Tag: Celine Boutier

Celine Boutier captures 2023 Amundi Evian Championship on home soil for first major title

Capping off a dream week, the native of Clamart, France, stormed to her first major championship on home soil.

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After her third round on Saturday, Celine Boutier admitted she was playing “mind games” with herself, trying hard to pretend that the 2023 Amundi Evian was just another tournament, similar to the countless events she’s played since becoming an LPGA rookie in 2017.

“I was kind of half-joking, but I feel like the fact that my family is here and we’re staying in a house 15, 20 minutes away kind of really helps me take my mind off golf and the tournament,” Boutier said on Saturday. “I feel like that’s been helpful for me to really kind of relax and not think about golf.”

But alas, this was no ordinary event. And Boutier delivered an extraordinary performance — one that her countrymen will remember for a long time.

Capping off a dream week, the native of Clamart, France, stormed to her first major championship on home soil, taking the crown at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship by a comfortable margin. With fans cheering wildly at Evian Resort Golf Club, Boutier finished the tournament at 14 under, marking a six-stroke victory over runner-up Brooke Henderson.

Even with a three-stroke edge heading into the final round, Boutier came storming out of the gates on Sunday, posting birdies on three of the first five holes to run away from the field. Boutier, who insisted all week that a victory at the Evian would be a dream scenario, brought three LPGA titles into the week and three Ladies European Tour wins as well, including the French Open in 2021.

But this was clearly the crowning achievement of an already impressive career. Fans, organizers and even local media seemed moved by the magnitude of the victory, one that put the spotlight on French golf.

“Honestly, it has been my biggest dream ever since I started watching golf,” Boutier said after holing out a par putt on the 18th hole. “This tournament has always been very special to me, just even watching as a teenager and just to be able to hold this trophy, it’s pretty unbelievable.”

When asked if this title could be a springboard to bigger things this season, Boutier explained that this was the thing she coveted dearly.

“I think nothing else matters now that I have this trophy,” she said. “So I’m really good for the rest of the year.”

Celine Boutier of France looks on during the Final Round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 30, 2023, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Henderson, meanwhile, appeared to making a run on the front nine, as she used birdies on the fourth and ninth holes to get to 9 under, but a bogey on No. 12 seemed to take any steam out of her charge. She finished at 8 under for the tournament and 1 under for the day.

The Canadian has enjoyed plenty of success at this event, posting six top-25 finishes, but has yet to capture the crown.

“I love coming here to France. The atmosphere, the people are amazing. This course is so beautiful and a lot of fun to play,” Henderson said. “I feel like we have a good strategy for it now which is exciting. To finish I think T2 this year is amazing after coming off the win last year. I’m really proud of that. Celine played amazing, so really happy for her too.”

Nelly Korda, who fired a 64 on Saturday, didn’t enjoy as much success in the final round, shooting a 72 to finish 5 under, pushing her into a crowded tie for ninth with Rose Zhang, Atthaya Thitikul, Megan Khang and Su Ji Kim.

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Celine Boutier holds three-shot lead on home soil at 2023 Evian Championship

Can Boutier close the deal on Sunday with several big names chasing her down?

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Celine Boutier is the 15th-ranked player in the world, has won three times on the LPGA, has played in two Solheim Cups and represented France at the Olympics. But if she wins Sunday, she’ll elevate her career to the next level.

Boutier holds a three-shot lead after 54 holes of the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.

The 29-year-old followed up her first two rounds (66-69) with a 4-under 67 on Saturday to solidify her spot atop the leaderboard at 11 under.

The Frenchwoman will have to hold off a slew of big-name players on Sunday if she wants to hoist her first major championship trophy on home soil.

The low round of the day belonged to Nelly Korda, who shot a bogey-free 7-under 64. She rocketed up the board on Day 3, now sitting at T-5 with Yuka Saso, five back of Boutier.

Nasa Hataoka is alone in second at 8 under while Minjee Lee and Brooke Henderson are tied for third at 7 under.

Coverage of the final round will be available on Golf Channel from 5:30-11 a.m. ET Sunday.

Amundi Evian Championship Friday 5 things: Celine Boutier eyes win on home soil

Boutier has posted rounds of 66 and 69 to get to 7 under for the championship.

Celine Boutier has three LPGA wins. A victory this week, though, would be her biggest by far.

After 36 holes at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship in Evian-Les-Bains, France, the fourth of five LPGA majors in 2023, Boutier, a native of the host nation, holds a one-shot lead after hitting 10 of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens Friday.

Boutier has posted rounds of 66 and 69 to get to 7 under for the championship. She has 10 birdies and just three bogeys over the first two days.

She admitted to feeling the nerves of playing on home soil in a major.

