The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
59°F
Current Conditions
Broken clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Gusty winds don”t hinder leader Atwal

Zurich Classic leader Arjun Atwal found his game improving as the winds got stronger in Avondale, La. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Zurich Classic leader Arjun Atwal found his game improving as the winds got stronger in Avondale, La. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

India’s Arjun Atwal overcame Friday’s gusting winds to shoot a 4-under-par 68 and take a one-stroke lead over J.J. Henry after two rounds of the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La.

Atwal, looking for his first PGA Tour victory, had six birdies and two bogeys in gusts of up to 25 mph and moved to 11-under 133.

Henry had a second straight 67 to get to 10 under. Chris DiMarco, playing in his first event since losing the Masters in a playoff, had a 71 and was tied with Tim Clark (69) another stroke back.

“I didn’t hit it too well in the first few holes, when there was no wind,” Atwal said. “But I got it up and down a few times, just steady stuff. And as the wind started to pick up, I kind of started to focus a little bit better and hit it closer and made a few putts.”

Lucas Glover had a second-round 68 and was at 7 under. Defending champion Vijay Singh followed an opening 67 with a 71 and was in a three-way tie for sixth place at 6 under.

Henry, who was among the late starters, was unfazed by the windy conditions and found the course to his liking.

“It was another kind of stress-free day, to be honest with you,” Henry said. “I feel real comfortable on this golf course.

“I like the way most of the holes fit. I’m driving the ball well, my ball striking has actually been great for the last couple of weeks, and my putter is finally catching up.”

Henry, whose best finish this season was a tie for 26th at the BellSouth Classic, had six birdies and a bogey.

DiMarco, who was tied for the lead after the first round, had an inconsistent round that included an eagle, four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

LPGA Tour

Liselotte Neumann shot a 5-under 67 to take the lead in the soggy second round of the Franklin American Mortgage Championship in Franklin, Tenn.

Neumann, who opened with a 72, moved to 5-under 139 in the rain-plagued event.

Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa, the defending champion, was at 5 under through 11 holes and was one of 73 players who were unable to complete their second round at the Vanderbilt Legends Club’s Ironhorse Course because of rain for the second straight day. South Korea’s Hee-Won Han is also at 5 under through 10 holes.

Six players are at 3 under including Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., who finished 12 holes. Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum shot a 70 and is at 147.

First-round leader Kris Tschetter, playing in the next-to-last group, was at 2 under through six holes.

There were three delays lasting nearly four hours during the second round, and up to 2 inches of rain was forecast for the evening.

Champions Tour

Curtis Strange shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the FedEx Kinkos Classic at Lakeway, Texas.

Strange had six birdies and one bogey at The Hills Country Club, taking an opening-round lead for the first time since the 1998 Doral Ryder Open in Miami.

Brad Bryant and Mark Johnson each shot 68s, and Joe Inman, Jim Thorpe and Bruce Fleisher were another stroke back.