Boutier has her nerves tested by rain delay

A NEAR four-hour rain delay built the nerves within Frenchwoman Celine Boutier who stayed unruffled after a drive straight from a Sunday hacker’s handbook to win the Australian Ladies Classic at Bonville.

The diminutive golfer fought the wobbles on the run home but still had the polish to win for the fourth time in nine months amid the course’s towering gums outside Coffs Harbour.

Gold Coast-based Rebecca Artis recovered from two early bogeys with three birdies in her 71 to be the top Aussie finisher in seventh spot.

Artis finished four under after rounds of 72, 69, 72 and 71.

A torrential downpour delayed yesterday’s finish before a celebratory dousing with champagne replaced the rain on the 18th green.

The last-hole birdie of American Katie Burnett for her 69 made the final margin of two shots look closer than it ever was because it was Boutier duelling with herself as much as anyone because the lead was six shots at one point.

The wobblies first appeared on the tee at the par five 10th when she scuttled a three wood no further than 120m off the tee without reaching the cart path before the fairway.

“I got it chunky but I was not too worried because it was a par five and was never going to make the green in two anyway,” said Boutier, 24, who recovered for a par.

She made two bogeys on the six holes after the resumption in her closing 73 but her serene play and putting earlier in the tournament (70-68-67) made her a worthy winner.

“I’m so excited. I tried my best to hang on because it was definitely tough to get back out there after the rain because the nerves didn’t ease, they went up,” Boutier said.

“Every win is always different so I don’t know that they (previous wins) helped.”

Burnett birdied the sixth, seventh and 10th holes in the middle of her round but a lipout on the 12th and missing another 4m birdie putt on the 14th cost her dearly.