CARNOUSTIE, July 28, 2011 (AFP) - South Korea's Lee Meena battle through the harshest conditions, but emerged without a bogey on her card to lead the first round of the Women's British Open by two shots with a terrific seven under par 65 on Thursday. On a day that started with sublime sunshine, 29-year-old Lee played all 18 holes in torrential rain but still managed seven birdies, all of them from inside the 12-foot range.
Even she admitted: "It couldn't really have been any better."
A two-time winner on the LPGA Tour - in Canada in 2005 and in Hawaii the following year - Lee finished two shots ahead of American Brittany Lincicome and three better than a group of four that included the top two Europeans, Germany's Caroline Masson and Swede Sophie Gustafson.
Taiwan's Yani Tseng, the defending champion and world No.1, birdied the 18th to stay well in touch on one under par 71, while world No.2, Cristie Kerr, was a further shot back on 72.
Lee has had a patchy season, but she did have a top six at another of the majors, the LPGA Championship.
"It was raining, but not too hard," said Lee, who now lives in Orlando in Florida and numbers South Korean legend, Pak Se Ri, among her regular practice partners. "Today I played well and putted even better."
The manner of her score also reflected the quality of her approach shots - all seven birdies came from inside 12 feet.
Lincicome is the longest hitter on the LPGA Tour and she overpowered the 467 yard 14th - a drive and four iron to ten feet - for an eagle to set alongside five birdies.
She also dropped two shots, one at the long sixth where she was an inch from going out of bounds and was forced to take a penalty drop.
"This is a great golf course and it really suits my game," said the 25-year-old, who finished in the top ten at Royal Birkdale last year. "I always love the British Open; everything about it is beautiful."
Gustafson, another of the big hitters, won the title at Birkdale in 2000, the year before the event became a major, and she would love to claim one of the women's big four titles.
She had seven birdies and Masson made six in rounds of 68 that were matched by South Korean Amy Yang and American Angela Stanford.
Another impressive European was Caroline Hedwall, the Swedish rookie who has already won the Slovak Open and Finnair Masters this season. She posted a 69 to enhance her hopes of a Solheim Cup wild card selection.
Leading and selected first round scores in the Women's British Open at Carnoustie Golf Club, Scotland on Thursday (USA unless stated, par 72):
65 - Lee Meena (KOR)
67 - Brittany Lincicome
68 - Caroline Masson (GER), Amy Yang (KOR), Angela Stanford, Sophie Gustafson (SWE)
69 - Paula Creamer, Mika Miyazato (JPN), Choi Na Yeon (KOR), Caroline Hedwall (SWE), Momoko Ueda (JPN), Lorie Kane (CAN), Amy Hung (TPE), Kim Song-Hee (KOR)
70 - Morgan Pressel, Ji Eun Hee (KOR), Catriona Matthew (GBR), Karrie Webb (AUS), Park Inbee (KOR), Becky Brewerton (GBR), Brittany Lang, Pat Hurst, Kristie Smith (AUS), Vicky Hurst, Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Dewi Claire Schreefel, Sophia Popov (GER), Park Hee Young (KOR), Feng Shanshan (CHN)
71 - Beth Allen, Reilley Rankin, Julieta Granada (PAR), Katie Futcher, Yani Tseng (TPE), Georgina Simpson (GBR), Kim In-Kyung (KOR), Sophie Giquel (FRA), Tiffany Joh, Yoo Sun Young (KOR), Holly Aitchison (GBR), Lee-Anne Pace (RSA), Kristy McPherson, Sandra Gal (GER), Rebecca Codd (IRL), Rachel Jennings (GBR), Ahn Sun Ju (KOR), Natalie Gulbis
Selected
72 - Frances Bondad (AUS), Miki Saiki (JPN), Soo Hee Kyung (KOR), Candie Kung (TPE), Kim Mindy (KOR), Pak Se Ri (KOR), Hiromi Mogi (JPN)
73 - Yuri Fudoh (JPN), Juli Inkster, Han Hee-Won (KOR), Son Aree (KOR), Kim Yoo kyeong (KOR), Pak Jin young (KOR), M.J. Hur (KOR), Laura Davies (GBR)
74 - Choi Chella (KOR), Lee Jee Young (KOR), Kang Jimin (KOR), Michelle Wie, Ashleigh Simon (RSA)
75 - Shin Jiyai (KOR), Connie Chen (RSA), Bae Kyeong (KOR), Kang Haeji (KOR), Lynnette Teresa Brooky (NZL)
76 - Suzann Pettersen (NOR), Grace Park (KOR), Ai Miyazato (JPN), Lee Seon Hwa (KOR), Kim Mi-Hyun (KOR), Sarah Kemp (AUS)
77 - Lindsey Wright (AUS), Sarah-jane Smith (AUS)
81 - Karen Lunn (AUS), Sakura Yokomine (JPN)