(Évian-Les-Bains) Céline Boutier scored 68 (minus-3) to win the Évian Championship by six strokes and win the first major title of her career on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Boutier posted a cumulative score of minus-14. She is the first Frenchwoman to triumph at this tournament, which became a major in 2013.
“It was my biggest dream since I started watching golf,” Boutier said. This tournament has always been special to me, even just watching it as a teenager. To be able to lift this trophy is incredible. »
Boutier, who had never finished better than 29th in her previous six appearances at this tournament, edged out Canadian Brooke Henderson (70) by six strokes.
The 25-year-old Henderson was the defending tournament champion after going minus-17 in 2022.
Henderson had three birdies and two bogeys on Sunday. Her second-place finish was the best finish by a defending champion at this tournament since becoming a major.
“It feels good to be back in contention for the title in the final groups of the weekend at a major championship,” Henderson said. That’s all you can ask for. »
Boutier built a four-stroke lead going into the final round and she erased her doubts by birding two early in her round before adding one on the fifth hole.
“It was rather unexpected,” Boutier said. I definitely felt that I behaved very well during the first holes. I got a good chance on the first hole and the putt on the second was a bonus. »
Boutier had four birdies and bogeyed in the final round.
Celine Borge (68), Gaby Lopez (68), Kim A-lim (69), Yuka Saso (70) and NASA Hataoka (72) tied for third with a cumulative score of minus-7.
No other Canadian competed in the weekend rounds.
