Boutier 1st at Superstition Mountain as Jutanugarn struggles
Celine Boutier, of France, hands her ball to her caddie on the third during the Drive On Championship golf tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Gold Canyon, Ariz. Credit: AP/Matt York
GOLD CANYON, Ariz. — Celine Boutier of France had an eagle and six birdies in a round of 7-under 65 and moved atop the leaderboard when Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand stumbled down the stretch in Saturday's third round of the LPGA Drive on Championship.
Boutier, a 29-year-old two-time tour winner, made an eagle 3 on the par-5 second hole, added two birdies that offset a bogey at the par-3 eighth. She played the back nine in 4 under for a 16-under 200 overall total and a one-stroke lead over three others heading into Sunday's final round.
If the opening three rounds of the tour’s first full-field event of the season are any indication, the finale should be a scramble. There are 17 golfers within three shots of the lead after nine players posted rounds of 7- to 9-under par in a birdie-filled Saturday.
Jutanugarn (69), American Alison Lee (67) and South Korea’s Hae Ran Ryu (64) were tied for second at 15 under.
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand and rookie Celine Borge of Norway are another stroke back after vaulting up the leaderboard with third round 63s.
Two-time major champion Jin Young Ko of South Korea carded a 4-under 68 and finished in a 12-way tie for seventh place at 13 under.
