The LPGA Tour heads to Australia for the ISPS Handa Vic Open February 6–9. Celine Boutier won last year’s event by two shots over Sarah Kemp, Su-Hyun Oh and Charlotte Thomas for her first LPGA win. In addition, her victory ended a 16-year dry spell for French-born players on the tour when Patricia Meunier-Lebouc won in 2003.
Boutier was born in Clamart, France on November 10, 1993. She began playing golf at the age of seven and claimed her first amateur title in 2010 at the Skandia Junior Open Girls. She won again in 2011 at the Annika Invitational, and was the winner at the 2012 European Nations Cup Individual, as well as the Internationaux De France Juniors, German International Amateur, and European Ladies Amateur.
Continuing her excellent play in college, Boutier won four times at Duke University from 2012 through 2016. She led her team to the NCAA title in 2014, and won WCGA Player of the Year. In addition, Boutier competed at an LPGA major at The 2014 Evian Championship in her home country, finishing tied for 29th. Her accomplishments vaulted her to the top of the Women’s World Amateur Ranking at the end of 2014 into early 2015.
The highlight of her 2016 season was finishing tied for 44th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, good enough to earn Priority List Category 17 status for the 2017 season. Boutier enjoyed an excellent season on the Symetra Tour in 2017, winnings twice with eight top-ten finishes and 19 cuts made in 20 events. She was one of three with over $100,000 in earnings and was the first player from France to earn her LPGA card playing on the Symetra Tour since 2013.
In 2018, Boutier had a very fine season in her first year on the LPGA Tour, making 16 cuts in 25 tournaments, over $300,00 in earnings, with a best finish tied for third at the Blue Bay LPGA. She also earned her second career win on the Ladies European Tour at the Australian Ladies Classic.
Boutier’s win at the ISPS Handa Open last year was not only the first of her LPGA career, but kicked off the best season of her career. She had four top-ten finishes, made 24 cuts in 28 tournaments and pocketed very three-quarters of a million dollars. She capped off the season as a member of the European Solheim Cup Team, going undefeated in four matches.
Boutier got off to a nice start to her 2020 season with a fourth-place finish at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. She is currently ranked 53rd in the world and 6th for the CME Race to the Globe.
