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Kyodo News
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Golf: Okayama, Takeda lead Women's British Open as Japanese dominate
PORTHCAWL, Wales - Japan's Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda shared the lead at 5-under par after the first round of the Women's British Open on Thursday, with compatriot Miyu Yamashita placing alone in third a shot behind. Chisato Iwai, Mao Saigo and Shiho Kuwaki were a further stroke behind in a 10-way tie for fourth as Japanese golfers made their mark on the last major of the year, staged at par-72 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales. After opening with her lone bogey, Okayama ascended to the top of the leaderboard thanks to a strong front nine where she made five birdies before another arrived on the 17th. "My tee shots were good, so I managed to finish without that many big problems," the 29-year-old said. "I wasn't imagining this at all." Takeda carded three birdies before taking a double bogey on the par-5 ninth hole, but recovered to add four more birdies on the back nine. "It was good. I was able to quickly switch my mind and play," she said. "I managed to perform really well, but it's only the first day. You never know what's going to happen on this course." The 22-year-old won her first title of her rookie LPGA season at the Blue Bay LPGA tournament in China in March before finishing second in the second major of the year in May at the U.S. Women's Open. Hinako Shibuno, the 2019 Women's British Open champion, struggled to a 75 and sits tied for 105th.
Japan Forward
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
LPGA Tour Showcases Japanese Women's Golf Talent
Recent LPGA Tour titles by Rio Takeda and Mao Saigo, along with Japanese women's representation in the world rankings, illustrate this generation's proficiency. Mao Saigo is Japan's top-ranked golf on the LPGA Tour. (©Stacy Revere/GETTY IMAGES/via SANKEI) Week after week, the headlines underscore the fact that an increasing number of Japanese women are making their mark on the LPGA Tour. Exhibit A: Victories by Rio Takeda (at March's Blue Bay LPGA in China) and by Mao Saigo (on April 27 at the Chevron Championship in Texas) delivered recent reminders of the nation's substantial women's golf talent. Rio Takeda (Erik Williams/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) And don't forget that Akie Iwai placed second at the LA Championship on April 27. Moreover, the ShopRite LPGA Classic (June 6-8) served to hammer home the point that this is a successful era for Japanese LPGA Tour members. In the tournament's opening round on Friday, in Galloway, New Jersey, Akie Iwai carded a 6-under 65 and was two strokes off the lead. Compatriots Ayaka Furue and Saki Baba were a further shot adrift following their 5-under 66 efforts. Akie Iwai shot a 31 on the front nine and had six birdies in the first half of the round, including the par-4 second hole. Akie Iwai hits a tee shot in the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on June 6 in Galloway, New Jersey. (KYODO) "So [the second hole] is definitely a tough hole, but I gave myself a birdie chance," she told reporters after the first round. "It wasn't an easy putt. But since I made that putt, it did set the tone for the rest of my round." Takeda carded a 67 in the first round. Miyuu Yamashita, a two-time winner of the JLPGA Tour title in her homeland, also had a positive start, shooting a 68. Chisato Iwai, Akie's twin, also had a 68. Ayaka Furue in a March 2025 file photo. (KYODO) When you take a quick glance at the latest Rolex Women's Golf World Rankings (updated on June 2), you quickly notice that Japan is well represented. In fact, nine Japanese LPGA Tour players are in the top 50. Saigo is 10th, Takeda is 14th, Furue is 16th and Yamashita is 18th. Also in the top 50: Akie Iwai (24th), Chisato Iwai (36th), Yuka Saso (39th), Nasa Hataoka (44th) and Sakura Koiwai (49th). Tokito Oda competes in the French Open men's wheelchair singles final on June 7 in Paris. (KYODO) World No 1 Tokito Oda secured a spot in the French Open men's wheelchair singles final against rival Alfie Hewett by beating Spain's Martin de la Puente 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals on Friday, June 6. On Saturday, Oda, who turned 19 on May 8, returned to the spotlight, vying for his third straight French Open singles title. Mission accomplished. Oda defeated second-seeded Hewett 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). The Japanese teenager joined elite company, becoming the third man to win the wheelchair singles Grand Slam title in Paris three or more times. Shingo Kunieda won it eight times, while Hewett has captured the title on three occasions. Tokito Oda (KYODO) "I was able to see many Japanese people, children, etc., today, and I am glad to have won three consecutive championships in front of them," Oda was quoted as saying by Nikkan Sports . He continued: "I was kind of tired at the end, so I am relieved. I will do my