Céline Boutier still in the lead in China, in the running for victory just like Pauline Roussin-Bouchard!

After her smashing first round, Céline Boutier confirmed her ease on the fairways and greens of Mission Hills in Shenzhen. She now shares leadership of the tournament with the Chinese Xiyu Lin, warming up in front of her audience. The two young women could offer themselves a great duel on Sunday for the title, perhaps refereed by Pauline Roussin-Bouchard.

Gone like a bullet thanks to his initial 66, Celine Boutier continued his momentum this Saturday in China by attacking the second round with a birdie. Certainly, the queen ofEvian Championship 2023 struggled a little more than the day before on the greens, but his solid card of 68 (-5), free of any bogey, allows him to remain at the top of the leaderboard of the Aramco Team Series in Shenzhen.

The first place in the tournament is also occupied by a “local hero”, Xiyu Linunleashed this Saturday. Her 6th and 7th birdies of the day at 12 and 13 allowed her to temporarily overtake the Frenchwoman in the rankings.

On a wet and almost defenseless course without wind, the Chinese bronze medalist at the Paris Games no longer let go of the controls of the tournament but the 20th in the world was joined on the wire by Céline Boutier who signed her fifth birdie of the day on the 18th hole.

Céline and Pauline, two chances for the title

Behind the two leaders at -12, the Thai Kusuma Meechaiwith a more modest pedigree (556th in the world!), is 3 shots off the lead. At four moves, we find a quintet in which the American appears Angel Yin et Pauline Roussin-Bouchard !

Second in the Irish Open, second at La Sella Open and 7th in the French Open, the one who is ranked 4th in the European Order of Merit seems to want to have another crazy weekend, as she did had done in Spain in particular (two 65s). His 66 of the day is marked by seven birdies and no missteps. She notably scored -3 on the four par 3s.

Why not a Sunday in China with two French women fighting for the final victory!

The other Blues are a little further away. Agathe Sauzon is in the top 30, Céline Herbin in the top 40 but Nastasia Nadaudexcellently placed the day before, gave in with a 78.

Le leaderboard

Photo : Michael Reaves Getty / AFP