Wadkins Grabs Lead At Buick, Hopes To End 22-Year Winless Streak

Bobby Wadkins, displaying a magnificent - and hardly customary - touch with the putter, shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday to grab the lead after the first round of the Buick Challenge golf tournament in Pine Mountain, Ga.

Wadkins, who has never won a tournament in his 22-year career (658 events), held a oneshot lead over Jim McGovern as lesser-known players controlled the top of the leaderboard at Calloway Gardens, even though the tournament had the strongest field in its 27-year history.

Kirk Triplett, formerly of Pullman, shot a 1-over-par 73.

Robin Hood shot a 7-under-par 65 - the best round of her nine-year pro career - for a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Fieldcrest Cannon Classic in Cornelius, N.C.

Helen Alfredsson, defending champion Gail Graham, Trish Johnson and Hiromi Kobayashi were tied for second.