TURNBERRY, Scotland (Ticker) -- Candie Kung enjoyed quite a surprise party on her 21st birthday.

Kung fired a 7-under-par 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Karrie Webb after the first round of the Women's British Open at famed Turnberry Golf Club.

Defending champion Se Rik Pak of Korea shot a 67 and is tied for third with American Tina Barrett and two others at 5-under in the year's final major.

Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, the top golfer in the world, struggled with a 73.

The first time the British Open was played as one of the LPGA Tour's four majors, replacing the du Maurier Classic, Sorenstam tied for 32nd last season.

A three-time American Junior Golf Association All-American who turned pro last August, Kung enjoyed top-10 finishes in her last two tournaments but last played a links course competitively two years ago in Germany. On Thursday, she birdied four of her last five holes and finished 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 in 2-under, Kung birdied the par-4, 410-yard 10th after leaving a 6-iron about a foot from the hole.

"That was a good way to start the back nine," Kung said. "I had 170 to the pin."

She birdied the par-5 14th with two putts from 30 feet and made another birdie at 15 after hitting a 6-iron to three feet.

"I hit a 6-iron and it kicked off the hill from the left to about three feet, made the putt," Kung said.

Kung finishd with back-to-back birdies. At the par-5 17th, she hit a 3-wood about 10 feet short of the front of the green and chipped to five feet. On 18, she used her pitching wedge to get within six feet.

Kung tied for ninth at the Big Apple Classic two weeks ago and was seventh at the Wendy's Championship for Children last week.

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 are 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," she 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. At No. 13, she hit a 6-iron to 30 feet. At No. 14, she chipped to six feet.

Like Kung, Webb birdied the final two holes. She chipped to about five feet at 17 and used a wedge to get within 18 feet at 18.

Pak is back after claiming last year's title at Sunningdale Golf Club, even though she vowed she would not return to links golf after carding a 20-over 308 at Lytham St. Annes in her rookie season four years ago.

She started with a bogey after her second shot landed in a greenside bunker.

"Other than that, I was pretty good," said Pak, who recovered with six birdies. "My putting is still perfect and that's giving me a lot of confidence. That's why now, any kind of golf course I feel confident right now. Back in 1998, I don't think I had any idea of the different conditions on the golf course."

Pak made two-putt birdies at the third and seventh holes, then rolled in a 20-footer at the 11th. At the 13th, she used a gap wedge to set up a six-foot birdie and made a 10-footer at No. 17.

Pak has won two events this season to increase her career total to 15. Although she's only been on the LPGA Tour since 1997, she has four major victories, including this year's LPGA Championship.

Barrett, Elisabeth Esterl and Australia's Rachel Teske are tied with Pak at 67.

Barrett had a chance to tie Webb for second place but missed a five-foot birdie putt on the last hole.

"I putted really well all day, so I really can't complain," Barrett said. "I pushed it just a touch and it lipped out. It could have easily lipped in, too."

Esterl could have tied for second but made a three-put bogey at No. 18.

Coming off back-to-back wins, Korea's Mi Hyun Kim birdied three of her final five holes and shot a 4-under 68.

American Emilee Klein, the 1996 champion, also carded a 68 and is tied with Kim, Carin Koch of Sweden, Mhairi McKay of Scotland and Federica Dassu of Italy.

Turnberry has been the site of the men's British Open three times, including Tom Watson's memorable one-shot win over Jack Nicklaus in 1977.