Tag: Seta Golf Course

JLPGA star Rio Takeda takes Toto Japan Classic in playoff, earns LPGA membership

It took six playoff holes to determine a winner, with Takeda closing it out with birdie.

Rio Takeda won her eighth title of the season on the JLPGA at the Toto Japan Classic, but this time it was a co-sanctioned event with the LPGA. That means the 21-year-old’s victory at the Toto also comes with an LPGA card. She becomes the first non-member to win on the LPGA since Mone Inami won the 2023 Toto.

“I was planning to take Q-School in December,” said Takeda, “and now I can skip that Q-School and go play next year on the LPGA Tour, which is exciting for me now.”

Takeda has three more events left in Japan this year, and said she’s still thinking about when she’ll join the LPGA. She can join now or defer until 2025.

This week’s Toto Japan Classic was shortened to 54 holes due to effects of Tropical Storm Kong-Rey. Takeda started off Sunday three back of overnight leader Hana Wakimoto at Seta Golf Course. After a third-round 67, Takeda found herself knotted at 15 under with veteran LPGA player Marina Alex.

It took six playoff holes to determine a winner, with Takeda closing it out with birdie. She’s the third Japanese player to win on the LPGA this year, joining Yuka Saso and Ayaka Furue.

Japan’s Rio Takeda celebrates her victory after the final round of the LPGA Japan Classic golf tournament at the Seta Golf Course in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture on November 3, 2024. (Photo by STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)

Takeda came into the week No. 25 in the Rolex Rankings. The Toto marked her fifth start on the LPGA in 2024, and she earned $300,000 for the victory. Along with her eight wins on the JLPGA this season, she also has 13 additional top-10 finishes.

“So that was my first time [in a] playoff,” said Takeda, “so I wasn’t expecting that the game was that long, but I managed to win so I’m really happy.”

While Alex didn’t leave with the title, she did play her way into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, which features an $11 million purse and $4 million check to the winner. Alex jumped up 29 spots to No. 32 in the CME points race. The top 60 earn a spot in the field.

“I added Hawai’i a few weeks ago in an effort to try and get into CME,” said Alex. “I’m still excited to go there, but I think it kind of motivated me to get the job done.”

“And so it’s nice to have these next couple weeks not worried about that as trying to get in and actually just keep building on my game and get geared up for CME.”

2024 Toto Japan Classic prize money payouts for every LPGA player

Here’s a look at the prize money payouts for each player at the 2024 Toto Japan Classic from a purse of $2 million.

What a week for Japanese star Rio Takeda.

Takeda outdueled Marina Alex in a six-hole playoff to win the 2024 Toto Japan Classic, her eighth victor this year on the JLPGA Tour and her first on the LPGA.

She is ranked No. 25 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and because of her win at the TOTO Japan Classic, a co-sanctioned event with the LPGA and JLPGA Tours, she is eligible for LPGA membership. She is eligible to accept immediate membership or, similarly to Mone Inami after the 2023 TOTO Japan Classic, she can defer to the 2025 LPGA season.

If Takeda accepts immediate LPGA membership, she will earn $300,000 towards her official and career earnings on the LPGA this year.

Here’s a look at the prize money payouts for each player at the 2024 Toto Japan Classic from a purse of $2 million.

