Céline Boutier and Perrine Delacour in the top 20, Grace Kim triumphs at the Lotte Championship

There was hope of going for the trophy, he was quickly showered. Céline Boutier did not find the efficiency hoped for during the last round, at the Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Three shots from the lead at the start of this final fight, the Frenchwoman sealed her game from the 5th (double bogey). His two birdies (6, 13) to correct this blunder were not enough.

It would have been necessary to play much lower than the Par (-6 in total) to hope to hang even a podium when the three players who left in the play-off finished at -12. The regrets are twofold since the Frenchwoman, who finished 13th, had to leave her place as leader of the Race to CME to Georgia Hall, 6th in this Lotte Championship.

If Perrine Delacour ended up behind Céline Boutier, her feelings are necessarily different. The Habs managed their start to the last round (3 birdies in 5 holes) and ended up a little zigzagging (2 birdies, 2 bogeys on the last 7 holes) but their 16th place finish is a very good performance.

First LPGA title for Grace Kim

The title went to Grace Kim. The Australian signed two birdies at the very end of the course (17, 18) to afford the right to go to the play-off with the Chinese Yu Liu, in verve on the last lap (64), and the South Korean Yu Jin Sung. The Sydney rookie (22) hit the jackpot on the first extra hole played (birdie at 18).

Brilliant as an amateur, she won her first LPGA title: I remain speechless in front of my performance when I did not have very high expectations for this tournament. At 14, I no longer believed it. I just thought about playing well. Obviously, the birdie on 17 revived me and I gave it my all on 18 and then in the play-off. For me, I think this title is just the beginning. I also know that I join a great list of Australian players who have won the LPGA. It’s kind of the icing on the cake.”. A big cake.