Céline Boutier carded a 4-under 67 within the 3rd spherical of the Evian Championship on Saturday to extend her govern to a few pictures going into the general year.
The 29-year-old is aiming to change into the primary Frenchwoman to win the event, which changed into a big in 2013.
“I didn’t start that good, to be honest. I missed the first three greens but got a good break on 2 and was able to chip in. Then I just had really good chances on the two par-5s, seven and nine, and was able to take advantage of that,” mentioned Boutier, who had a bogey at the twelfth gap in a spherical of 5 birdies. “I was just trying to focus on making, hitting a good shot, and if I happen to have a birdie opportunity, I hit a solid putt. It was definitely positive and felt pretty good to start very good on the front.”
Boutier’s closest challenger is Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who posted a 68 on Saturday next rounds of 70 and 67.
“Hopefully I will get more birdies tomorrow. It was good iron shots and distance control,” Hataoka mentioned. “Also I was good too with my putting stroke, so I was really comfortable. Tomorrow is another new day, and I want to enjoy the next 18 holes.”
Minjee Lee of Australia and Brooke Henderson of Canada are connect for 3rd, a shot in the back of Hataoka. Henderson began sturdy, capturing a 29 at the entrance to tied the bottom nine-hole ranking ever at a big, ahead of going 2 over at the again.
The spherical of the year used to be Nelly Korda‘s bogey-free, 7-under 64. The arena Disagree. 2 climbed to six beneath for the championship, connect for 5th with Yuka Saso (71).
The Related Press and Reuters contributed to this document.
