Rio Takeda wins Toto Japan Classic after 6 sudden-death playoff holes for her first LPGA Tour win

SHIGA, Japan -- Rio Takeda of Japan won nan LPGA's Toto Japan Classic connected Sunday successful a playoff that lasted six sudden-death holes, defeating Marina Alex of nan United States. It was Takeda's first triumph connected nan LPGA Tour.

Takeda had a birdie connected nan par-5 18th hole, edging Alex pinch par.

The 2 were tied aft 54 holes astatine 15-under 201. The tourney was restricted to 54 regularisation holes aft Saturday's 3rd information was washed retired by rain.

They were besides moreover aft nan first 5 playoff holes successful nan sudden-death format, each pinch a birdie connected nan first playoff spread and pars connected nan adjacent 4 holes. All of nan playoff holes were par-5s — nan 18th spread and nan 13th.

Alex changeable a 6-under 66 successful nan last information and Takeda changeable 67.

Haeran Ryu of South Korea was 1 changeable down aft regularisation pinch a 66. She vanished astatine 14-under 202.

Hana Wakimoto of Japan, nan leader aft nan first 2 rounds, slipped to a 1-over 73 and vanished 3 strokes down nan leaders. She was besides seeking her first LPGA Tour win.

The Japan tourney concludes a four-event Asian plaything for nan LPGA Tour that included events successful China, South Korea and Malaysia.

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