Akie Iwai coasted to her first LPGA Tour victory with a final round 66 (-6) at the Standard Portland Classic. She joins her sister Chisato, Rio Takeda and Miyu Yamashita as rookies from Japan to win on the LPGA Tour this season.
Iwai entered the final round with a two-shot lead over 2025 Evian Championship winner Grace Kim, after her round of 64 (-8) on Saturday. From there, she never looked back, shooting a bogey-free 66 (-6). Iwai’s final round was a perfect ending to a tournament where she led the field in bogeys made with two. Iwai had this to say after her first win on the LPGA Tour.
“Yeah, so many Japanese people this year won, so inspired me. That’s why I will do my best. I will do my best, yeah,” she said.
American Gurleen Kaur finished in second place after her final round of 65 (-7). It has been a difficult season for Kaur; however, she played four impressive rounds to claim her first top ten this season. Kaur expressed how this finish impacts her mindset going forward.
“I think it just shows I have the capability to win out here. I was close today. I just need to keep that consistent momentum going and confidence for the future. Yeah, second place finish is pretty good. I’ll take that. Obviously I wanted to win of course, but, yeah, happy overall,” she said.
With this win, Iwai earned 500 points in the season-long competition, Race to CME Globe. She moved into 14th place in the competition, two spots behind her sister, Chisato. Iwai also took home $300,000 in prize money.
Another player of note, legend Juli Inkster returned to the world stage this week for the first time in three years. Her win at the Portland Classic in 1999 was the final victory needed to grant her access to the Hall of Fame. After a first round of 69 (-3), Inkster missed the cut by one on Friday, which at age 65 would have made her the oldest player in history to make the cut at an LPGA Tour event.
The LPGA Tour will return next week at the CPKC Women’s Open. Two-time LPGA Winner, Lauren Coughlin, will look to defend her title after her win at Earl Grey Golf Club last year.