“It’s definitely not easy. I feel like in the past I’ve definitely, you know, not handled it very well. I just feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself because I don’t want to disappoint anybody,” she said.”If I learned anything from the past, I really have to just focus on the job and on the course, on each shot. I feel like that’s really helped me really stay focused and not get ahead or think too much about the plans.”

Boutier is trying to treat this like any other tournament but there’s no avoiding things like doing news conferences twice, in two different languages.

“I feel like it’s a positive thing that the French media is talking about women’s golf and Evian,” she said. “I feel like anything I can do to bring more attention to the tournament and women’s golf, in general, is always a good thing.”

Heres some other things you should know about Friday’s second round.

Busy leaderboard highlights what we learned Thursday at 2023 Amundi Evian Championship

A handful of big names stumbled out the gate in France on Thursday.

The first round of the fourth women’s major championship of the year didn’t disappoint Thursday as some of the world’s best got off to hot starts at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship.

A total of 49 players made their way around the Evian Resort’s Championship course under par in the opening round in Evian-les-Bains, France, and it’s Paula Reto leading the way at 7 under. Four players are tied for second at 5 under, with another nine all locked at T-6 at 4 under.

From the players who stepped up to the big names who stumbled, here’s what we learned from the first round of the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship.

Photos: Celine Boutier through the years

View photos of Celine Boutier throughout her career.

Celine Boutier has won at every level.

With double-digit professional wins under her belt, Boutier built upon a successful amateur career that featured wins at the 2012 European Ladies Amateur Championship and the 2015 British Ladies Championship.

During her collegiate career at Duke, the Frenchwoman won four events as an individual and helped her team win the NCAA national championship in 2014. That same year, Boutier was awarded the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Player of the Year.

Turning pro upon graduating from Duke in 2016, Boutier earned her LPGA through the now-Epson Tour following a two-win season in 2017.

As an LPGA rookie in 2018, Boutier earned more than $300,000, making 16 of 25 cuts and finishing 61st on the money list. In 2019, she earned her first LPGA Tour victory at the ISPS Handa Vic Open.

With a handful of wins on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tour, Boutier continues to gain form. After beating Georgia Hall in a playoff at the LPGA Drive On Championship in March of 2023 and with top-10 finishes in four of the five women’s majors, Boutier looks to be a player in major championships in this season and beyond.

LPGA: Yu Jin Sung holds lead while Georgia Hall, Celine Boutier, Brooke Henderson lurk at 2023 Lotte Championship

Here’s how it stands after three rounds in Hawaii.

Yu Jin Sung was one of the 36-hole leaders at the LPGA’s Lotte Championship at Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, and thanks to a third-round 1-under 71, she will enter the final round with a one-shot lead.

Sung is in the field on a sponsor invitation.

On her heels is a group of players at 8 under, one of them being Georgia Hall who ranks second in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings.

After a Friday 66, Hall signed for a third-round 1-under 71. Grace Kim and Linnea Strom are with Hall at 8 under.

Nasa Hataoka and Christian Kim are among four golfers sitting two back at 7 under while Celine Boutier and Brooke Henderson are tied for ninth with two others at 6 under, three back.

Henderson and Boutier are each seeking to become the first two-time winner on the LPGA this season.

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Prize money payouts for each LPGA player at 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship

Celine Boutier’s career total has increased to $4,143,690. 

Celine Boutier collected her third LPGA trophy at the Drive On Championship in a playoff against Solheim Cup partner Georgia Hall. The Frenchwoman earned $262,500 for her efforts, bringing her career total to $4,143,690. 

With the win, 29-year-old Boutier becomes the winningest French player in LPGA history, passing major winner Patricia Meunier-Lebouc and Anne-Marie Palli.

The Drive On featured a purse of $1,750,000.

The cut number for official LPGA events changed to top 65 and ties for the 2023 season. The Drive On was the first full-field event of the season. A total of 76 players made the cut. Previously, the top 70 players and ties made the cut.

