Rio Takeda collected her first title on the LPGA Tour on home soil after defeating America’s Marina Alex in a play-off at a weather-affected TOTO Japan Classic.
The 21-year-old came into the final round of the event at Seta Golf Course in Shiga, which was forced to be reduced to 54 holes due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Kong-Rey on Saturday, with a three-shot deficit over fellow countrywoman Hana Wakimoto.
But the home favorite made a strong start to the day with back-to-back birdies at the second and third to thrust herself into contention. However, consecutive bogeys later on at the eight and ninth caused her to fall back. Takeda fought back with birdies at the 10th and 13th to drag herself back into the event and went onto sink an eagle at the 16th and a crucial birdie at the last to force a play-off after carding a five-under 67 to end regulation play on 15 under after Alex recorded a six-under 66 to end on the same score.
In the play-off, both players could not be separated as they birdied and parred the 18th, parred the 13th, and returned to the 18th to once again par the hole. But on the sixth time of asking, in what was one of the longest play-offs in LPGA Tour history, Takeda overcame Alex to claim a maiden triumph on the LPGA Tour and the $2m prize.
Victory for Takeda means that she has backed up her impressive form on the golf course this year after previously claiming seven LPGA of Japan wins and also cements herself a tour card.
“I was planning to take Q School in December and now I can skip that and go and play next year on the LPGA tour, which is exciting for me now,” Takeda.
South Korea’s Hae-Ran Ryu finished in third on 14 under after a final-round 66 while there was a tie for fourth between Japan’s Saiki Fujita and America’s Yealimi Noh.
What is the next event?
The next event on the LPGA Tour schedule is the Lotte Championship presented by Hoakalei taking place between 6-9 November at Hoakalei Country Club in Hawaii.