Our national Célines, the only two French women to compete this week in the tournament which will close the Asian tour of the LPGA Tour, have started their Blue Bay LPGA rather well, which will end on Saturday after 72 holes.

Blue Bay LPGA: Boutier and Herbin in ambush

Céline Herbin and Céline Boutier - Photos: DR

Céline Herbin was perfectly placed after thirteen clear holes (-2), but the experienced golfer from Avranches unfortunately conceded a double-bogey at 14 and a bogey at 16 to finish beyond par and top 20 (+ 1).

Special mention to Céline Boutier who managed to sign a card under par despite three bogeys in a row from 9 to 11. The young Francilienne is in the top 10 at -1 (71) after eighteen holes.

It remains a good start for our two French representatives in this tournament without a cut reserved for 81 golfers (80 since the abandonment of the German Sandra Gal).

Thailand's Thidapa Suwannapura is alone in the lead at -4, a stroke better than her compatriot Ariya Jutanugarn, world number one and player of the year on the LPGA Tour, and Canada's Alena Sharp.

Holder of the title in front of her audience in Hainan, China's Shanshan Feng is only 48th after a card of 75 (+3).