2024 Toto Japan Classic prize money payouts

Position Player Score Earnings
1 Rio Takeda -15 $300,000
2 Marina Alex -15 $182,538
3 Haeran Ryu -14 $132,418
T4 Saiki Fujita -13 $92,443
T4 Yealimi Noh -13 $92,443
T6 Yui Kawamoto -12 $54,467
T6 Nanna Koerstz Madsen -12 $54,467
T6 Ariya Jutanugarn -12 $54,467
T6 Hana Wakimoto -12 $54,467
T10 Chisato Iwai -11 $38,975
T10 Ayaka Furue -11 $38,975
T12 Miyu Yamashita -10 $31,880
T12 Linn Grant -10 $31,880
T12 Mi Hyang Lee -10 $31,880
T12 Yuna Nishimura -10 $31,880
16 Hikaru Yoshimoto -9 $27,383
T17 Gemma Dryburgh -8 $23,945
T17 Xiyu Lin -8 $23,945
T17 Hyo Joo Kim -8 $23,945
T17 Hira Naveed -8 $23,945
T17 Karen Tsuruoka -8 $23,945
T22 Ayako Kimura -7 $20,213
T22 Arpichaya Yubol -7 $20,213
T22 Pajaree Anannarukarn -7 $20,213
T22 Jin Young Ko -7 $20,213
T26 Minami Katsu -6 $16,065
T26 Mao Saigo -6 $16,065
T26 Jennifer Kupcho -6 $16,065
T26 Kokona Sakurai -6 $16,065
T26 Chanettee Wannasaen -6 $16,065
T26 Haruka Amamoto -6 $16,065
T26 Moriya Jutanugarn -6 $16,065
T26 Yuka Saso -6 $16,065
T34 Grace Kim -5 $12,292
T34 Alexa Pano -5 $12,292
T34 Yuka Yasuda -5 $12,292
T34 Erika Hara -5 $12,292
T34 Nataliya Guseva -5 $12,292
T39 Akie Iwai -4 $9,432
T39 MinYoung Lee -4 $9,432
T39 Shuri Sakuma -4 $9,432
T39 Minami Hiruta -4 $9,432
T39 Narin An -4 $9,432
T39 Lala Anai -4 $9,432
T39 Seonwoo Bae -4 $9,432
T39 Sakura Koiwai -4 $9,432
T47 Lucy Li -3 $6,756
T47 Sayaka Takahashi -3 $6,756
T47 Hinako Shibuno -3 $6,756
T47 Linnea Strom -3 $6,756
T47 Haruka Morita -3 $6,756
T47 Kotone Hori -3 $6,756
T47 Amiyu Ozeki -3 $6,756
T47 Hana Lee -3 $6,756
T47 Haruka Kawasaki -3 $6,756
T47 Jiyai Shin -3 $6,756
T57 Allisen Corpuz -2 $5,297
T57 Serena Aoki -2 $5,297
T57 Momoko Osato -2 $5,297
T57 Shiho Kuwaki -2 $5,297
T61 Shina Kanazawa -1 $4,797
T61 Jenny Shin -1 $4,797
T61 Brooke M. Henderson -1 $4,797
T64 A Lim Kim E $4,347
T64 Somi Lee E $4,347
T64 Minjee Lee E $4,347
T64 Wei-Ling Hsu E $4,347
T64 Miyuu Abe E $4,347
T64 Gabriela Ruffels E $4,347
T70 Sarah Schmelzel 1 $3,973
T70 Leona Maguire 1 $3,973
72 Paula Reto 2 $3,897
T73 Mitsuki Kobayashi 3 $3,799
T73 Jin Hee Im 3 $3,799
T73 Wichanee Meechai 3 $3,799
76 Sora Kamiya 5 $3,704
77 Peiyun Chien 7 $3,657
– Ai Suzuki WD $3,611

 

Broomstick putter leads to resurgence for Yealimi Noh, who needed only 20 putts in Japan

Noh hasn’t finished outside the top 30 in her last six starts.

American Yealimi Noh needed only 20 putts in a second-round 65 at the Toto Japan Classic, where she trails JLPGA player Hana Wakimoto by two strokes.

Noh, 23, hasn’t finished outside the top 30 in her last six starts.

“For me, last year, I was really struggling with my putting and I just needed something new and something completely different,” said Noh, who switched to a broomstick putter late in the summer last year.

“I never even thought of trying it, but my coach and my dad suggested it to me and I tried it. It helped me get over that uneasy feeling over the ball. So, that’s how it started and now using it a year after, my stroke has gotten really solid and my speed is great with the putter so it has helped me a lot.”

Noh ranked 130th in putts per green in regulation on tour in 2022 and 102nd in 2023. She currently ranks 41st in the category.

2024 Toto Japan Classic
Yealimi Noh hits her tee shot on the third hole during the second round of the 2024 Toto Japan Classic at Seta Golf Course in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Noh, who also benefitted from a chip-in on the 14th, posted four consecutive birdies from Nos. 4-7. She’s 11 under through two rounds and tied for a share of second with former No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, who shot 66. Noh was one of three players to card a 65 on Friday, along with Rio Takeda and Yuna Nishimura.

“The greens are very slopey here,” said Noh of Seta Golf Course in Otsu, Shiga, Japan.

“A lot more undulation than we’re used to in the States. Mainly just it being all back to front. Can be quick. But it’s a little soft this year, so a little less.”

Another former No. 1, Jin Young Ko, slipped down to a share of fifth after a second-round 70.

Wakimoto, the overnight leader, is currently ranked 236th in the world and leads the field in birdies with 14. A member of the JLPGA since 2018, her best finish on that tour is a tie for fourth at the 2019 AXA Ladies Golf Tournament in Myazaki.

LPGA: Momoko Ueda leads by one at the Toto Japan Classic after third-round 68

In total, eight Japanese players sit inside the top 10 heading into Sunday.

