Boutier clinches individual title at Aramco Team Series in SZ

Celine Boutier poses with her trophy after claiming the individual title at the Aramco Team Series in Shenzhen on Oct. 6. Courtesy of Mission Hills Group

Celine Boutier from France claimed her sixth title on the Ladies European Tour (LET) on Oct. 6 with a two-stroke victory in the individual event at the Aramco Team Series, held in Shenzhen’s Longhua District.

This marked the LET's return to the Chinese mainland after a seven-year hiatus.

The event was organized by the China Golf Association (CGA) and Golf Saudi, presented by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). During the series, 28 teams competed in a two-day team event on Oct. 4 and 5 and a three-round individual competition was also held from Oct. 4 to 6, with a total prize pool of US$1 million.

Lin Xiyu (L) and Feng Shanshan display their Olympic medals at Mission Hills Shenzhen on Oct. 6. Lin won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics this year, while Feng secured her bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

On Oct. 5, Team Tamburlini, consisting of Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini, South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, China’s Lin Qianhui, and amateur Peng Yanxuan, clinched the victory, finishing at an impressive 37-under-par.

Boutier began the day tied for the lead with China’s Lin Xiyu, the Paris Olympic bronze medalist, both sitting at 12-under-par on the World Cup Course at Mission Hills Shenzhen.

Boutier delivered a flawless performance, shooting a bogey-free round of 66 (-7) to finish the tournament at 19-under-par, marking her second victory in China.

The competition was intense between Boutier and the home favorite Lin, who claimed the individual title in Hong Kong in 2023. Lin finished the final day with a 68 (-5), narrowly missing out on another win.

“It was a good fight today; unfortunately, my putter wasn’t very hot,” Lin remarked. “I saved a lot by getting close, but it still just came up short. Celine played unbelievably.

“I came up just short, but hearing the crowds cheer for me was amazing. I played with Celine in Paris, and the crowd cheered for her then; today it was my turn. I’m really proud of my supporters; they’re incredibly encouraging, not just to me but also to Celine.”

World No. 4 Yin Ruoning rounded off the week in ninth place at 11-under-par.

Yin won the Women's PGA Championship for her first major title on June 26, 2023, joining China's Feng Shanshan in the history books as China’s second major champion.

Reflecting on the strong showing of five Chinese players in the top 10 during the event, Lin commented, “This is what makes bringing the European Tour—and other major tournaments—to China significant. It allows local players to recognize the gap in skills and also boosts everyone’s confidence.”

Forum on women's sports

On the same day, a forum entitled "Driving Change: The Rise of Women's Sports in China" was held at Mission Hills Shenzhen. The event featured notable guests such as Feng Shanshan, the first Chinese golfer to win a major title, and Tenniel Chu, vice chairman of Mission Hills Group. They discussed the development of women’s sports in China, the advancement of young female golfers, the influence of corporate sponsorship in women’s golf, and enhancing China’s international presence in the sport.

Feng expressed her excitement over the rapid growth of Chinese women’s golf in recent years, sharing that competing on the LPGA Tour was her childhood dream. This year alone, Feng was happy to see over 20 Chinese players competing in the LPGA.

"This is the most gratifying thing," Feng said.

When discussing the next generation of players, Feng emphasized the importance of understanding whether children truly enjoy golf and what they hope to gain from it. She encouraged young golfers to “actively participate,” to “compete against international opponents, and try courses abroad,” so that they can gauge the competition level and refine their skills, ultimately boosting their confidence.

Feng called time on her professional career in August 2022, retiring just before her 32nd birthday with a major title, 10 LPGA Tour victories, and a former world No. 1 ranking under her belt.

Chu noted that sports serve as a universal language, and particularly in an international context, golf is a highly influential sport. “Developing the golf industry and hosting quality golf events are not just about excelling in the sport; it’s also about sharing China’s story with the world,” he said.