Andrew Cohoon, Associated Press Arjun Atwal of India hits from the trap guarding the ninth green in the second round of the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., yesterday. Click photo for larger image.

India's Arjun Atwal overcame gusting winds yesterday to shoot a 4-under 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 11-under 133. Henry had a second consecutive 67 to get to 10 under, and Chris DiMarco, playing in his first event since losing the Masters in a playoff to Tiger Woods, 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 yesterday, 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."

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.

At 10 under heading to the par-5 18th, DiMarco hit his tee shot into the water to the right of the fairway and scrambled to make a double-bogey 7.

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

DiMarco made bogey at Nos. 6, 9, and 15, but made eagle at the par-5 seventh and had three birdies on the back nine.

"I need a birdie on [No.] 1 [today] and I'll be fine," DiMarco said. "Every bogey I made [yesterday], I made a birdie right after."

Atwal, playing on a sponsor's exemption, has made 12 cuts in 30 starts and has two top-10 finishes. Last year, he finished in the money in 14 of the 30 events he played.

Other tournaments

Asian Open: Ernie Els shot a 10-under 62 in a round played with preferred lies to take a four-stroke lead in Shanghai, China. 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. New Zealand's Eddie Lee was second after a 66 to leave him at 133.

FedEx Kinko's Classic: The rookies ruled in Austin, Texas. Two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange posted his best tournament score this season with a 5-under 67 after just 23 putts. Fellow first-year player and native Texan Brad Bryant trailed by a stroke with Mark Johnson, who drove a beer truck 18 years before earning conditional status last season on the Champions Tour.

Franklin American Mortgage Championship: Liselotte Neumann shot a 5-under 67 to take the lead in a soggy second round at 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. First-round leader Kris Tschetter, playing in the next-to-last group, was at 2 under through six holes.