Women's British Open has surprise leader

TURNBERRY, Scotland, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Candie Kung fired a 7-under-par 65 on her 21st birthday Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Karrie Webb after the first round of the Women's British Open at the famed Turnberry Golf Club.

Defending champion Se Rik Pak shot a 67 and was tied for third at 5-under in the year's final major.

A three-time American Junior Golf Association All-American who turned pro last August, Kung last played a links course competitively two years ago in a World Amateur in Germany. On Thursday, she birdied four of her last five holes to finish a bogey-free round with a 31 on the back nine.

Asked if she had any other plans for her 21st birthday, Kung said:

"I don't know. Is there any fun place around here?"

Born in Taiwan, Kung's family moved to the United States in 1995 and she started playing golf at the age of 13.

"I had nothing to do at that time and that's how I got started," Kung said. "We moved to the States because of my brother. He was here for school and we had to move over here for high school and college. Now he's done with school. He caddied for me earlier in the year."

Kung attended the University of Southern California, where she was a two-time All-American and the 2000 Pac-10 Conference champion.

After completing the front nine at 2-under, Kung birdied the par-4, 410-yard 10th with a 6-iron that landed about a foot from the hole. She had a birdie on the par-5 14th with two putts from 30 feet and another birdie on No. 15 after hitting a 6-iron to three feet.

Kung finishd strong with birdies on the final two holes. At the par-5 17th, Kung hit her 3-wood 10 feet short of the front and chipped from five feet. On 18, she used her pitching wedge to six feet for her final birdie.

Although she has just one title in 2002, Webb is always a threat and won Wednesday's pro-am at Turnberry, which is hosting the Women's British Open for the first time. Of Webb's 27 LPGA Tour victories, five have been majors.

A two-time Player of the Year from Australia, Webb had seven birdies and a bogey.

"Obviously, I was very pleased to shoot 6-under today," Webb said. "On this course, even as easy as the conditions were today, I don't think you ever expect to go out there and shoot 6-under, so I felt really good about that."

Webb birdied four of her last six holes.

Pak shared third place with Tina Barrett, Rachel Teske and Elisabeth Esterl while those at 4-under included Carin Koch, Mi Hyun Kim and Mhairi McKay.