Celine Boutier Victory Completes Special Week at Dundonald Links

By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 07 Aug 2023

Following her maiden major victory at last week's Evian Championship, Celine Boutier claimed another title by winning the FreeD Group Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire.

The Solheim Cup star took a three-shot lead into the final and survived a late charge by runner-up Hyo Joo Kim, who shot seven under in a bogey-free final round, to claim her second win in as many tournaments.

A round of 66 on Saturday proved decisive for Boutier as she racked up eight birdies to overtake halfway leader Hinako Shibuno, whose eight-under opening round proved the best of the tournament. Elsewhere, Allisen Corpuz and Aditi Ashok - who went into the event leading the Order of Merit in the LPGA and Ladies European Tour respectively - struggled, with Ashok finishing well off the pace and Corpuz failing to make the cut.

England’s Charley Hull shot over par on Thursday and Friday before finishing in a share of 35th place. Meanwhile, defending champion Ayaka Furue could not replicate last year’s heroics after a similarly lukewarm start.

Celine Boutier

Ahead of the tournament, it was announced that the event would be the first on the Ladies European Tour to be GEO Certified. The accreditation, awarded by the non-profit GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, is reserved for events that have shown outstanding commitment to creating a more sustainable sport.

Dundonald Links is a fitting venue for the milestone tournament, having been GEO Certified itself three times. The resort’s modern clubhouse, which opened in 2021, was built using local whinstone sandstone and features a sloping grass roof that provides a habitat for native wildlife. Other initiatives, like beekeeping and planting indigenous wildflower around the resort, have contributed to a dramatic increase in flora and fauna around the site.

Ashley Pheasant, head of golf for Darwin Escapes, said: “As ever, it’s been a privilege to see some of the world’s best players out on our course. Hosting one of the biggest events in the Scottish golfing calendar for the second consecutive year is an honour and a testament to the standards we’re striving to set.

“We’re also very proud to host the first Ladies European Tour event to be GEO certified. Sustainability is essential to our approach to golf and we worked hard in collaboration with IMG to achieve this distinction.”

Though the course at Dundonald Links is still recognisably the work of architect Kyle Phillips two decades ago, the popular layout has transformed into a complete resort since being purchased by Darwin Escapes in 2019. The new clubhouse includes the Canny Crow restaurant, a pro shop and range of golf facilities and the Whisky Room, where guests can try an expertly curated selection of whiskies from around the world.

Nine players at the FreeD Group Women’s Scottish Open - including England’s Charley Hull, 2023 Chevron Championship winner Lilia Vu and 2023 U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz - took advantage of Dundonald Links’ luxurious onsite accommodation. A range of two, four and six-bedroom lodges are centred around putting greens where golfers can perfect their short game until late into the evening. Alternatively, the resort’s hotel rooms are a stone’s throw from the clubhouse and course and are a popular choice for golfers looking to explore Scotland’s west coast.

Last month Dundonald Links hosted Final Qualifying for the Open Championship, where big names including Robert Rock, Michael Block and Jason Kokrak failed to secure a place in golf’s oldest tournament.

For more information on Dundonald Links and to book, click here.