Round 4 - Boutier wins inaugural Australian Ladies Classic

February 25, 2018

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.

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.

“It feels great. I really enjoyed playing at Bonville Golf Resort and I’m proud of how I handled the weather conditions,” said Boutier, who was a standout at Duke University and now bases herself in Texas.

“We had a little bit of everything with a delay in the middle of the round, so it wasn’t too easy to get back into the rhythm, but I’m pleased that we finished. I was a bit nervous, because I wanted to finish before dark and it’s not always easy when you go back out after a delay; it was definitely tough. I had two bogeys after we went back out, but I did my best. I feel like I managed it pretty well.”

Playing with Boutier, Burnett was three-under-par after 10 holes, but she ended with a 69 for a total of eight-under-par.

Iceland’s Valdis Thora Jonsdottir (70) ended one stroke back in outright third position, which equalled her career best finish recorded at the Sanya Ladies Open in tropical Hainan, China, in November, which was the scene of Boutier’s first Ladies European Tour title.

Sweden’s Daniela Holmqvist (71) ended in fourth position on seven-under-par, while the halfway leader Holly Clyburn from England shared fifth place with Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen.

Australian Rebecca Artis, who was born and raised in New South Wales, tied for seventh place with US rookie Casey Danielson, while Western Australian Hannah Green tied for ninth with Charlotte Thompson from England.

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.

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Round 3 - Céline Boutier takes lead with 67 in spite of heavy rain

February 24, 2018

France’s Céline Boutier kept her composure throughout heavy tropical downpours to post a five-under-par 67 on day three of the Australian Ladies Classic Bonville.

At 11-under-par, the 24-year-old from Montrouge will take a five-stroke lead into the final round ahead of the halfway leader Holly Clyburn from England, with a further four players a stroke back.

Boutier, who claimed her first Ladies European Tour title at the Sanya Ladies Open in China in November, teed off in light drizzle and promptly birdied the first hole at Bonville Golf Resort, which Clyburn bogeyed to fall into a share of the lead.

As the other players struggled in the difficult conditions, Boutier remained unfazed and birdied the fourth, seventh and ninth holes, to make the turn in 31 with a two-stroke cushion.

Although she bogeyed the par-3 11th to drop into a share of the lead with Clyburn, the Englishwoman played the next four holes in four-over-par as Boutier birdied the 14th to grab a four-stroke advantage. Both players closed their rounds with birdies on the long 18th as the sun peeked through the tall gum trees on Australia’s most beautiful mainland golf course.

Afterwards, Boutier credited her caddie, Shane Codd from Ireland, saying: “My caddie helped me a lot to stay dry and that was very important, because when everything is wet, it isn’t too easy. I tried to stay in the present, take one shot at a time and I made some good par saves when it was pouring down, so I was playing solidly all day. I’m super happy with the way I handled the course today.”

Clyburn, who began the day with a two-stroke lead, was disappointed with her third round 74, which included a double bogey at 15, but remains within touching distance of a second LET title.

The 27-year-old from Cleethorpes said: “It was a long day. Céline played fantastic out there. I didn’t expect her to go out and shoot 67 in those conditions. It was her day. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced rain like that and then, all of a sudden, been so hot at the same time. I thought the course did well considering how much rain was getting thrown down.”

Katie Burnett of the United States (68), Daniela Holmqvist of Sweden (70), Valdis Thora Jonsdottir of Iceland (72) and Olivia Cowan from Germany (73) all ended on five-under, a stroke ahead of the leading Australian, Hannah Green.

Burnett also had an experienced caddie, who helped her to stay patient. “I have a great caddie, a legend, Sophie Gustafson. It’s great to have somebody with that much experience out there who can calm you down and make sure everything is set and ready to go,” said the 28-year-old from Georgia, adding that she relishes tough conditions.

Holmqvist is also known as a tough competitor. Five years, ago, she used a golf tee to remove the venom from a black widow spider bite from her ankle midway through a qualifier for the Women’s Australian Open at Royal Canberra, which earned her the nickname ‘Spider-woman.’ Despite that, she still loves Australia and said it would be a dream to become the winner of the inaugural Australian Ladies Classic Bonville.

