Congratulations and Happy Birthday Céline Boutier for this superb 3rd place at the Blue Bay LPGA in China and for the best performance of her season on the US circuit! A fine card from 66 which closes the last round with two shots from the leader Gaby Lopez, offers the Frenchwoman from Montrouge her ticket for the final of the LPGA circuit next week at the CME Group Tour Championship, in Florida.

Céline Boutier presents her first LPGA Tour podium for her birthday

Céline Boutier - © Alexis Orloff - Source: ffgolf

Gaby Lopez: first victory for Mexico since Lorena Ochoa

Sometimes when you scribble your name in the record book, success is boosted by the names next to yours. And sometimes, when success comes, the thrill of victory is heightened by the obstacles overcome. Both of those things were true for Gaby Lopez on Saturday when her one-stroke victory in the Blue Bay LPGA united her with legendary Lorena Ochoa, the only Mexican Tour winner after Gaby persevered in a final showdown with the two best players in the world.

Ahead of the tour, Lopez made it clear she was playing for her country as she dressed in Mexico's national colors; and after defeating number 1 in the Rolex ranking Ariya Jutanugarn, the 25-year-old, pure product of the University of Arkansas, dedicates this trophy  to his grandfather, Jose Lopez, who died earlier this year.

Taking a shot ahead of Jutanugarn in the final, thanks in part to a hole-in-one at the 17th, a feat praised by Ochoa on Twitter, Lopez widened the margin to four strokes when arriving on the nine back. Then, while Jutanugarn was sprinting by chaining three birdies, Lopez made a roller coaster course on the nine back, achieving four birdies and four bogeys, including on the last two holes.

Despite everything, Lopez managed to close with a 73 card which leaves it at 280 (-8) with Jutanugarn at 281, Celine Boutier at 282, Danielle Kang and Sei Young Kim at 285, Jennifer Song at 287, Moriya Jutanugarn and the No 2 in the Rolex ranking Sung Hyun Park at 288. Defending champion Shanshan Feng entertained the home crowd on Hainan Island, China, with 289, ninth place.

"I have already played with Ariya and Sung Hyun"said Lopez. « This is probably the biggest challenge I have ever faced on a course, being in the same group as the world n ° 1 and 2. I was just very lucky to have this challenge, knowing I had to play my best game because they weren't going to let me win. I knew they were going to hit some great shots and I had to follow them. »

Lopez leaves China with his first LPGA trophy, but also with renewed confidence, seeing his boguey-on-boguey close as a learning experience.

First LPGA podium for Céline Boutier

Céline Boutier signs her first podium on the American women's circuit with a third place at the Blue Bay in Hainan, China. Our young French hope qualifies for the final, scheduled for next week in Florida.

It's a first top 3 for Céline Boutier on the LPGA Tour. In China, the Frenchwoman from Montrouge finished 3rd in the Blue Bay of Hainan with a card of -6 in total. His last card of 66 (-6), the lowest of the last lap and by far (68 maximum), gives him his best career result on the American circuit.

For her birthday (25 years since Saturday), the Parisian woman wins her ticket for the CME Group Tour Championship, final of the LPGA Tour to be held next week in Florida. Céline Boutier pocketed $ 139 and climbed to 000nd place in the Race to CME Globe.

Céline Herbin, the other committed Frenchwoman, finished 57th.