Paulson two strokes off pace at British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Three months after leading the first round

in golf’s first major championship of 2000, Dennis Paulson of Santa Ana

Country Club and formerly of Costa Mesa High shot lights-out golf once

again in the opening round Thursday of the British Open on the Old

Course.

Paulson, a former national long-drive champion whose game is perfectly

suited for St. Andrews’ historic links, shot 4-under-par 68 and is tied

with others for fourth place, trailing leader Ernie Els, who managed to

upstage Tiger Woods (Big Canyon Country Club) in the first round of the

British Open with a 6-under 66.

Woods and Steve Flesch are tied for second place at 5-under 67 and

were in the clubhouse when Els passed them in the afternoon.

Paulson, who continues to enjoy his finest year on the PGA Tour, won

the Buick Classic earlier this year at Harrison, N.Y., in a playoff.

Six players, including Paulson and Tom Lehman, were two shots back on

a day when the winds were light and the scoring conditions perfect.