LPGA: Toto Japan Classic Ends in 3-Way Playoff
The TOTO Japan Classic wrapped up the LPGA fall Asia Swing with a 3-way playoff and a new 1st time Tour champion.
Riding the crest of her strong Solheim Cup performance, Angela Stanford was in contention at the Toto Japan Classic from her first tee shot to her final putt, but when it was over 28-year old Sun-Ju Ahn, who holds 20 JLPGA titles and 7 KLPGA titles was hoisting the trophy.
Ahn who will bump from 29th to 22nd in the Rolex Rankings and earns Category 17 Tour status through the 2016 season as a result of the victory, joins In Gee Chun, who won the 2015 US Women’s Open, and Brooke Henderson, who won the Cambia Portland Classic, as a non-member 2015 LPGA champion.
The win also punched Ahn’s ticket to the final event of the LPGA season, the CME Group Tour Championship, an opportunity she hadn’t anticipated.
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"“I haven’t thought much about that yet,” Ahn admitted in her post-round interview on Sunday. “I’m just going to enjoy this win and this moment.”"
Ahn, Stanford and Ji-Hee Lee, who also plays on the JLPGA and KLPGA, played the final round at the Japan Classic shot-for-shot and all three were were sitting at 16-under par when they walked off the 18th green.
On the 1st playoff hole — a repeat of the par-4 18th — all three hit the green in regulation. Lee faced a 50 foot for birdie and missed. Stanford narrowly missed a 30 foot birdie putt. But those putts set up Ahn for the win. She’d stuffed her 2nd shot — 165 yards with a 6-iron — to within 5 feet of the cup and easily fired off the victorious birdie.
"“Sun-Ju hit a really good shot in there. If you stick it on 18, with this hole, you deserve birdie and you deserve to win.” – Angela Stanford"
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Ariya Jutanugarn, who’s struggled through a rough rookie year that included 10 consecutive missed cuts, seems to have found the game I first saw her playing last year at the LPGA International Crown when she and sister Moriya anchord Team Thailand.
After fining off the low round of the tournament on Sunday, a 64, Jutanugarn finished in solo 5th place, two shots clear of Stacy Lewis, Hyo Joo Kim and Lexi Thompson, who were all top-seeded for the Japan Classic.
Jutanugarn reflected on her year-long struggle to find her balance and her game.
"“This year has taught me a lot. I had a really hard time when I missed 10 cuts in a row but I’ve learned how to come back and now I realize that I’m a good golfer and I’ve got more and more confidence.”"
I think that’s an understatement. Jutanugarn’s a powerful golfer with the potential to play at the top of the board. I’m looking for an extraordinary sophomore year from this young athlete.
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The LPGA now returns to the Western Hemisphere and the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, November 12-15 in Mexico City. ProGolfNow will provide ongoing commentary and updates on this popular and typically high-energy event.