The favourite coming into the tournament, Green felt that she hadn’t played her best, with five birdies and as many bogeys on her card. She said: “I thought it was tough out there. I glimpsed at a leader board on 16 and thought, wow, what course is Celine playing? A 72 wasn’t too bad, but I definitely left a lot out there.”

Another Australian, Rebecca Artis, shares eighth place with Denmark’s Nanna Madsen and England’s Florentyna Parker is in 10th position. Olafia Kristinsdottir fired a 67, to share the equal best score of the day and lies in a tie for 20th place.

Round 2 - Holly Clyburn holds on to Australian lead

February 23, 2018

England’s Holly Clyburn said it was a ‘game of two halves’ after she recorded a second round of 69 to keep her two-stroke lead midway through the Australian Ladies Classic Bonville.

The 27-year-old from Cleethorpes carded six birdies and three bogeys on a day of mixed weather conditions at Bonville Golf Resort, for a total of eight-under-par, but it was a topsy turvy round. After making four birdies on the fifth, seventh, ninth and 10th holes, she bogeyed the 11th, 12th and 14th, before finishing with a pair of birdies.

“I played fantastic on the front nine and was minus three, but then I had an awkward yardage on 11, which made my round go upside down a bit,” said Clyburn. “I took a three-putt there and got lucky on 12 not to be in the hazard, so I took bogey there and then took par on the next hole. I got shocked by a tee shot on 14, from the girls in front, which made me duff my shot, but all in all, I played some nice golf and I’m quite happy.

“This golf course will throw some surprises at you, so you’ve got to stay patient. I finished on a high with two birdies on the last two holes, so I’ll keep doing what I’m doing.”

Céline Boutier of France (below) and Olivia Cowan from Germany, who both shot 68s, were her nearest challengers, Boutier having posted the clubhouse target of six-under before Clyburn teed off.

The 24-year-old from Montrouge won the Sanya Open in China in November and is feeling comfortable in the similarly tropical conditions. She said: “I’m very satisfied with my day and I felt like I was hitting the ball pretty solid and I was giving myself birdie opportunities. I just feel very comfortable on this course and the more I play it, the more I can see myself playing well.”

Iceland’s Valdis Thora Jonsdottir (below) backed up her opening round with a solid 70 and lies three shots off the lead. She said: “I played quite solid and I didn’t have a lot of trouble. I didn’t give myself as many birdie opportunities, but I made a couple of good putts for birdie and pars, so I’m happy.

“The air felt kind of heavy, so it was hard to estimate which club to use and I could tell that I was hitting it a bit shorter, but overall the conditions were good.”

Perth’s Hannah Green is the leading Australian in a share of fifth place on four-under with Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark and both players shot second rounds of 70. Green, who felt she had picked up a common cold overnight, said: “I’m happy as I don’t feel like I’ve played my best golf and I left a lot out there. I had four three-putts and a lot of opportunities that I could have taken advantage of. I have a cold right now, so hopefully I can go to sleep pretty soon and recover for the weekend.”

Fellow Australian Rebecca Artis, from Coonabarabran in New South Wales, is a stroke further back in a share of seventh place with Ines Lescudier of France and Marta Sanz Barrio from Spain. Artis already has two Ladies European Tour victories, the 2013 Helsingborg Open and 2015 Scottish Open, but she would love to collect a third in her home state this weekend.

Round 1 - Holly Clyburn sets new course record in Australia

February 22, 2018

England’s Holly Clyburn shot straight to the top of the leader board in the inaugural Australian Ladies Classic Bonville on Thursday morning.

The 27-year-old from Cleethorpes had a blemish-free five-under-par 67 in warm and overcast conditions at Bonville Golf Resort, for a new course record, to end the day two strokes clear of Valdis Thora Jonsdottir from Iceland and Marta Sanz Barrio from Spain.

After starting from the ninth, Clyburn birdied the 10th, 12th, fifth, sixth and seventh holes, but said it could have been even better.

“It’s been nice to go and play some free golf and shoot 67, which was not very stressful. I still had 32 putts out there and hit 17 greens, so it was probably the worst I could have shot, but I wasn’t getting greedy, because it’s not an easy golf course and it can turn you upside down.

