Caroline MassonSCOTT HEPPELL
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland - Germany's Caroline Masson shot a 7-under 65 Friday to take a surprising one-stroke lead after the second round of the Women's British Open.
Playing in the last group of the day, the 22-year-old Masson had seven birdies without a bogey on the Carnoustie Golf Links to move to 11-under 133, one stroke ahead of South Korea's Inbee Park and Meena Lee.
Masson, competing in only her second season on the European Tour, had four birdies in a front-nine 32.
"I've just had two great days out there and I'm very happy to be playing so well," Masson said. "I've played really solid, hit the fairways, hit the greens and made some putts. It's been awesome."
Park had nine birdies and a bogey in a 64, while Lee, who started the second round of the major with a two-stroke lead, closed with two birdies in a 69.
"It was a very solid day," Park said. "I putted pretty good out there and hit it really good, so I'm looking forward to the next two days."
Three players were at 8 under: Dewi-Claire Schreefel of the Netherlands, who had a 66 on Friday, and South Koreans Se Ri Pak, the 2001 champion who had a 64, and Na Yeon Choi, who had a 67.
Defending champion Yani Tseng from Taiwan was another stroke back after a second-round 66.
"I'm very happy with the position I'm in," she said.
Brittany Lincicome was the highest-placed American at 6-under 138 but she was disappointed with her round of 71.
"I just couldn't get anything going today. I had 32 putts out there, which means I wasn't hitting my second shots close enough, or I just wasn't making anything," she said. "But I'm happy with where I am going into the weekend."
Tied with Lincicome were European Tour rookie Caroline Hedwall of Sweden and Japan's Mika Miyazato, who matched their opening 69s, and South Korean Amy Yang, who had a 70.
In a group at 5 under was Paula Creamer.
"If I just go out and make as many birdies as I have been and eliminate the bogies then I feel I'll be right there on Sunday," said Creamer, who had a second-round 70.
Lorie Kane of Charlottetown got off to a good start before struggling down the stretch. Birdies on two of her first six holes got her to five under and within five of the lead. However, she played the back nine in 41 with three bogeys, two double bogeys and two birdies for a two day total of 1-over par to finish right on the cut line.
Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., and Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., will miss the weekend cut after shooting 72 and 73 respectively on Friday. Sharp's even par round left her at 5-over for the tournament while Sherlock is at 6-over through two rounds.
Among the notables missing the cut were Evian Masters winner Ai Miyazato, who shot 76 and 71 to miss the weekend by two shots.
England's Laura Davies was on track to make cut as she teed off on No. 18. But Davies' hopes of playing on the weekend were dashed with a 9 on the final hole. Davies, who won the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale in 1986, hit into Barry Burn twice on the hole and found herself in a bunker before three-putting to finish at 6-over-par and miss the cut by five strokes.
Perhaps the unluckiest player of the day was American Angela Stanford, who was at 4 under after a 72. She could have been two better but for a bizarre incident on the final hole.
A steward indicated that her second ball had gone out of bounds, so she played another but didn't declare it "provisional."
Her first ball had kicked back inbounds, but when she got to it it was too late as her second ball was now the ball in play. So she was on the green in four and two-putted for a 6.
"I learned something today," Stanford said. "I didn't think I had to ever say `provisional,' but I guess you always say `provisional."'