Burton, King Linked by Sub-Par Rounds

Brandie Burton and Betsy King mastered the wind, the rain and a demanding links course Thursday to take the lead in the Women’s British Open with the only sub-par rounds of the day.

They shot one-under 71s in conditions that left players such as Se Ri Pak, Laura Davies, Liselotte Neumann and defending champion Karrie Webb in the high 70s at the Royal Lytham course in Lytham St. Anne’s, England.

Two-time champion Webb started with a 76; Pak, winner of two majors in her rookie season, labored to a 78; and Davies and Neumann struggled to 79s.

“Club selection was very trying and wore you down mentally,” said Burton, who was among the early starters. “You didn’t know what would happen downwind when the ball was in the air.”

King, on her 43rd birthday, went out three hours later when the wind was even stronger. She could have had the lead outright but was bothered by the conditions at the 17th and took a bogey.

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Kellee Booth of Coto de Caza beat Eve Lux of Highland, N.Y., 6 and 5 in the morning and came back with a 5 and 4 victory over Leilani Bagby of Santa Monica in the afternoon during the first day of match play in the 98th U.S. Women’s Amateur championship at Ann Arbor, Mich.

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In Front

Leaders after Thursday’s play (Complete scores, C15):

WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN--Par 72

Brandie Burton: 34-37--71 -1

Betsy King: 34-37--71 -1

Trish Johnson: 34-38--72 E