Celine Boutier (Montrouge, France) fired a 6-under, 66 on Friday to take the 18-hole lead at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at Battle Creek Country Club. Boutier ended her day by sticking her approach shot on 18 to inches to hold a one shot lead into the weekend over Lindsey Weaver (Bellefontaine, Ohio), Mia Piccio (Bacolod City, Philippines) and Sarah Schmelzel (Phoenix, Arizona). Erynne Lee (Silverdale, Washington), who won two weeks ago, is two shots back at 4-under, 68.
Wind was a factor on Friday. Gusts peaked at 29 miles-an-hour and the breeze was consistent at 14 miles-an-hour for much of the day.
Boutier, 23, already has a victory this season (Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic) and ranks third on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.
The first-place payout of $15,000 would likely secure her LPGA Tour card for the 2018 season.
The former Duke Blue Devils All-American started strong with birdies on holes three, four, five and eight to turn in 32. She made bogey on 13, but finished with birdies on 15, 16 and 18.
“I feel like I had a really solid round today,” said Boutier. “I feel like everything was going my way, I was hitting the ball well and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities.”
Boutier had about 160 yards to the pin on the challenging 18th hole with a back pin on a forward sloping green. She hit a beautiful 6-iron to inches.
“I’m really happy about that shot because that green is really hard,” said Boutier. “To stick it that close made it a lot easier to make a putt.”
Boutier, a rookie on Tour, said she feels really comfortable at Battle Creek Country Club.
“The tee shots are pretty narrow, but they kind of fit my eye,” said Boutier. “The wind direction also really made sense to me. I was focused, but relaxed throughout the round.”
Boutier has five top 10 finishes this season and nine top 20’s.
She was the 2013-14 National Player of the Year at Duke and recorded four career wins.
Boutier played in the 2014 and 2016 Evian Championship, a major on the LPGA, in her home country of France and will have a chance to qualify next week at the PHC Classic. She said it isn’t her top priority, but it would be a nice bonus.
“It’s a major and it is in France so of course it would be amazing, but I’m not putting pressure on myself,” said Boutier. “Right now, my goal is to finish in the top 10 on the Epson Tour so maybe next year I’ll be able to qualify.”
)
)
)
)
