Otsu, Japan — Nasa Hataoka won the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic in a playoff on Sunday after the final 18 holes were washed out by all-day rain and what officials called “unplayable course conditions.”
Hatake and Japanese golfer Yuna Araki shared the lead after shooting 201, 15 under, through 54 holes on Saturday at Seta Golf Club in western Japan.
After Sunday’s regular match was interrupted by heavy rain, Hōka won the title with an improvisation on the first playoff hole. This is her seventh title on the LPGA Tour.
Hatake took the lead in each of the first three rounds, with different golfers each time.
Miyu Yamashita, who won the Maybank Championship in Malaysia last week, shot a 68 on Saturday and is one shot behind after 54 holes.
Yamashita was followed by Shuri Sakuma (69), who finished third, and Ai Suzuki (70), four shots behind the leader after 54 holes.
Defending champion Leo Takeda, who had been out of action all week, shot a 68 on Saturday and finished nine shots behind.
Australia’s Minjee Lee, one of the most high-profile players in the field, shot 74 on Saturday and is 14 shots behind the leader.
