Takeda wins Japan Classic after six-hole play-off
Rio Takeda has earned an LPGA tour card
- Published
Toto Japan Classic - final leaderboard
-15 Takeda* (Jpn), Alex (USA); -14 Ryu; -13 Fujita (Jpn), Noh (USA)
*Takeda won in play-off
Selected other: -8 Dryburgh (Sco)
Rio Takeda won her first LPGA tour title by beating American Marina Alex in a six-hole sudden-death play-off at the Japan Classic.
The 21-year-old forced a play-off when she birdied the 18th, leaving both players on 15 under after the tournament was reduced to 54 regulation holes following Saturday's bad weather.
The pair both birdied the first play-off hole and found par during the next four holes.
But Japan's Takeda made a birdie on the par-five 18th to see off Alex, who could only find par.
The play-off victory, one of the longest in LPGA history, means Takeda has earned a tour card.
"I was planning to take Q School in December and now I can skip that and go and play next year on the LPGA tour, which is exciting for me now," said the 21-year-old.