Thanks to a birdie at the first play-off hole, Céline Boutier won this Sunday in South Carolina the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Classic, a Major of the Symetra Tour.

Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Classic: Céline Boutier crowned on the Symetra Tour

Céline Boutier - Photo: DR

Passed professional on September 6, Céline Boutier has already gotten into the good habit of not hanging out. On the road that should lead her to the highest peaks of world female golf, the 23-year-old Frenchwoman crossed this important milestone this Sunday: that of success on the Symetra Tower, the antechamber of the highest level represented by the LPGA Tour.

It is in Greenwood in South Carolina, the neighboring state where she completed her four years of studies and most of her amateur golf course, that the player born in Montrouge won this Sunday. In this Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Classic, considered a Major in the US second division, Boutier transformed the test at his first opportunity. Aligned in the last part next to the leader Paola Moreno, she first snatched a place in the play-off by returning a last card of 72 (by), against 74 (+2) for the Colombian, and a total of -10 for the two young women.

Mother's Day on Mother's Day

A well-built birdie from the first hole of sudden death very quickly offered him the victory. “I feel very relieved that this is all over, because the play-off was very stressful! But I'm proud of the way I handled the pressure. It was my goal at the start of the season to win the Symetra Tour, but I'm a little surprised that it's happening so early in the season. It's really awesome ! " she said after receiving the trophy.

Third sacred Tricolor on the American second division (after Jeanne-Marie Busuttil in 2001 at the M&T Bank Loretto Futures Golf Classic, and Valentine derrey in 2011 at the Tate & Lyle Players Championship), Céline Boutier had the pleasure of triumphing under the eyes of her mother Jacqueline, the very day of Mother's Day! "I'm so glad she was able to be there to see this!" I am extremely grateful to her for her support, and everything she does for me ”, she underlined not without emotion. Victory, in this tournament which is one of five on the calendar to take place over 72 holes, and one of four to offer an endowment of at least $ 200, allows Céline Boutier to climb to second place. of the Volvik Race for the Card, the annual ranking of earnings. A few green bills ahead of the Canadian Anne-Catherine Tanguay, the Frenchwoman nevertheless takes a serious option on entering the LPGA Tour at the end of the season, reserved for the top ten.

A superb 6th place for Marion Ricordeau

To top it off, the other Frenchwoman entered on the Symetra Tour in 2017 also shone this Sunday on the route of the Links at Stoney Point. Marion ricordeau, starting from 17th position, returned a superb 68 (-4), the second best card of the day, to finish sixth at -6 overall and thus sign his best result of the season. La Picarde, in difficulty on the LPGA Tour last year, leaves North Carolina with very encouraging certainties about its ability to return there next year, and a provisional 27th place in the Race which only asks be improved!

Alexandre mazas (source: ffgolf)