Nasa Hataoka won the Japan Classic on the first playoff hole Sunday after rain washed out the fourth round of the event.
Because tournament officials determined conditions were unplayable at the course, the decision was made to call off the final 18 holes and send Hataoka and Yuna Araki to a playoff. The two Japanese players were tied at 15-under 201 after 54 holes Saturday at the Seta Golf Club.
Hataoka and Araki played the 18th hole for the playoff, with Hataoka finishing with a par on the hole and Araki a bogey.
“I would say this was a unique win for me,” Hataoka said. “It was unfortunate that tournament got shortened to 54 holes, but I had the playoff.”
Hataoka had shared the lead at the end of each of the three rounds.
It is her seventh LPGA Tour title and first since she won the DIO Implant LA Open on April 24, 2022. She won $315,000 with Araki earning $191,664.
“So it’s been three years and a half, … so it was kind of long drought for me, so I had a struggle,” Hataoka said. “But my team and my sponsors, like fans, they’re supporting me quite a lot. That’s why I could win this tournament this week.”
Miyu Yamashita, winner of the Maybank Championship in Malaysia last week, finished one stroke behind and in third place.
Eight Japanese women finished in the top nine.
–Field Level Media