With 18 holes left to play, Momoko Ueda leads the Toto Japan Classic by one shot over Gemma Dryburgh.

On Saturday, Ueda made her share of birdies (seven) around Seta Golf Course, however, she mixed in three bogeys to sign for a third-round 4-under 68. She sits at 14 under through three rounds.

Dryburgh has played better each day so far this week. She opened with a 71, then shot a 67 on Friday and signed for a 7-under 65 on day three. She’s one back at 13 under and searching for her first win on the LPGA.

In total, eight Japanese players sit inside the top 10 heading into Sunday.

World No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul struggled in the third round, shooting a 1-over 73 and now sits T-23, nine back.

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Momoko Ueda leads Toto Japan Classic searching for third win at event, world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul shoots 67 in second round

The two-time winner of the event is in prime position heading to the weekend.

Momoko Ueda is accustomed to having success at the Toto Japan Classic.

She won the event in 2007 and again in 2011. A day after saying the golf course setup made her uncomfortable, she is the 36-hole leader for the LPGA’s event in Japan at 10-under 134, one of five Japanese players at the top of the leaderboard following the second round at Seta Golf Course.

Yet even after playing well enough to hold the lead, Ueda said it took her time to settle into the round.

“I was not in a good mood in the first 5 holes,” Ueda said. “During that time, Ai (Suzuki) and Sakura (Koiwai) made good putts and played well. So, I tried to catch up with them and not to think conservatively.”

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Ueda recorded five straight pars to begin before a birdie on the sixth. A bogey on her ninth hole led to an even-par front nine, but her scorecard was colorful on the back nine. She had four birdies on Nos. 10, 13, 14 and 17 with one bogey to shoot 3-under 69 in the second round.

Miyu Yamashita and Suzuki are tied for second at 9 under. Suzuki was tied with Ueda for the lead after the first round but is hoping for more on the weekend after a 2-under performance on Friday.

“Hope today is the worst day of this week,” Suzuki said. “I need 60’s for the next 2 days.”

New world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul sits tied for eighth at 6 under after a 5-under 67 on Friday.

“I had a really good round today,” Thitikul said. “A lot better than yesterday. But I think I have more to practice with my tee shot and driver because I don’t think it’s good enough for these narrow fairways.”

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Japanese players dominate Day 1 at Toto Japan Classic; new No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul cards 71

Japanese players pack the top of the leaderboard after the first round in Japan.

Ai Suzuki won the last co-sanctioned edition of the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic in 2019 but did not take LPGA membership. This week, she co-leads with compatriot Momoko Ueda after an opening 7-under 65. Ueda won this event in 2007 and 2011. Japanese players occupy the top five positions on the leaderboard at Seta Golf Course.

A 17-time winner on the JLPGA, Suzuki has five top-10 finishes this season but no victories.

“I am struggling with my swing,” said Suzuki of her winless 2022. “I had a swing coach, but it did not work well. Then I made a decision to play without coach anymore, and it just start go well.”

Ai Suzuki on the 18th green during the first round of the TOTO Japan Classic at Seta Golf Course North Course on Nov. 3, 2022 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Ueda posted five consecutive birdies from Nos. 10-14. She changed driver shafts this week and put a new putter in the bag. But it was the golf course setup that made her uncomfortable.

“Order of holes has been changed since I played here before,” she said. “That is why I could not remember each hole exactly until I came and see every hole. That is why I could not feel comfortable during my play today.”

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Miyuu Yamashita, the best player on the JLPGA this year, opened with a 67. Yamashita is a three-time winner this season. She leads the JLPGA in top-10 finishes (18) and scoring (70.16). This is Yamashita’s second career LPGA start. She tied for 13th in her debut at the 2022 AIG Women’s British Open.

Newly minted No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul opened with a 71 to take a share of 30th. At the start of her round, her caddie, Banpot Bunpisansaree, was presented with the green caddie bib that recognizes the top-ranked player. Thitikul, 19, is a two-time winner this season and leads the tour in top-10 finishes with 14.

“I meant a lot to me, but I think it meant a lot more to him,” said Thitikul. “I think he dreams of wearing the green bib since day one of caddying for me.”

Linn Grant shot 69 despite early-week travel delays. The LET star was only able to play nine holes on Wednesday in her only practice round. She walked the back nine.

“Thank God we started on No. 1 so we got into it a bit,” she said. “I don’t feel too uncomfortable doing that, I feel like I got a good view of the back nine from just walking but it is a bit terrifying. Having the crowds here is nice, and I think my focus just turns on a bit more. I think today was a bonus for not playing which was nice.”

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