GREENWOOD, South Carolina, May 14, 2017 - Celine Boutier (Montrouge, France) made a birdie on the first playoff hole to win the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic on Sunday at The Links at Stoney Point over Paola Moreno (Cali, Colombia). Moreno, who led by two shots going into the day, made bogey on the playoff hole. Boutier and Moreno finished tied after 72 holes at 10-under, 278.
Boutier posted an even-par 72 on Sunday to get into the playoff with Moreno, who tallied a 2-over, 74 to fall back to the field.
Boutier earns the first-place check of $30,000 and moves from 20th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list to second. She has now earned $39,295 in six starts as a rookie.
“I’m just pretty relieved that the playoff is over, it was pretty stressful for me,” admitted Boutier. “I’m really proud of how I handled the pressure this week.”
Prior to the season, Boutier made it a goal to win on the Epson Tour. She just didn’t know it would come this early in the season.
“I’m a little surprised it happened this early in the season, but I am super excited about it,” said the 23-year-old. “I tried during the playoff not to think about the consequences and the big picture of a win. I just stuck to one shot at a time and didn’t think about what a win would mean.”
The three previous winners in Greenwood - Wei-Ling Hsu (2014), Alejandra Llaneza (2015) and Madelene Sagstrom (2016) - all went onto to finish inside the top 10 to earn a spot on the LPGA.
Boutier had to fight all day to just get to the playoff with Moreno, who made birdie on the first hole to build a four shot lead on Boutier, who bogeyed number one. Boutier got within a shot after back-to-back birdies on six and seven. Moreno faltered on the back nine with bogeys on 12, 14 and 16 while Boutier made eight pars on the back nine to get to the playoff.
Boutier hit a great second shot on the par-5 18th on the first playoff hole from 220-yards out to just short of the green. She chipped on to three feet and easily made birdie. Moreno missed the green long and right with her approach and had a tough chip back to the pin and made bogey.
“Because of my downhill lie on the second shot, I was able to keep it low so my 3-wood was able to travel quite far,” explained Boutier. “I had a small chip of just ten yards and then made the putt for birdie.”
Boutier has now finished inside the top 20 in four consecutive starts on the Epson Tour and has three total top 10 finishes.
Boutier graduated from Duke in 2016 before turning professional. She was part of the 2014 National Championship team and won four times as an individual. She was the 2013-14 WGCA National Player of the Year.
The win was extra sweet for Boutier as her mother, Jacqueline, was following every step of the way in Greenwood.
“I’m so happy that she was here and was able to witness it on Mother’s Day,” said Boutier. “I’m so grateful for the support and everything she does for me.”
Moreno battled early in the week after a 2-over, 74 on day one. She rebounded with back-to-back 65’s to grab the 54-hole lead, but came up short.
“I played great golf and I leave super happy with my performance,” said Moreno. “I did my best today and I came up short. Celine played great golf and she won it. I have been playing super solid all year and I hope a win comes soon.”
Moreno moves from 33rd to sixth on the new money list with her solo second place check of $19,363.
Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada) finished in solo third place to move to the top of the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Her fifth top 10 of the season moves her to $39,387.
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