Former Duke golfers Boutier, Liu earn LPGA cards

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

From Staff Reports

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – Former Duke golfers Celine Boutier and Yu Liu earned their 2018 LPGA Tour cards following play in the Symetra Tour Championship at LPGA International on Monday.

The top 10 finishers on the Tour money list automatically earned their tour cards, and Boutier, who graduated from Duke in 2016, finished third with $112,044 in earnings, while Liu, a 2014 All-America, placed fifth with $86,110.

The 2014 WGCA National Player of the Year at Duke, Boutier carded eight top-10 finishes and two victories on the season, capturing titles at the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge and the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic.

Boutier made the cut in 18 of her 19 starts and is the first player from France to earn her card through the Symetra Tour since Perinne Delacour did so in 2013.

“I’m super excited to finally start my career on the LPGA because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Boutier said.

“I just can’t wait to see how I can measure myself against the best in the world. It’s been a great year. Finishing in the top ten was my goal and I’m so excited that I achieved it. I feel like I learned a lot this year and the Symetra Tour was a great stepping stone to the LPGA.”

A native of China, Liu totaled nine top-10 finishes and won the Tullymore Classic.

Liu was honored with the Symetra Rising Star award for her improvement from 2016 when she only earned a bit over $25,000.

“It’s been a childhood dream for me to be able to say I’m on the LPGA,” Liu said.

“It was my goal at the start of the year and to be able to do that is just a dream come true. Being able to compete against the best players in the world and to show where I’m at, it really means a lot.”

Boutier and Liu will join former Blue Devils Brittany Lang and Lindy Duncan on the 2018 tour, with Laetitia Beck heading to Q-school in hopes of doing the same.

2018 LPGA Cards

  1. Benyapa Niphatsophon $124,492
  2. Hannah Green $113,880
  3. Celine Boutier $112,044
  4. Nanna Koerstz Madsen $93,115
  5. Yu Liu $86,110
  6. Erynne Lee $80,780
  7. Lindsey Weaver $76,755
  8. Anne-Catherine Tanguay $76,663
  9. Emma Talley $76,556
  10. Katelyn Dambaugh $63,023