Olympics

Sustainable Golf Week to Focus On How Golf Serves Communities

30th Oct 2024

GolfSixes League Debuts in China Alongside the Hainan Open

18th Oct 2024

Golf Genius Release Major Upgrade to its Tournament Management Product With Event Dashboard+ Feature

10th Oct 2024

The Westin Doha International Pro-Am Joins 2025 CPG International Series Line-Up

1st Oct 2024

Inaugural Al Zorah City Pro-Am Confirmed for 2025

10th Sep 2024

Golf Genius Launches Off-Course Technology for Indoor and Entertainment Golf

4th Sep 2024

Olympic Officiating – Inside the Ropes with Christiane Stenger

13th Aug 2024

Rai Claims Maiden PGA Tour Victory With Trusted MacWet Gloves

13th Aug 2024

New Zeland’s Lydia Ko Completes Gold Medal Mission at Paris Olympics

10th Aug 2024

Lydia Ko, Morgane Metraux Locked at the Top Ahead of Final Round at Paris Olympics

9th Aug 2024

Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux Rides Record 28 to Second-Round Lead at Le Golf National

8th Aug 2024

Home Favourite Céline Boutier Stars to Lead After Day One at Le Golf National

7th Aug 2024

Qualification Process Confirmed for 2025 European Ryder Cup Team

6th Aug 2024

Team USA’s Scottie Scheffler Wins Olympic Gold in Thrilling Finale at Le Golf National

4th Aug 2024

Schauffele in position to land back-to-back golds, shares lead with Rahm

3rd Aug 2024

Matsuyama joined by Schauffele, Fleetwood at top of leaderboard after Day 2 at 2024 Paris Olympics

2nd Aug 2024

Hideki Matsuyama Leads Men’s Olympic Golf After Low-Scoring Opening Day

2nd Aug 2024

PING advances Prodi G Junior Clubs; Introduces Junior Custom-Fitting App

16th Jul 2024

Glenmuir Unveils SS2025 Collection: A Tribute to Heritage and Innovation

16th Jul 2024

Euro Hat-Trick For Murray at BlackSeaRama

7th Jul 2024
load more

Home Favourite Céline Boutier Stars to Lead After Day One at Le Golf National2 min read

International Golf Federation (IGF)Author: International Golf Federation (IGF)


Posted on: 7th Aug 2024

Céline Boutier delighted the home crowds with an opening 7-under 65 that handed her a three-shot lead at the Olympic women’s golf competition.

With big galleries gathered for the first round at Le Golf National on Wednesday, world No. 7 Boutier was inspired as she recorded eight birdies and one bogey to make a dream start in her medal pursuit. Her total equalled the lowest first-round score at the Olympics, matching efforts by Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 and Madelene Sagstrom at Tokyo 2020.

The Frenchwoman, who won her first major last year on home soil at The Amundi Evian Championship, dropped just a single shot on Wednesday en route to reaching 7-under. She leads the way over South African major winner Ashleigh Buhai.

Boutier made three front-nine birdies before back-to-back gains after the turn saw her move into the solo lead. After finding a fairway bunker off the tee at the 12th, the 30-year-old dropped her lone shot of the day on the par 4.

But that only appeared to refocus her mind as she then reeled off three consecutive birdies from the 14th through to the 16th, highlighted by a chip-in at the par-3 16th hole. The French star then parred the final two holes before receiving a great ovation from the waves of fans assembled around the 18th green.

Buhai, who, like Boutier, is competing in her second Games after making her debut at Rio 2016, mixed five birdies with one bogey to card a 68. She grabbed birdies on the seventh and ninth holes to turn in 2-under, and Buhai was then flawless on the back nine, as a pair of birdies at the 13th and 14th helped her post a 4-under.

World No. 2 Lilia Vu, who pre-tournament said a gold medal would trump her two major wins, sits in a tie for third at 2-under in a four-strong group of players that also includes Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe.

After a slow start that saw her bogey three of her opening seven holes, world No. 1 Nelly Korda recovered well to kick off her gold medal defense at Le Golf National with an even-par 72.

Perrine Delacour of France hit the opening tee shot at 9 a.m. but later said the experience drained her and contributed to a disappointing 7-over 79.

————————-

For up-to-the-minute information on #OlympicGolf and regular updates, visit igfgolf.org/olympic-games/2024/paris and follow on X (@OlympicGolf), FacebookInstagram and YouTube.