Celine Boutier remains at the top of the leaderboard of the Aramco Team Series in Shenzhen. The Frenchwoman delivered a card of 68 strokes this Saturday on the par 73 course at Mission Hills, for a total of twelve under par, allowing her to approach the final 18 holes as the tournament leader.
The Frenchwoman, however, is not alone; she has a companion in the lead. Local player Xi Yu Lin is also at twelve under par. The Chinese player is the defending champion of the 2023 edition held in Hong Kong and aims to repeat in Shenzhen. Golf of many carats from the player from Guangzhou who will try to lift her third title at home in the Ladies European Tour.
The Frenchwoman, on the other hand, has not won in the current season and after a glorious 2023 in which she lifted four titles, including a major, Celine is eager and may find solace in China this season. It was precisely in these lands that she won her first major tournament as a professional in November 2017 when she claimed the Sanya Ladies Open. It’s true she had already won twice on the Epson Tour, but her first top-level victory was achieved in these very lands. She will seek inspiration this Sunday from seven years ago.
Regarding the Spanish players, five of the six players present in the competition have made the cut in China. The best positioned so far is Ana Peláez (-6), who is just one stroke away from the top ten thanks to her second consecutive card of three under par. Competing for victory seems complicated as the lead is six strokes away, but the podium is within three strokes. A great final round could make her dream of a great result.
The player from Finca Cortesín has accumulated three top tens in the eight regular tournaments she has played in the circuit this season. Tomorrow she could add the fourth out of nine. Almost 50%. Ana’s solidity in the circuit is undeniable.
Next on the leaderboard is Carmen Alonso (-2), who is among the top 40 of the tournament and has strung together two consecutive rounds of one under par. In a challenging year where she has barely been able to play in the last three months, making the cut in Shenzhen is a joy.
The best round of the day, regarding the Spanish players, was signed by María Hernández (-1), who with her round of three under par leaves behind the modest start on Friday. Marta Martín (PAR) will start one stroke behind the Navarrese after a round of two over par.
Nuria Iturrioz (+1) has staged a good second round in China. After the inaugural card of 76 strokes, the Mallorcan recovered this Friday with a round of two under par, allowing her to make the cut just at the limit.
The duo of leaders will start with a three-stroke advantage over Wenbo Liu (-9) and four over a battalion of six players, including Angel Yin, Chiara Tamburlini, Emily Pedersen, Pauline Roussin Bouchard, Lee-Anne Pace, and Kusuma Meechai, all at eight under par.
Chiara Tamburlini (-8) continues to add successes in her rookie season. The Swiss, leader of the Order of Merit with two individual victories, has led her team to secure the collective triumph. A putt of hers on the 18th hole gave her team the victory. Chiara will start tomorrow in a fourth position that could allow her to further consolidate her position at the top of the annual ranking.
