CARNOUSTIE, July 29, 2011 (AFP) - Playing in the final group, Germany's Caroline Masson shot a flawless seven under par 65 to take the surprise halfway lead at the Women's British Open at Carnoustie on Friday.
The 22-year-old finished a shot ahead of the field on 11 under par.
Winner of the Ladies' European Tour School in December, Masson finished one ahead of two South Koreans -- first round leader, Lee Meena (69), and Park Inbee (64).
Pak Se Ri was in the next group on eight under, while defending champion, Yani Tseng, was well within striking range on seven under following a 66.
"This is absolutely awesome," claimed a clearly shocked Masson. "It is quite unbelievable. I didn't expect to lead but it has been two great days. I love links golf, but I had never played Carnoustie before, but I had seen it on TV."
Masson started out as a tennis player but switched to golf and is one of a group of rising German golf stars. In fact, she has the same coach, Gunther Kessler, as Martin Kaymer.
Park and Pak have a lot in common and the two former US Open champions shot matching second round scores of 64 and set their sights on another major title. Park had nine birdies, while Pak had a flawless eight birdie round.
It was Pak who sparked a revolution in Korean women's golf.
She won two majors - the LPGA Championship and the US Women's Open - and another two titles in a sensational rookie season in 1998 and it was her success that led to so many of her fellow-country women following in her footsteps.
Park was only nine years old in 1998, but she watched Pak win on TV and it led to her moving to America to pursue a dream of becoming a professional. Ten years later, and she lifted the US Women's Open title at Interlachen in Minnesota.
"Se Ri was a huge inspiration," said Park, the world No.13.
"This week has been great, although I am surprised by the weather. I thought it was going to be cold and wet and windy. It's been very nice to us."
Pak has won five majors and won the Women's British Open the first year it gained major status, at Sunningdale in 2001. The 33-year-old admits that she is now a much more relaxed player than in her youth, and she even allows herself the odd indulgence.
"When I go out for dinner I now have a couple of beers instead of coffee," she said.
"I am very proud of the way so many Koreans have followed behind me. They are all like my baby little sisters."
Tseng highlighted her round with a five foot putt for an eagle three at the 14th and admitted she was "very happy" with her first two days work.
"I went out feeling very confident and comfortable," said the winner from Royal Birkdale last year.
"But I'm hoping there is going to be lots of wind and rain at the weekend. That's what we expect at a British Open."
The cut fell on one over par and one surprise casualty was Japan's Ai Miyazato, who won the Evian Masters last Sunday. She shot 76 and 71 to miss by two shots.
Leading and selected first round scores in the Women's British Open at Carnoustie Golf Club, Scotland on Friday (USA unless stated, par 72):
133 - Caroline Masson (GER) 68-65
134 - Lee Meena (KOR) 65-69, Park Inbee (KOR) 70-64
136 - Choi Na Yeon (KOR) 69-67, Pak Se Ri (KOR) 72-64, Dewi Claire Schreefel 70-66
137 - Yani Tseng (TPE) 71-66
138 - Mika Miyazato (JPN) 69-69, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 69-69, Amy Yang (KOR) 68-70, Brittany Lincicome 67-71
139 - Linda Wessberg (SWE) 73-66, Paula Creamer 69-70, Sophie Giquel (FRA) 71-68, Catriona Matthew (GBR) 70-69, Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 68-71, Pat Hurst 70-69
140 - Tiffany Joh 71-69, Momoko Ueda (JPN) 69-71, Angela Stanford 68-72, Brittany Lang 70-70, Park Hee Young (KOR) 70-70
141 - Yoo Sun Young (KOR) 71-70, Ji Eun Hee (KOR) 70-71, Karrie Webb (AUS) 70-71, Cindy Lacrosse 72-69, Morgan Pressel 70-71, Cristie Kerr 72-69, Beth Allen 71-70, Kim Song-Hee (KOR) 69-72, Maria Hjorth (SWE) 72-69, Sandra Gal (GER) 71-70, Vicky Hurst 70-71, Shin Jiyai (KOR) 75-66, Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 70-71, Amy Hung (TPE) 69-72, Danielle Kang 72-69
Selected
142 - Michelle Wie 74-68, Ahn Sun Ju (KOR) 71-71, Karen Stupples (GBR) 74-68
143 - Kim In-Kyung (KOR) 71-72, Seo Hee Kyung (KOR) 72-71
144 - Choi Chella (KOR) 74-70, Miki Saiki (JPN) 72-72, Han Hee-Won (KOR) 73-71, Kang Jimin (KOR) 74-70, Hiromi Mogi (JPN) 72-72
145 - Kang Haeji (KOR) 75-70, Candie Kung (TPE) 72-73, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 70-75
Missed cut
146 - Pak Jin young (KOR) 73-73, M.J. Hur (KOR) 73-73, Kristie Smith (AUS) 70-76
147 - Frances Bondad (AUS) 72-75, Juli Inkster 73-74, Lee Seon Hwa (KOR) 76-71, Ashleigh Simon (RSA) 74-73, Yuri Fudoh (JPN) 73-74, Ai Miyazato (JPN) 76-71, Natalie Gulbis 71-76
148 - Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) 71-77, Sarah-jane Smith (AUS) 77-71, Grace Park (KOR) 76-72, Aree Song (KOR) 73-75, Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 75-73
149 - Mindy Kim (KOR) 72-77, Lee Jee Young (KOR) 74-75, Sarah Kemp (AUS) 76-73
150 - Lynnette Teresa Brooky (NZL) 75-75, Laura Davies (GBR) 73-77
151 - Kim Yoo kyeong (KOR) 73-78, Sakura Yokomine (JPN) 81-70
152 - Lindsey Wright (AUS) 77-75, Karen Lunn (AUS) 81-71, Kim Mi-Hyun (KOR) 76-76, Bae Kyeong (KOR) 75-77
153 - Connie Chen (RSA) 75-78
157 - Stacey Keating (AUS) 79-78