Position Player Score Earnings
T1 Celine Boutier -20* $262,500
T1 Georgia Hall -20 $160,458
3 Ayaka Furue -19 $116,401
4 Na Rin An -18 $90,045
T5 Jin Young Ko -17 $65,888
T5 Ally Ewing -17 $65,888
T7 Lilia Vu -16 $37,185
T7 Charley Hull -16 $37,185
T7 Hinako Shibuno -16 $37,185
T7 Moriya Jutanugarn -16 $37,185
T7 Stacy Lewis -16 $37,185
T7 Hae Ran Ryu -16 $37,185
T7 Maddie Szeryk -16 $37,185
T14 Cheyenne Knight -15 $26,267
T14 Celine Borge -15 $26,267
T16 Atthaya Thitikul -14 $21,159
T16 Amy Yang -14 $21,159
T16 Ariya Jutanugarn -14 $21,159
T16 Daniela Darquea -14 $21,159
T16 Emily Kristine Pedersen -14 $21,159
T16 Ruoning Yin -14 $21,159
T16 Annie Park -14 $21,159
T23 Leona Maguire -13 $15,022
T23 Yuka Saso -13 $15,022
T23 Allisen Corpuz -13 $15,022
T23 Sei Young Kim -13 $15,022
T23 Chella Choi -13 $15,022
T23 Ryann O’Toole -13 $15,022
T23 Jenny Shin -13 $15,022
T23 Lauren Coughlin -13 $15,022
T23 Pernilla Lindberg -13 $15,022
T23 Stephanie Meadow -13 $15,022
T23 Pavarisa Yoktuan -13 $15,022
T34 Jennifer Kupcho -12 $10,806
T34 Jodi Ewart Shadoff -12 $10,806
T34 Alison Lee -12 $10,806
T34 Mina Harigae -12 $10,806
T34 Jennifer Song -12 $10,806
T39 Megan Khang -11 $8,141
T39 Gaby Lopez -11 $8,141
T39 Marina Alex -11 $8,141
T39 Eun-Hee Ji -11 $8,141
T39 Patty Tavatanakit -11 $8,141
T39 Melissa Reid -11 $8,141
T39 Frida Kinhult -11 $8,141
T39 Xiaowen Yin -11 $8,141
T39 Azahara Munoz -11 $8,141
T48 Yae Eun Hong -10 $5,827
T48 In-gee Chun -10 $5,827
T48 Hannah Green -10 $5,827
T48 Nanna Koerstz Madsen -10 $5,827
T48 A Lim Kim -10 $5,827
T48 Matilda Castren -10 $5,827
T48 Perrine Delacour -10 $5,827
T48 Maude-Aimee Leblanc -10 $5,827
T48 Wei Ling Hsu -10 $5,827
T57 Nelly Korda -9 $4,586
T57 Lizette Salas -9 $4,586
T57 Chanettee Wannasaen -9 $4,586
T57 Alexa Pano -9 $4,586
T57 Dana Fall -9 $4,586
T62 Carlota Ciganda -8 $4,085
T62 Wichanee Meechai -8 $4,085
T62 Yealimi Noh -8 $4,085
T62 Caroline Inglis -8 $4,085
T66 Madelene Sagstrom -6 $3,822
T66 Gina Kim -6 $3,822
T68 Hye Jin Choi -5 $3,540
T68 Paula Reto -5 $3,540
T68 Pajaree Anannarukarn -5 $3,540
T68 Albane Valenzuela -5 $3,540
T68 Brittany Lincicome -5 $3,540
73 Bronte Law -4 $3,382
74 Minami Katsu -3 $3,338
75 Elizabeth Szokol -2 $3,298
76 Angel Yin -1 $3,256

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Celine Boutier fends off Georgia Hall in a playoff to win 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship

The 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship came down to a playoff between a pair of Solheim Cup teammates.

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz. — The 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship came down to a playoff between a pair of Solheim Cup teammates.

France’s Celine Boutier got up-and-down for a must-have tying birdie on the par-5 18th hole Sunday to get to 20 under to knot things up with England’s Georgia Hall, who also birdied the closing hole about an hour earlier.

They replayed the 18th, playing 469 yards Sunday, with Boutier hitting a similar second shot right of the green. Hall then hit her approach into the back bunker. Boutier chipped up to about four feet, setting up a birdie try. Hall, meanwhile, faced a dicey sand shot and ended up about 20 feet past the hole.

After Hall’s birdie putt missed to the left, the stage was set for Boutier to close it out, which she did, making birdie on 18 for the second time Sunday to clinch the victory, her first playoff win.

Following her round Saturday, which gave her a one-shot, 54-hole lead, Boutier said “I think I just realized that my game is good enough.” She sounds even more confident Sunday after earning the win.

“I think it’s definitely not easy to win. I feel like my game was good enough for the past couple years for sure. I just wasn’t able to win. I feel like it’s something you need to learn,” she said. “I definitely had a bunch of opportunities last year and wasn’t able to do it, so to be able to do it this early in the season this year is definitely very satisfying.”

2023 LPGA Drive On Championship
Celine Boutier holds the trophy after winning the 2023 LPGA Drive On Championship at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Arizona. (Photo: : Alex Gould/The Republic)

She proved it Sunday by winning for the second time in five tries when holding the third-round lead. She also becomes the winningest player from France in LPGA history, surpassing Anne Marie Palli, who lives in Scottsdale and followed Boutier’s group Sunday.

“It’s wonderful for her to win, and what’s so fun, and I just made her aware, she won in Australia, she won in Atlantic City and here, and Atlantic City and here are the two tournaments I won as well, on tour,” said Palli. “She’s a hard worker. She’s a great player. Yeah, and she’s very nice. I’m very excited for her.”

