Rain didn’t prevent a great Saturday performance in Haute-Savoie. The world’s top players battled it out non-stop, each giving as good as they got, from the start to finish of the round. France’s Céline Boutier withstood the attack, shooting a solid 67 (-4) to retain her position as leader. This is the first time she has posted three sub-70 rounds at Evian, and the second time she will tee off as leader in the final round of a major, after the US Open 2019.

Céline Boutier stays strong, Brooke Henderson too

It took courage and confidence this morning to take to the 1st tee as leader and home player. Céline Boutier did not waver. Before her home crowd, the world number 15 was on top of her game, just as she has been since round one. The player whose remarkable scores we keep track of each week on the LPGA Tour, appeared calm and serene despite the pressure and all eyes upon her, and was applauded before she even took to the course.

Her first birdie at 2 thanks to a superb lob shot that went straight into the hole gave her confidence on moving day, such an important moment in a tournament. While her long game was at times a little weak mid-way through, she was able to count on some particularly effective putting throughout her round to retain her first place. The end result was a round of 67 (-4), the third best card of the day, that she would happily have signed up for this morning. The hardest part lies ahead, tomorrow could be an important day. Not only for Céline for whom it would be the first major of her career, but also for all the French golf enthusiasts who have been waiting 20 years for a new Grand Slam win. There was also a 20-year gap between the World Football Champions 1998 and 2018…

She gave her thoughts after her round: “I did well on the two par-5s at the end of the front nine, I managed to keep it going on the back nine. The fact that my chip on 2 went in was really a bonus. I’m pleased because my short game worked well when my drives were not quite up to scratch. But the game is not over yet.”

On a different note, the bubbly Brooke Henderson continues to thrill the Evian Resort Golf Club spectators. As last year’s winner here, we knew full well that the magnificent layout of The Champions Course suits her well, which she proved once again. After a front nine 29 (-6), the best 9 holes at a major in the history of women’s golf, the Canadian slowed done on the back nine to shoot 67 (-4) overall. She will be one to watch tomorrow as she’s just four shots off the leader. For Céline Boutier, the threat will be coming from all sides, beginning with the defending champion, who will undoubtedly not give her up trophy easily.

Nelly Korda bosses it, Leona Maguire in the mix

As is essential on moving day, certain players made the most of Saturday to reposition themselves on the leaderboard on the eve of the fourth and final round. This is the case for example of Nelly Korda, who achieved a fantastic 64(-7) this morning, the best card of the day. The willowy 25-year-old American set the tone for a very lively round alongside her partners for the day Leona Maguire and Hyo Joo Kim, who both completed their moving day with 67 (-4). Between the three of them they made sixteen birdies for just the one bogey. Nelly’s impressive performance the day after her 25^th birthday allowed her to gain 5^th place, five shots behind Céline Boutier. The world number 2 will be highly anticipated tomorrow, especially since she has been constantly progressing at Evian since 2021. Coming 19^th two years ago, then 8^th last year, this month she took home the Aramco Teams Series in London on the Ladies European Tour. Before a second major win tomorrow?

One thing is for certain, there will be many contenders for the title on Sunday. Amongst them, the second placed player Nasa Hataoka will certainly be the most dangerous for Céline Boutier. The Japanese player called the shots in the 8.50 a.m. group containing Gaby Lopez and Alison Lee. The former LPGA of Japan Tour member made short work of her co-competitors, sinking putt after putt throughout her front 9, as if she was capable of anything. Just like Brooke Henderson, her back 9 wasn’t as successful and she was less imperial on the greens. Her round of 68(-3) means she will play Sunday’s final round with the Frenchwoman, in a confrontation that already promises to be very exciting.

Snippets of news

• Brooke Henderson isn’t the only former winner to make the top 10. At 27 years old, Minjee Lee continues to be part of the crème de la crème of women’s golf. The 2021 winner had an excellent third round 66 (-5), enough to hope to play for the win tomorrow afternoon. On top form, she has been in the top 20 of each of the last six tournaments that she has played on the LPGA Tour. Two years ago, she won at Evian finishing her week with a majestic 64(-7), with a finishing touch of four birdies over the final five holes, allowing her to enter a playoff with Jeongeun Lee6. A comeback that she must still have in the corner of her mind.

• Although she thought she might be leaving the field of players this weekend at +4 after two rounds, the young French player Pauline Roussin was indeed present this morning starting on hole 10 to compete on moving day. She finished her round on par (71) early this afternoon. At +4 overall, she is in 57^th place and can hope to outdo her best performance here, 38^th place in 2021.

• Some news on Rose Zhang. Since the start of the week, the talented American has been alternating bursts of brilliance with bad patches, preventing her from being amongst the leading pack. Having posted 69-71-71, she is in 20^th place on -2.

• Other highlights from this Saturday: Jin-Young Ko shot 73(-2) and sits in 30^th place (par overall), and Lydia Ko pulled herself back with a much more logical 71(par) than her 76(+5) from yesterday. Like Minjee Lee, Angel Yin shot 66(-5), the joint second best card of the day.