“You can’t switch off at any point. The grain is really strong out there. You’ve got to put it in the right areas and that’s what I did. You’ve just got to be careful.”

Clyburn is playing for her fourth professional title, after previous wins in the 2015 New South Wales Open, the 2013 Deloitte Ladies Open and in Spain on the LET Access Series in 2012, while Jonsdottir and Sanz are looking to become first-time winners in Bonville on the Coffs Coast.

“This course is just about being patient, as you can easily lose your temper,” said Jonsdottir.

Sanz Barrio said: “I wasn’t hitting it great, but the putter was hot.”

Hannah Green and Steph Na were the best two Australians in an eight-way tie for fourth place on two-under-par, with Indian Sharmila Nicollet, China’s Xi Yu Lin, Nanna Koerstz Madsen from Denmark, Mexican Ana Menendez, Germany’s Olivia Cowan and Céline Boutier from France.

Perth’s Green, who finished third in the Women’s Australian Open last week, birdied her last two holes and said: “I didn’t have much going on earlier in the round, but it was good to finish strongly.

“The course was playing tough. There are some tricky pin positions, so you can hit a good shot and be a good 30 feet away.

“I am pleased, considering I didn’t hit it too well and I didn’t putt too well. I had a couple of three-putts, so to shoot two-under and still be in contention, I’m very happy.”

Adelaide’s Na also stayed patient on the greens. She said: “I didn’t get off to the greatest start as I bogeyed my first hole. I had a solid back nine with three birdies and no bogeys, so I made a couple of birdies coming in and I’m quite happy with it.”

Indian Nicollet benefited from the local knowledge of her caddie, the former touring pro and Bonville teaching professional Richie Gallichan and she said: “Richie’s been great. He knows these greens and this course inside out, so it’s been great. It was good teamwork today.

“I think today the greens were really hard and the pins were in tough positions, so strategy and ball striking were important.”

Fresh from qualifying for the China LPGA Tour after three months of intensive training in the United States, Nicollet was delighted to be in contention, but the shot of the day belonged to Belinda Ji, the 15-year-old amateur from Sydney, who made a hole-in-one using a 7-iron at the 17th.

Preview

The Ladies European Tour’s third event of 2018 this week is set to showcase the world-renowned Bonville Golf Resort on the beautiful Coffs Coast in New South Wales.

The Australian Ladies Classic – Bonville, which is a co-sanctioned event with the Australian Ladies Professional Golf tour, will be held for the first time on February 22-25.

The field of 144 professionals will include Australia’s rising star Hannah Green, who finished third in the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open on Sunday, as well as home hopes Rebecca Artis and Sarah Kemp, among others.

The international contingent includes Christina Kim of the United States, China’s Xi Yu Lin, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall and Jenny Haglund and Britons Laura Davies, Florentyna Parker, Holly Clyburn and Michele Thomson.

Bonville Golf Resort’s reputation as Australia’s most beautiful mainland course is not the only reason to tune in to the Australian Ladies Classic as it’s beamed around Australia and the rest of the world.

The picturesque course, which will host a professional golf tournament for the first time, could well be the career-defining location for one of the games brightest young stars, or the moment a legend of the game becomes one of its greats.

Set on the beautiful Coffs Coast of NSW and voted Australia’s Favourite Golf Course in Golf Australia’s 50 Favourite Golf Courses poll, as well as Australia’s most beautiful mainland golf course 16 years in a row by the Golf Course Guide, Bonville is just minutes’ drive from pristine beaches, waterways and world heritage rainforest. There is also an array of local produce, restaurants, cultural attractions and a vibrant regional city centre close-by, which is sure to delight visiting spectators.

The 26-year young golf course, which opened in 1992, features undulating fairways that snake their way through the foot of The Great Dividing Range and the testing, grainy putting surfaces will challenge the greatest of players.

Players will find themselves in many risk or reward type situations that will make for some fascinating viewing. The greens team at Bonville have been preparing the course for the Australian Ladies Classic for the past two months. Players can expect the playing surfaces to be perfect and the definition and consistency of the fairways and tees to be world class.

The Australian Ladies Classic – Bonville, is the fourth of a five-week long Australian swing and precedes the Women’s NSW Open at nearby Coffs Harbour Golf Club on March 1-4.

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