Shuri Sakuma a final round 64 (-8) to win the Toto Japan Classic by four shots.
Going into Sunday, Aki Iwai was on top of a packed leaderboard with Arpichaya Yubol one shot behind. Iwai led Youmin Hwang and Erika Hara by two shots. Defending champion Nasa Hataoka, Yuna Araki, Sayaka Takahashi and Sakuma trailed by three shots.
It was a slow front nine for most of the field, with Iwai going out in even par and Yubol at one-under. Sakuma made two birdies to shoot a front nine of 34 (-2). On the back nine, Iwai made three birdies but made a back-breaking double bogey on the par-3 13th. Sakuma surged forward, making five consecutive birdies and adding one more at the par-5 17th, for her first win on the LPGA Tour.
Although Sakuma had not won on the LPGA Tour before this tournament, she has eight wins on the JLPGA, including four wins this year. She won the first tournament of the season, the Daikin Orchid Ladies Golf Tournament, in March and added three more wins in the last three months.
“I could win at the beginning of the season, but it took a while to get a second win. Actually, that second win was the biggest win for me in my season this year, and that win actually gave me confidence, and that led me to win this tournament on the U.S. LPGA Tour,” she said.
With her win, Sakuma earned $315,000 in prize money. She has the option to accept LPGA Tour membership immediately or defer to next season. If she accepts now, she will earn 500 points in the season-long competition, Race to CME Globe.
Both Miyu Yamashita and Jeeno Thitkul broke their top-10 finish streak this week. Yamashita finished T28 and Thitikul finished T46. They will both be in the field next week for the first playoff event.
The LPGA Tour will be at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican for the first playoff event next week. Linn Grant is the defending champion.
