AYRSHIRE (Scotland) — Celine Boutier has such a confidence boost these days that you could have expected her to march along the 18th hole at Dundonald Links, whistling a jolly song of surfing satisfaction from the Beach Boys.
The Frenchwoman, who won her first major title in the Evian Championship a week ago, is now on track to win a double-whammy as she has established a solid lead on the penultimate morning of the Freed Group Scottish Open for Women.
A composed, clinical and classy performance led to a 6-under-66, a total of 13-under and a 3-stroke lead over Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, and Maja Stark from Sweden.
Boutier was leading by three strokes after 54 holes seven days ago, on the shores Lake Geneva. She won by six strokes. Boutier’s latest three-stroke advantage could lead to another coronation here on the Firth.
Boutier is at home in this parish. She was the runner-up last year. It was Boutier’s seventh round of 60s in a row at Dundonald. She is in a position of such authority that her name could be covered by a portcullis on the leaderboard.
Boutier is at her best when she’s in the home of golf. In 2004, she helped Europe win the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles by winning four of four matches in an exciting debut. In 2023, the cradle of golf will be a place where individual glory awaits.
All the golfing gears and pistons worked and were finely tuned. Boutier said that sometimes you visualize shots, but they don’t happen. Boutier said, “But today it was exactly as I had envisioned it.”
Boutier embraced the positives when she strayed from the path. She added, “I made a double bogey at the ninth hole which really fired me up.” It was good to have some extra energy.
Boutier was five shots behind the pace set by Japan’s Hinako Shbuno at half-time, but she made up for that deficit with gusto. She was cruising along as Shibuno staggered and stumbled. Stark, a 23-year old who led the chasing group after 36 holes, took up the front running and briefly moved into a 2-shot lead, before her round unraveled on the run-in.
Shibuno – a Women’s British Open winner at Woburn in 2019 – endured a difficult day. A double bogey of the 15th hole, which is a short par 4, prompted the smiling Cinderella to grimace with pain. The 24-year-old’s day would only get worse. After a bogey at 17, she sank into the water and then another shot leaked in her 77, leaving her six shots behind the leader.
Boutier capitalized on those late mistakes, and her poise and determination were rewarded by a pair of birdies in the last two holes. She had a powerful late push. Stark, too, found the slick stuff on the 18th hole and missed a shot that cost her a 72.
Stark was left stunned by the sore, but she remained determined to atone on the final day. She clenched her teeth and hissed, “I want revenge!” as she planned a final offensive. “I believe it’s a’screw-it’ mentality because it’s final day and you already know where you stand.” “It’s about winning.”
Boutier will hope to keep her winning habits, but will also remain in the moment. She said, “I have to be careful not to get ahead of myself and keep my expectations low.”
Tavatanakit is still in the race for the title. She energized her title bid with a 66, which was lit up by eagles at both third and fourteenth.
Gemma Dryburgh moved up two gears on the home front with a four under 68, which boosted her into the top 30 at two-under. The LPGA champion enjoyed a flurry of four birdies on five holes starting from the third. After a good climb up the order, she commented: “I had a hot streak there. It was fun.”
