Japan’s Rio Takeda claimed her first LPGA Tour title at the US$2 million TOTO Japan Classic, outlasting Marina Alex of the United States in a six-hole playoff at Seta Golf Course on Sunday.
With the tournament shortened to 54 holes due to Tropical Storm Kong-Rey, the duo had finished regulation play tied on 15-under-par. Takeda made birdie on the sixth extra hole to defeat LPGA Tour stalwart Alex in the final stop of the LPGA Tour’s Asian swing, which is co-sanctioned with the Japan LPGA (JLPGA) Tour.
Takeda had started the final round three shots behind compatriot Hana Wakimoto, the 36-hole leader. As Wakimoto faded, the lead changed hands several times in an eventful final round.
Needing something big in her last six holes to ensure a chance for victory, Takeda did exactly that at the par-five 16th when she made eagle to move to 14-under par. With two holes to go, she was still one shot behind Alex who had recorded back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15.
Takeda nailed a clutch birdie on the par-five 18th hole to tie Alex for the lead. The duo had to wait until the final group of Wakimoto, American Yealimi Noh and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn finished before starting the playoff.
Takeda and Alex entered the playoff with no prior experience. Starting on hole 18, both players made birdie and went on to match each other with pars on the next four extra holes.
On the sixth playoff hole at the 18th, both players found themselves with birdie putts. Farther away, Alex putted first and missed, while Takeda made hers to earn her first victory on the LPGA Tour and eighth on the JLPGA Tour this year alone.
“I have three more tournaments to go in Japan, so I need to brace myself and just try to finish my year in a great way,” said Takeda.
Currently ranked 25th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, Takeda is eligible for LPGA Tour membership following this win. The 21-year-old can choose to accept immediate membership or opt to defer it to the 2025 LPGA Tour season.
After back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Maybank Championship and TOTO Japan Classic, Alex is projected to move from No. 61 to No. 32 in the LPGA Tour’s Race to the CME Globe points list. The top 60 are eligible to play in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida, where the total purse of US$11 million is one of the highest in women’s golf. Alex heads to Hawai’i next for the LOTTE Championship.
“I added Hawai’i a few weeks ago to try and get into CME. I’m still excited to go there, but I think it motivated me to get the job done. It’s nice to have these next couple of weeks not worried about that as trying to get in and actually just keep building on my game and get geared up for CME,” said Alex, who first joined the LPGA Tour in 2013.
Korean Haeran Ryu finished in solo third place on 14-under-par after a final round 66, one shot ahead of JLPGA player Saiki Fujita and Noh.
