After winning the 2021 ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, Celine Boutier came back from being down four shots in the final round to win the 2026 ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern.
Coming into the final round, it was all Soo Bin Joo. Joo shot two rounds of 66 (-5) and 68 (-3) to catapult her four shots clear of second place. After the second round, five players were tied for second place: Chizzy Iwai, Akie Iwai, Somi Lee, Laetitia Beck and Boutier. Joo remained in an excellent place after nine holes to win the tournament, going out in even, but struggled on the back nine. She made a double bogey and a bogey on the back nine to shoot a 73 (+2).
Boutier was the one in the group who seized the moment, going out in 34 (-3), and adding two more birdies on the back nine for a final round of 66 (-5). She defeated Arpichaya Yubol by one stroke to claim her first victory in 945 days (2023 Maybank Championship). Going into the final round, Boutier was confident in her chances to win.
“I definitely knew that it was going to be more scoreable today. The wind conditions were a lot more calm, so I feel like there were going to be some low scores. I knew a lot of players had a chance to go for a win today,” she said.
With her win, Boutier earned $300,000 in prize money and 500 points in the season-long competition Race to CME Globe. She is now in ninth place in the standings.
With her finish of T-4, this is Joo’s best finish on the LPGA Tour this season. Although she did not come away with the win, Joo enjoyed her time in the final round.
“It was so fun. It was my first time leading the tournament, and I think I did my best out there as much as I could. I prepared well, and I’m very proud of myself,” she said.
There was also some buzz around Yubol, who finished one shot behind Boutier. Yubol had the same final round score but ultimately finished 8-under for the week after receiving a one-stroke penalty on Saturday for taking too much time on the 13th hole. This is only the second time this season that this penalty has been executed.
The LPGA Tour will continue next week at the second major of the season. The U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally will be held at Riviera Country Club. Maja Stark will look to defend her title after her win at Erin Hills.
