Japan’s Nasa Hataoka clinched the LPGA TOTO Japan Classic title after a play-off in rainy conditions on home soil at Seta Golf Club.
Rain throughout Sunday rendered the course “unplayable”, and the final 18 holes were cancelled. But instead of declaring the tied overnight leaders Hataoka and fellow Japanese player Yuna Araki co-winners, a play-off was improvised to cement a solo winner. The pair faced the first extra hole – shortened from a par-5 to a 130-yard par-3 – both at 15-under 201 after only 54 holes, and it was Hataoka who prevailed. Where Araki rolled a bogey, Hataoka made par to collect a seventh career LPGA Tour title.
“I would say this was a unique win for me,” Hataoka said afterwards. “It was unfortunate that tournament got shortened to 54 holes, but I had the playoff and it and became the par-3. That was (a) surprise, but I would say it was unique.”
Victory for the 26-year-old ends a three-and-a-half year drought since her last win at the 2022 DIO Implant LA Open. It is also her second time claiming the TOTO Japan Classic, after also taking home the title in 2018.
“It’s been three years and a half as you said so it was kind of long drought for me so I had a struggle, but my team and my sponsors, like fans, they’re supporting me quite a lot,” she said. “That’s why I could win this tournament this week.”
Last week’s Maybank Championship winner Miyu Yamashita finished a shot back from the lead on Saturday at 14 under to claim third. Shuri Sakuma and Ai Suzuki completed the all-Japanese dominance at the top of leaderboard, finishing on 12 under and 11 under respectively to round out the top five.
Defending champion Rio Takeda failed to retain her title and finished in a share of 21st on 6 under.
What is the next event?
The next event on the LPGA Tour is The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican taking place between 13-16 November at Belleair, Florida in the U.S.