SHIGA, Japan — Japan’s Rio Takeda won the LPGA Toto Japan Classic on Sunday in a six-hole sudden-death playoff, defeating Marina Alex of the United States. It was Takeda’s first victory on the LPGA Tour.
Takeda had a birdie on the par-5 18th hole, tying Alex for a share.
The pair were tied after 54 holes at 15-under 201. The tournament was restricted to 54 regulation holes after Saturday’s third round was washed out by rain.
They also had the back of the first five holes to play in a sudden-death format, each with a birdie on the first hole to play and pars on the next four holes. All of the playoff holes were par-5s – the 18th and 13th.
Alex shot a 6-under 66 in the final round and Takeda shot a 67.
South Korea’s Haeran Ryu shot back in regulation with a 66. He finished at 14-under 202.
Japan’s Hana Wakimoto, the leader after the first two rounds, dropped to a 1-over 73 and finished three strokes behind the leaders. He was also looking for his first LPGA Tour win.
The Japan tournament concludes the LPGA Tour’s four-event Asian swing that includes events in China, South Korea and Malaysia.
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