Qualifier Atwal in Hunt, Two Strokes Behind Els

Ernie Els held the lead Thursday after one round of the Buick Classic tournament in Harrison, N.Y., with his six-under-par 65. Mike Reid and Steve Elkington were tied for second at 66.

Who was that tied with Greg Norman, David Frost, Costantino Rocca and John Wilson at 67?

It’s Arjun Atwal, a household name in golf, as long as the household is in Calcutta.

Atwal, 23, won two national junior college championships at Nassau Community College on Long Island. He is a veteran of the Omega tour in Asia and once won $11,500 at the Masters--the Gadjil Masters in India.

He also is realistic.

“I was just looking to shoot somewhere near par,” said Atwal, who made the field in local qualifying.

“I didn’t think about anything,” Atwal said. “I was just thinking about each shot. . . . I wasn’t thinking ahead of myself. I don’t know why. I should have been, I guess.”

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Defending champion Dale Eggeling, the wire-to-wire leader last year, Gail Graham and Dana Dormann held the lead at six-under-par 66 after one rain-interrupted round of the LPGA Oldsmobile Classic at East Lansing, Mich.

In fading light, Dormann chipped in on the final hole to join the leaders, all of whom had to wait out a 3 1/2-hour rain delay.

The three were one stroke ahead of Alison Nicholas and Melissa McNamara, who finished their opening rounds, and Kim Saiki, who had one hole remaining when play was suspended for the day.

Saiki is among 24 players who will conclude their opening rounds today before the second round begins.