1998 Butler High School graduate and current assistant pro at Olde Stonewall Golf Club in Ellwood City.

Great shots seemed to be the order of the day, and Shields can thank his approach shot on No. 18 the second time around for giving him a one-stroke lead over Ty Roush entering Tuesday's play.

After a 270-yard drive put him within 145 yards of the pin on the par-4 hole, Shields' iron shot rolled onto the green and into the hole for an eagle.

"A lot of us aren't familiar with this (course)," said Shields. "And I'm just trying to figure out where I should be hitting it.

"The last time the invite was here (in 2002), Sean Farren lit it up," added Shields. "And I had visions of coming in here and shooting a 132 or 133 in the first two rounds. But after seeing the greens and how fast they were, a 138 is a lot better than I would have hoped for."

The day didn't start out as smoothly for Shields, representing the Robert Morris University Island Sports Golf Dome.

"My game was so bad on the first 14 holes today," he said. "I two-putted on every one of the first 14 holes. Then, I holed a bunker shot on No. 15 and that turned things around a bit for me."

Butler's John Aubrey Sr. has golfed in every Fuhrer Invitational since it began in 1985, winning it in 1994. He enters play today within striking distance at eight shots back.

Like most of the players, he was challenged by the greens.

"It was tough," he said after his one-over-par 71 in the second round. "I'm not used to the speed. I probably golf here maybe once every year.

Many golfers' scores improved from the first round to the second.

Only five scores under par were turned in on the first 18 holes. In the second round, that number rose to eight. That included Bob Meyer, who followed up a mediocre 77 in the first round with a 67 to get back into the thick of things.

The 67 tied Totteridge Golf Club's Ryan Sikora for the day's low round.

It's not the first time Meyer has golfed at Butler Country Club. The product of Valley Brook Country Club won the West Penn Open here in 1980.

Oakmont Country Club's Bob Ford, the only golfer to win the event four times (1985, 1988, 1990 and 1999), is currently three strokes off the pace at 141.

Other Butler County golfers include Saxonburg resident and Treesdale Golf and Country Club pro Joe Boros (147, nine shots back) and Butler Country Club pro Paul Hollstein (161, 23 shots back).