Nasa Hataoka earned her sixth LPGA victory at the Toto Japan Classic, winning an exciting three hole playoff on Sunday. That win comes after an incredible last day. A relentless rainstorm washed out all 18 scheduled holes, leaving the course completely unplayable. With third-round 66, Hataoka was tied for the lead with her Japanese compatriot Yuna Araki after three rounds, both at 15-under 201.
Her performance for four rounds of match play proved she is a steady, smart, all-around championship player. She was co-leader in all three opening rounds. This threw her off task, but it highlighted her admirable skill at being unfazed in the face of distraction and chaos. At the end of 54 holes, Hataoka and Araki were tied at 201. This made for an exhilarating multi-city, multi-day playoff to determine the overall champion.
The playoff played out on the first hole, where Hataoka triumphed over Araki. This win marks Hataoka’s seventh title on the LPGA Tour, further solidifying her status as one of the prominent players in women’s golf.
The realization that the final round would be canceled because of severe weather brought an unanticipated element of drama to the tournament. Though the day was filled with disruption, Hataoka’s hot play in the first three rounds unquestionably put her on top of the leaderboard.
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