VETERAN Bobby Wadkins, a non-winner in 658 events on the PGA Tour, putted superbly to lead after the first round at the Buick Challenge yesterday.

"I putted like Ben Crenshaw. I have his caddie this week. Maybe it's rubbing off on me," Wadkins said after a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 in a testing breeze at pretty Callaway Gardens.

He stood one stroke ahead of fellow American Jim McGovern, while Davis Love, Olin Browne, Michael Bradley, Stewart Cink and Len Mattiace were two shots behind.