Hall last won just over a year ago at the 2022 Aramco Saudi Ladies International. The 2018 Women’s British Open champ also has the 2020 Cambia Portland Classic on her resume.

“Obviously fantastic to get to the position I was in. I knew I had to shoot low today, and obviously gutted about the playoff.”

Boutier’s 268 total (69-66-65-68) sets the 72-hole scoring mark. The tournament was 54-holes a year ago and while the LPGA has staged the Drive On event since 2020, the 2022 version is considered the first official event.

Japan’s Ayaka Furue finished solo third. Korea’s Narin An finished solo fourth. Defending champion Leona Maguire finished tied for 23rd.

Chip shots

Gina Kim recorded the first hole-in-one of the 2023 LPGA season when she aced the par-3 eighth hole early in Sunday’s round. “At first I was scared because I was like, ‘Oh, crap. It probably hit the pin and went down the hill or something like that.’ Then I heard my mom screaming and everyone screaming and then that’s when I realized, holy cow,” Kim said. She had a final-round 66 and tied for 66th.

Lydia Ko will remain No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings after skipping the Drive On. World No. 2 Nelly Korda, who finished tied for 57 after closing with a 1-over 73, and No. 3 Jin Young Ko, who finished tied for fifth, each came up short of supplanting Lydia Ko. Among the scenarios for Korda was a win or a solo second. For Jin Young Ko, she needed to win and have Korda finish solo third or worse.

Golfers from four different countries have won the four LPGA events so far: Boutier (France), Brooke Henderson (Canada), Jin Young Ko (Korea) and Lilia Vu (U.S.).

Tournament director Scott Wood says ticket sales, despite the tournament only having been announced in November and no title sponsor to drive promotion, reached close to 35,000 for the week.

Up next: The DIO Implant LA Open starts Thursday at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California.

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Xiyu Lin, Charley Hull tied for lead, Celine Boutier and Lydia Ko one back at Ascendant LPGA

Sunday should be a good one down in Texas.

It’s a tightly-packed leaderboard after round three of the Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America at Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas.

Xiyu Lin and Charley Hull are tied for the lead at 11 under, while Celine Boutier and Lydia Ko sit one back with 18 holes left to play.

Lin got around Old American on Saturday with a 2-under 69, while Hull couldn’t get much going, firing an even-par round of 71.

Boutier signed for the second-best round of the day, a 5-under 66, which could have been a lot better if she took advantage of the par 5s (she birdied just one of four).

Ascendant LPGA: Leaderboard

After turning with a 2-under 33, Ko’s round was derailed a bit thanks to a double-bogey five at the par-3 11th. However, she made four birdies in her last seven holes to bounce back. She finished day three with a 4-under 67.

Lexi Thompson is T-9 at 7 under while Madelene Sagstrom is T-13 at 6 under.

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Ayaka Furue fires course-record 62, captures first LPGA victory at Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open

Furue fires a 10-under 62 to set a new course record at Dundonald Links.

Sunday’s final round at the 2022 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open is one LPGA rookie Ayaka Furue won’t soon forget.

Furue torched Dundonald Links on Sunday in Ayrshire, Scotland, firing a course record and tournament record of 10-under 62 to overcome a four-stroke deficit and capture her first LPGA victory. Japan’s newest LPGA winner finished at 21 under, three shots better than Celine Boutier, who was tied for the 54-hole lead with Lydia Ko.

“My all-around game was really good,” Furue said. “The putts I needed to make, I made. My putting was really good.”

The stats back that up. She hit 17 of 18 greens and 13 of 14 fairways. She putted 26 times, recording 10 birdies and no bogeys en route to her course record. Furue made six straight birdies from Nos. 6-11. She shot 5-under 31 on each side. And she did it without lighting up the par 5s, as she birdied only one of the four three-shotters, the finishing hole.

Women's Scottish Open
Ayaka Furue of Japan plays her tee shot at the 18th hole in the final round of the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links  on July 31, 2022 in Troon, Scotland. (Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Furue, 22, began the final round four shots behind the leaders but quickly made up that ground. She birdied the par-4 first before recording four straight pars. Then the birdie streak started, and more followed on Nos. 15, 17 and 18 to finish at 21 under.

By the time the final group came to the 18th tee, Furue had locked up the victory.

Boutier shot 3-under 69 in the final round, which included seven birdies. Ko, who led after 36 holes, shot her second straight 1-under 71 after back-to-back rounds of 65 to open the tournament. Ko finished five shots behind Furue in a tie for fifth place.

Hyo-Joo Kim and Cheyenne Knight finished tied for third at 17 under, four shots behind Furue.

The win could be pivotal for Furue heading into the final women’s major championship of the season next week, the AIG Women’s British Open at Muirfield.

“It builds up a lot of confidence,” Furue said. “I look forward to more tournaments and next week.”

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