SINGAPORE – When Celine Boutier began her second round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship on March 1, she was fuelled by a promise she had made earlier in the morning.

Her father, Christophe, who had travelled from France to support her this week, was celebrating his birthday on the same day.

“I wished him happy birthday before my round today,” said Boutier, 30. “And he was like, ‘yeah, so you got to give me a gift’.”

A low score and happy child is the best gift for a parent. The world No. 3 delivered just that at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course.

Recovering from a first-round one-over 73, Boutier posted a bogey-free 64, the best round of the day, to snatch the solo lead at the halfway mark of the US$1.8 million (S$2.4 million) tournament.

She was on seven-under 137, one ahead of Japan’s Ayaka Furue (67) and two clear of Madelene Sagstrom (68).

“This would be a nice gift for him and I hope he enjoyed this one,” said Boutier, who will have dinner with her family to celebrate.

Starting from the 10th tee, Boutier parred her first three holes before birdieing eight of her next 15.

From joint-30th, she overturned a five-shot deficit behind overnight leader Sarah Schmelzel, who signed for a 72 and was among five players tied-fourth on 140.

Requiring only 22 putts, nine fewer than her first round, Boutier attributed her improved showing to an early night’s rest, adding: “I felt like I made everything today. Yesterday I actually played pretty well but my putts just came up short most of the time.

“I was trying to think less today. I just wanted to have the right pace and not be indecisive.”

Though she holds the 36-hole lead, Boutier insists the job is far from finished.

World No. 20 Furue, 23, who finished tied-third at the 2023 edition here, said: “The greens were still fast but the wind was not as strong. I have a good impression of this golf course and I know that I can come out on top.”

Sagstrom, 31, remains the only player in the 66-strong field still bogey-free after 36 holes. The 61st-ranked Swede said: “I prefer a grind. It suits my game quite well when it gets tough for everyone.

“You can’t just hit at the pins all the time. The golf course is in such great shape; it’s going to be fun to see what happens over the weekend.”

A 66 for Canada’s Brooke Henderson puts the former Major champion in a tie for ninth (141).

Two-time defending champion Ko Jin-young carded a 73 and was seven shots behind Boutier while former No. 1 Lydia Ko shot 70 and was joint-36th on 146.

Singapore amateur Chen Xingtong was in 60th place after another round of 76.

The 15-year-old, who played alongside Lydia Ko, said: “I realised how she just calms down from everything. The way she was able to recover from shots, I learnt a lot playing with her.”

Tee times, third round (selected)

1st Hole

7.25am Ko Jin-young (Kor)
7.49am Lilia Vu (USA), Kim Sei-young (Kor)
8.01am Chun In-gee (Kor), Yin Ruoning (Chn)
8.49am Patty Tavatanakit (Tha)
9.01am Kim Hyo-joo (Kor), Sarah Schmelzel (USA), Brooke Henderson (Can)
9.25am Celine Boutier (Fra), Ayaka Furue (Jpn), Madelene Sagstrom (Swe)

10th Hole

7.30am Minjee Lee (Aus), Lydia Ko (Nzl)
8.54am Yuka Saso (Jpn), Shin Ji-yai (Kor)
9.06am He Muni (Chn), Chen Xingtong (Sgp)
9.18am Danielle Kang (USA)