Celine Boutier, a familiar face at Le Golf National, delivered a 7-under 65 on Wednesday to lead the Olympic women’s golf event by three shots. Despite the challenging course, Boutier’s performance stood out as she navigated the terrain with precision, making seven birdie putts and chipping in for another.
Over the weekend, Boutier observed the French fans’ enthusiastic support for Victor Perez and Matthieu Pavon, which fueled her own performance. “I’m really over the moon with the way the tournament started for me,” said Boutier, reflecting on her strong start.
The event drew significant attention, with ticket sales reaching 26,000 and a gallery of nearly 20,000 fans. Boutier’s afternoon round included three consecutive birdies, culminating in a chip-in from behind the green on the 16th hole.
Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa shot a 68, one of only ten players to break par. Gaby Lopez of Mexico and Lilia Vu, a two-time major champion, were among the group at 70.
Nelly Korda, the gold medalist from the Tokyo Games, struggled initially but managed to finish at even-par 72 after overcoming three three-putts early in her round.
Le Golf National proved to be a formidable challenge, with a scoring average of 74.1. Boutier’s familiarity with the course, having played junior national championships and trained at the French golf academy there, gave her an edge.
“It’s definitely nice to get some energy from the crowd after I make a putt,” Boutier said. “And sometimes I try to take from that, and they also sometimes take from me.”
Minjee Lee, playing in the group ahead of Boutier, remarked on the crowd’s energy. “Just the energy is really amazing out there,” Lee said. “And they all have been really supportive of all the players.”
Perrine Delacour of France had the honor of the opening tee shot, greeted by fans singing “La Marseillaise.” Delacour, who shot a 79, acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment. Charley Hull of England posted an 81, and U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso shot 77.
Korda’s round included four three-putts, which she attributed to the different speeds between the practice green and the course greens. “The greens were just so completely different — from the practice green to the golf course, they were a lot slower,” she explained.
Boutier’s local knowledge and steady putting were key to her success. “It’s such a tough course that you have to focus on your game,” Boutier noted. “You can’t just look around and laugh with the crowd.”
Boutier’s standout performance has positioned her well for the rest of the week, with her strong start and the support of the home crowd creating an electric atmosphere at Le Golf National.
