Céline Boutier secured her seventh LPGA Tour victory at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, New Jersey, on Sunday. The French golfer carded a final-round 66, five under par, to finish at -9, narrowly edging out competitors.
This win marks Boutier's first LPGA title in over two years, a significant achievement coming just one week before the start of the US Women's Open, the season's second major championship. Boutier, originally from Clamart, was second after 36 holes, trailing Soo Bin Joo by four strokes. The field was notably without nine of the world's top ten players.
Boutier's performance on Sunday saw her make a decisive comeback. She briefly held the outright lead at -8 after a birdie on the tenth hole, though Joo quickly equalized with a birdie on the ninth. Boutier's round was characterized by precise play and crucial saves, including a notable chip shot on the 13th hole.
Career Milestones and Context
The ShopRite LPGA Classic win adds to Boutier's career accolades, which include six previous LPGA Tour victories. She previously won the Evian Championship in 2023, and also secured titles at the Victorian Open, Sanya Ladies Open, and Australian Ladies Classic earlier in her career.
Her integration into the LPGA circuit began in 2018, following successful stints on the Symetra Tour and Ladies European Tour. Post-pandemic, Boutier saw a resurgence, marked by a victory at the Open de France and this recent ShopRite LPGA Classic triumph, propelling her into the top 30 of the world rankings.
The timing of this victory is particularly salient given the imminent US Women's Open, a major tournament where Boutier has shown strong form in the past, achieving top-five finishes at the US Open (2019), Chevron Championship (2022), and Women's British Open (2019).
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