GOLF ROUNDUP : Els on Unfamiliar Ground With a Lead on U.S. Soil

South African Ernie Els shot a bogey-free 66 Friday to take his first tournament lead in the United States, a one-shot advantage midway through the Buick Classic.

Els’ eight-under-par total of 134 at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y., left him one stroke ahead of first-round leader Mike Reid, who shot a 70 Friday.

Japan’s Joe Ozaki had a 67 and was tied for third at 136 with John Wilson, who shot a 68.

Els, 24, has had success in major international tournaments, with top-10 finishes at two British Opens, the 1993 U.S. Open and the 1994 Masters. A regular player on the European PGA Tour, he has played in 16 events on the American tour since 1990 and has won almost $80,000 in five U.S. tournaments this year.

Fred Couples, competing for the first time in three months because of back problems, had a 69 and was at 139. Greg Norman had a 67 and was among a group of five at 140.

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Gibby Gilbert shot a seven-under 65 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the PGA Senior Tour Nationwide Championship in Alpharetta, Ga.

Bruce Devlin and Jim Albus each posted 66s, Devlin missing a share of the lead when he three-putted the final hole from 15 feet for bogey.

Gilbert recorded nine birdies, including a 35-foot putt on 17 and a 20-footer on 16. He missed a two-footer for a bogey on No. 3 and his other bogey came at 15 when his 15-foot par putt failed to drop.

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Jane Geddes and Nanci Bowen shot five-under 67s to share the first-round lead at the Minnesota LPGA Classic in Brooklyn Park, Minn., and Beth Daniel, seeking her third victory in as many weeks, was three strokes back.

Daniel, winner of 29 LPGA events--one short of qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame, was tied with eight others.