Golf
Toto Japan Classic: Nasa Hataoka Triumphs in a 1-Hole Playoff
Heavy rain forced tournament organizers to cancel the fourth round of the Toto Japan Classic. Hataoka earned her seventh career LPGA Tour title in the playoff.
Nasa Hataoka defeated Yuna Araki in a one-hole playoff at the rain-shortened Toto Japan Classic on Sunday, November 9 in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture.
Due to "unplayable" conditions at Seta Golf Course, the final round of the tournament was canceled on Sunday afternoon.
"The forecast is for continuous rain, at times heavy," the LPGA Tour said in a news release on Sunday. "Due to the current conditions and the forecast, the decision has been made to cancel Round 4 and the tournament will be reduced to a 54-hole event."
Hataoka and Araki were tied for the lead after Saturday's third round at 15-under 201.
That forced a playoff to determine the winner.
In the playoff, the 18th hole was shortened to 129 yards. Normally, it's a par-5 hole. It was a par-3 hole for the playoff.
Hataoka made par on the modified 18th hole, and Araki had a bogey.
That gave Hataoka her second Toto Japan Classic title. She also triumphed at this tournament in November 2018.
It was the Ibaraki Prefecture native's first title since April 2022, when she won the LA Open. She now has seven LPGA Tour titles.
"I'm really relieved to have won [on the LPGA Tour] for the first time in three years," Hataoka said, according to Kyodo News.
Miyuu Yamashita, who was victorious at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur on November 2, finished a shot off the pace at 14-under 202.
Shuri Sakuma had a 12-under 204, and Ai Suzuki placed fifth with a 205.
Strong Performances at the Toto Japan Classic
Putting herself in position to contend for the title, Hataoka shot a 7-under 65 in the opening round on Thursday, followed by back-to-back 68s in the next two rounds. She was the co-leader after each of the three rounds.
Araki, a 20-year-old rookie on the domestic JLPGA Tour, improved as the tourney progressed. She opened with a 2-under 70, then shot a 6-under 66. On Saturday, Araki was even better, carding a 65. It included five consecutive birdies on the front nine.
After the playoff, Hataoka said she hopes her victory in Shiga Prefecture can be a catalyst for more success.
"Winning again builds my confidence," Hataoka was quoted as saying by Jiji Press. "I want to keep working hard to get stronger."
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Author: Ed Odeven
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