It was a tough second day, Testing the strong wind and blooming conditions and stretching for nearly six hours. It was a test of patience and physical strength as much as golf.
But Boutier, two shots behind the lead following the opening 66, was fined 7-under 69, and edged out Thailand’s Patty Tabatanakit and Japan’s Yuka Saso, who both won major championships in 2021.
Sasso said the secret to the 69-year-old is patience, as a major is the only LPGA title with Tabatanakit at the 2021 U.S. Open.
Japan’s Yuka Saso competes at the Evian Championship, a women’s LPGA major golf tournament, in Evian Levin, the Alps, France, on Friday, July 28, 2023. Photo by AFP
“I’m happy where I am on the leaderboard,” the 22-year-old said. “It’s been two really good rounds.”
But it was a bad day for New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who won at the age of 18 in 2015. Having tied for second place overnight, she fell back to even par after a disappointing 76.
Butier finished in the top 10 in all four other women’s majors, but has never finished above 29th in seven appearances for a French member of the big five.
“It’s never easy to play at home,” admitted the 29-year-old, a three-time U.S. champion.
“I don’t think I’ve handled it well in the past.
“I put pressure on myself and I didn’t want to disappoint people. But I learned to focus on my game. This year, it was fun to take a good shot and listen to people cheering for me.”
She said, “It’s a very positive end to the round. Tomorrow’s conditions will be windy again, so I’ll just try to be very patient.”
Tabatanakit started on the 10th hole and fired on the 11th hole.
But the 12th and 14th birdies brought her back to normal, and a joint high of 67 days raised hopes of adding another major to the 2021 Chevron Championship.
“I have a very special memory of being here. I played in the Palmer Cup as an amateur and fell in love with Europe,” the 23-year-old said.
“The crowd is very lovely and kind, and it makes me happy.
“I didn’t get off to a perfect start today, but Buddy 12 changed the round, and it was a very good round on a difficult day.”
Nasa Hataoka shot Tabatanakit’s 67 to tie for fourth with American Allison Lee (71) and Mexico’s Gabby Lopez (68) at 5-under.
South Africa’s Paula Leto, who took the lead in the first round with a 64, maintained a two-shot advantage in the first 11 holes.
But she was almost out of bounds and had a double bogey six on the 12th, dropped more shots on the 13, 14th and 16th holes, and signed for 75 and three under par. 안전놀이터 추천
Defending champion Brooke Henderson remained in touch at 3-under even after a 70. World No. 1 Ko Jin-young repeated the opening with a 2-under 70.