 |
| Céline Boutier |
France’s Céline Boutier won the inaugural Australian Ladies Classic Bonville on the Coffs Coast in New South Wales on Sunday and kept calm despite a weather-interrupted final day.
The 24-year-old from the southern Parisian suburb of Montrouge shot a final round of 73 to finish on 10-under-par, two shots ahead of Katie Burnett from the United States.
It was Boutier’s second Ladies European Tour title following the 2017 Sanya Ladies Open and her fourth in total after the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge and Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic on the Symetra Tour.
She virtually assured herself of the title with a third round of 67, played in heavy rain on Saturday, which gave her a five-stroke lead heading into the last round at Bonville Golf Resort and she thanked her caddie Shane Codd for keeping her equipment dry.
Sunday’s play teed off in beautiful, sunny conditions and the second-year professional golfer began with two birdies and a bogey in her first seven holes. She kept her five-stroke advantage through the turn, before Katie Burnett birdied the 10th hole to get within four strokes.
Then, at 2pm local time, dramatic tropical storms moved through the area forcing the suspension of play for 3.45 hours.
After three hours of heavy rain, thunder and lightning, the sun shone through the clouds and the course drained exceptionally quickly, allowing the leaders to return to the par-4 13th at 5.45pm local time.
After the break, Boutier played her third shot just beyond the green and two putted for a bogey, reducing her lead to three strokes. Both players bogeyed the 15th and Burnett missed her curling four-footer at the 17th, which would have reduced the deficit.
At the final hole, Boutier pushed her drive into the trees and decided to lay-up, while Burnett launched a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway. Boutier struck her third shot to within eight feet of the flag, but her birdie putt turned just below the hole and she tapped in for a par and a 10-under-par total. Burnett, meanwhile, took two putts for a birdie on the final hole.
 |
| Kylie's Scorecards |
Scot Kylie Henry had a great last round of 68 with 6 birdies in the inward 9 to finish on 2 under and 11th place.
Carly Booth finished and Michel Thomson finished tied 40th and Gemma Dryburgh 46th
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE SCORES
The Ladies European Tour and Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour next move to nearby Coffs Harbour Golf Club for the Women’s NSW Open, for the fifth week of major women’s golf tournaments in Australia.