Atwal playing like an old pro

Arjun Atwal overcame yesterday'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 at Avondale, La.

Atwal, looking for his first PGA Tour victory, had six birdies in gusts of up to 25 miles per hour and moved to 11-under 133. Henry had a second straight 67 to get to 10 under, and 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.

The event is being is played at the TPC of Louisiana, which replaced English Turn.

European/Asian -- Ernie Els shot a 10-under 62 in a round played with preferred lies to take a four-stroke lead halfway through the Asian Open at Shanghai.

The South African's round was the lowest at Shanghai's Tomson Pudong Golf Club but was not considered a record because the golfers could pick up balls and clean them on approach shots.

Els, ranked No. 3 in the world, made eight birdies and eagled the par-5 ninth hole. He was at 15-under 129 after two rounds.

Eddie Lee was second after a 66 to leave him at 133. Raphael Jacquelin was at 134 after a second consecutive 67. Tied at 136 were Thomas Bjorn, Jean Van De Velde, Jean-Francois Lucquin, and Simon Wakefield.

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

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

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.

Champions -- Curtis Strange fired a 5-under 67 to take the lead after the first round of the Fed-Ex Kinko's Classic at Lakeway, Texas.