LPGA Classic 2021 R3
October 01-03
Seaview, Bay Course, Galloway, New Jersey
$1,750,000
Round 1, Round 2

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Céline Boutier of France matched her career-low score of 63, staying bogey-free, to reach 14-under and win her second LPGA Tour title at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer.

LPGA Classic 2021 R3

“It was such a surreal day. This morning, I knew the course was scorable and that I had to shoot a low score to even have a chance,” said Boutier. “Then after No. 18, I had left everything on the course. But a couple of groups were left out there.

“I was expecting to go into a playoff. It was already in my mind having to prepare for that. The fact that neither Jin Young nor Inbee birdied 18 really left me kind of stunned. I'm still a bit surprised about it.”

LPGA Classic 2021 R3

Rolex Rankings No. 2 Jin Young Ko (69), No. 3 Inbee Park (69) and a bogey-free Brooke Henderson (64) tied for second place at 13-under.

Boutier now matches Patricia Meunier-Lebouc and Anne-Marie Palli for most wins by a French golfer in LPGA Tour history. Palli had also won the ShopRite LPGA Classic, beating Laura Davies in a playoff in 1992.

LPGA Classic 2021 R3

“It's really hard to describe and even realize what it means, but I fortunately know both Patricia and Anne-Marie, and they're the nicest people,” said Boutier. “Patricia has won a major, so I feel like I'm not even at that level yet. There's not that many French players out here on Tour, so it's just always amazing and I'm super proud to represent my country every week.

“I know Anne-Marie quite well, actually. I got to know her my first year on Tour because she lives in Phoenix and we used to have the Founders [Cup] tournament there, so she would come out and watch. She was actually here this week playing in the Pro-Am, so I saw her Wednesday and Thursday. I really do love her energy and I'm sure she was watching, too. I hope she's happy.”

LPGA Classic 2021 R3

Boutier, who won the Lacoste Ladies Open de France on the Ladies European Tour just two starts ago, talked about the impact winning the Solheim Cup in September had.

“I think it give me a lot of energy. My next tournament after the Solheim [Cup] was the French Open, which I won, too, so it kind of helped me for the French Open,” said Boutier, a three-time LET champion. “And then the French Open helped me get more confidence coming into these weeks on the LPGA. I just feel like I'm having some really good momentum and hope to keep going until the end of the season.”

Canadian Henderson matched her career-low round of 64 on the Bay Course at Seaview, a Dolce Hotel. She also tied the second-lowest score of the tournament with Maria Fassi, who went 7-under on Sunday to reach 12-under overall and secured a career-best result on the LPGA Tour of solo fifth.

“I said to [caddie and sister] Brit, ‘We finally played like us, and that feels really good.' It was so fun to be back in contention,” said Henderson. “It was fun to be near the top and have a chance to make a couple birdies coming in.”

LPGA Classic 2021 R3

South Koreans Ko and Park had birdie chances at the 18th to force a playoff with Boutier but neither could capitalize.

“Céline played a great round. I really didn't see them coming from that much behind, but I obviously did not have a great round. I mean, it was okay, but not good enough to win,” said Park. “Got off to a good start. Just couldn't finish well. A little bit disappointing.

“I knew that I had to make a birdie [on No. 18] and gave it all I got. Just came up a little bit short.”

LPGA Classic 2021 R3