French golfer Celine Boutier used a final-round rally last Sunday during the ShopRite LPGA Classic powered by Wakefern to earn membership into an exclusive sorority.
She became just the sixth player in the 38-year history of the tournament to win it at least twice. And she accomplished the feat in exciting fashion, firing a 5-under-par 66 in the final round to gain a one-shot win over Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol.
Boutier finished at 9-under-par for the 54-hole tournament. Yobol, who also shot 66 Sunday, finished at 8-under.
Boutier, who also won the Classic in 2021, joined Juli Inkster (1986, 1988), Betsy King (1987, 1995, 2001), Annika Sorenstam (1998, 2002, 2005), Stacy Lewis (2012, 20414) and Anna Nordqvist (2015-16) as multiple-time champions.
“It’s definitely incredible to be in the same group as those players,” Boutier said. “To have a chance to win it again is definitely something special. I think it’s a great tournament, very special for me, so I’m really excited to be able to have another win here.”
Strong winds on the Bay Course at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, especially during Saturday’s second round, made for a challenging tournament.
Boutier’s winning score of 9-under tied for the 11th-lowest total in the tournament’s history and was the lowest since Nordqvist shot 8-under in 2015.
Inkster (1986), Nancy Lopez (1989), and Karrie Webb (2013) all shot 4-under to win the tournament. Inkster and Webb both carded their scores at Seaview while Lopez won her title at what is now known as Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point.
“It was like night and day out there at times,” Boutier said. “It’s usually a little bit windy, but I feel like (Saturday) was the windiest I’ve ever experienced on this course.’
Boutier began Sunday’s final round four shots behind 36-hole leader Soo Bin Joo of South Korea, who was seeking her first LPGA career victory.
Joo stumbled a bit down the stretch and wound up shooting 2-over 73 Sunday to tie for fourth. But she viewed it as a learning experience that will pay off as her career progresses.
“It was so fun,” Joo said. “It was my first time leading a tournament, and I think I did the best that I could. I was trying my best to stay mentally calm and I think I still have to work on that a little more. But I’m very proud of myself.”
Boutier maintained her composure throughout. She took control of the tournament by sinking a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 13 to build a two-shot lead over the field.
Boutier, who earned her seventh career LPGA victory, won $300,000 of the tournament’s record $2 million purse.
It was her first win on tour since 2023.
“It’s definitely not what I expected, but I feel like I have some good memories and I ‘ve met some cool people here,” Boutier said.
Boutier grants wish to young fan
Perhaps her most cherished memory was created before Sunday’s final round.
Before teeing off, she was introduced to 11-year-old Evelyn King-White, who is currently battling Leukemia. She was at Seaview Sunday as part of the First Tee of Baltimore and the Childhood Cancer Society.
Boutier is King-White’s favorite player. They met on the practice green before the final round, where Boutier presented her with an all-expenses paid VIP trip to Disney World/Universal Studios Florida, courtesy of the Childhood Cancer Society.
“It was really fun for me to be able to do that for her,” Boutier said. “It was very exciting for me. Like, who doesn’t want to go to Disney?
“It was also very humbling and nice to be able to meet her. Then I saw her on a couple of holes out there on the course and it was really nice to see her supporting me and to be able to experience everything with her.”
Local baseball update
Millville High School graduate Buddy Kennedy is enjoying an outstanding season in the San Francisco Giants’ farm system.
Kennedy plays for the Triple A Sacremento River Cats in the Pacific Coast League. He is leading the team with 8 home runs while also ranking among the league leaders with a .321 average.
Kennedy, 27, has spent time in the majors with the Phillies, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays and Dodgers. He earned a World Series ring last year after appearing in seven games for the Dodgers during the regular season.
Boxing back at Trop June 13
One of the top local fights in recent years is scheduled for Tropicana Atlantic City on June 13.
Unbeaten heavyweights Bruce Seldon Jr. (8-0, 6 KOs) and Josh Popper (7-0, 6 KOs) face off in the main event of a Boxing Insider Promotions show.
Seldon, 31, son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, is a former Absegami High School football star now living in Smithville. He trains at the Pleasantville Rec Center under trainer Julio Sanchez Jr.
Popper, 32, a former football and basketball standout at Holy Spirit High School, grew up in Egg Harbor Township and now lives and trains in New York City.
Sanchez’s son, Pleasantville super-lightweight Julio Sanchez III (4-1, 3 KOs), is also on the card in a four-rounder against Shawn Rall (4-6, 3 KOs), from Bedford, Ohio.
Sanchez III, a former basketball standout at Atlantic City and Pleasantville, is seeking his fourth straight knockout win.
Photos by William Prata
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
