Japan’s Nasa Hataoka captured her seventh LPGA Tour title after defeating compatriot Yuna Araki in a playoff at the rain-shortened TOTO Japan Classic. Both players finished tied on 15-under-par 201 after three rounds at Seta Golf Course, with officials cancelling Sunday’s final round due to unplayable conditions.
The playoff, held on a shortened par-three 18th, saw Hataoka make par to Araki’s bogey for her first LPGA win since the 2022 LA Open. “It was a unique win for me,” said Hataoka. “It’s unfortunate the tournament got shortened, but winning in front of Japanese fans means so much.”
The 26-year-old also won this event in 2018 and became the sixth different Japanese player to triumph on the LPGA Tour this season, joining Miyu Yamashita, Rio Takeda, Akie Iwai, Chisato Iwai and Mao Saigo. Araki, 20, was chasing her maiden LPGA title after impressing in her rookie Japan LPGA Tour season.
Japanese players dominated the leaderboard, with Yamashita finishing one shot back, Shuri Sakuma three behind and Ai Suzuki four adrift. The event wrapped up the LPGA’s Asian swing before the final two tournaments of the season in Florida.