best again in this tournament, yes. [And] I will do my best to win the championship for the 10th year in a row!" After the match, Hewett commended Oda for their spirited showdown. "Congratulations Tokito, thank you again for another amazing match [in] an arena like this," Hewett stated in an on-court interview. "I want to say thank you to my team who are here this week and back at home cheering me on, supporting and I hope to see you next year." At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Oda also beat Hewett in the men's singles final. Yui Kamiji plays a shot in the French Open women's wheelchair singles final against Aniek van Koot on June 7. (Gonzalo Fuentes/REUTERS) Also on Saturday, top-seeded Yui Kamiji competed in the French Open women's wheelchair singles title match against longtime rival Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands. Kamiji triumphed 6-2, 6-2 to win the event for the fifth time in her banner career. Saturday's victory also produced Kamiji's 10th Grand Slam singles title. Eri Hozumi (rear) and partner Ulrikke Eikeri in action during a French Open women's doubles quarterfinal match on June 4 in Paris. (KYODO) Japanese veteran Eri Hozumi and Norway's Ulrikke Eikeri advanced to the French Open women's doubles semifinals as an unseeded tandem. On Friday, June 6, Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic and Kazakhstan's Anna Danilina spoiled the duo's title hopes, winning 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5. The 31-year-old Hozumi had her best French Open doubles performance in 2018, when she teamed up with Makoto Ninomiya for a runner-up finish. Australia's Connor Metcalfe (right) competes against Japan's Joel Chima Fujita in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Group C qualifier on June 5 in Perth, Australia. (Richard Wainwright/AAP IMAGE/via REUTERS ) Nearly three months after Japan qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, manager Hajime Moriyasu's squad resumed competition on Thursday night, June 5. In an Asian Group C qualifier against Australia in Perth, the Samurai Blue lost 1-0. Aziz Behich ended the stalemate in the 90th minute. Japan (six wins, two draws, one loss) in third-round qualifying matches and still leads Group C with 20 points. Australia (four wins, four draws, one loss) is in second place with 16 points. The pressure was on the Socceroos to earn a win as they seek to secure a berth in the 2026 World Cup. Japan gave several younger players a chance to compete without the added pressure of a high-stakes environment. For instance, Wataru Endo and Takefusa Kubo were among Japan's key players not given starting assignments. In addition, forward Yu Hirakawa (Bristol City), midfielder/forward Kota Tawaratsumida (FC Tokyo) and defender Hiroki Sekine (Stade de Reims) all earned their first caps. Moriyasu made no excuses after Japan's defeat. "I don't believe there are any matches where it's acceptable for the national team to lose," Moriyasu told reporters. "No matter who takes the pitch, we are expected to win." He also spoke about the team's concurrent goal of building for the future. "That said, we shouldn't always rely solely on our core players out of fear of defeat," Moriyasu stated. "Instead, we must take responsibility for the development of Japanese football while also striving for victory as a team." In its final World Cup qualifier, Japan faces Indonesia on Tuesday, September 10. Kickoff is 7:35 PM in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. Soccer Analysis: Japan Booked 2026 World Cup Place in Style Shohei Ohtani (Gary A Vasquez/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani only hit one home run in the team's first six games of June, a quiet stretch for the power-hitting superstar. That said, Ohtani is the National League leader in homers (23) through games of June 6. A day earlier, Bill Arnold's Beyond the Box Score newsletter noted that Ohtani was on pace to hit 59 home runs this season. In 2024, he smacked a career-high 54. The fan favorite and MLB leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners (24 round-trippers) were the focal point of the newsletter's introduction, with Arnold pointing out that they could become only the seventh and eighth players in MLB history to hit 60 or more homers. Stay tuned. In related news, Ohtani was named the NL's Player of the Month for June. An announcement was made on Tuesday, June 3. Ohtani had an MLB-best 15 homers in May and also led all players with 31 runs scored while batting .309. He was second in RBIs (27). SPORTS SHORTS | MLB Stars Ohtani and Suzuki Wielding Powerful Bats New York Mets starter pitcher Kodai Senga pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning on June 6 at Coors Field in Denver. (Isaiah J Downing/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) New York Mets starter Kodai Senga is third among MLB starters in ERA through games of Friday, June 6. Senga has a 1.59 ERA. He trails only Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (1.43) and Texas Rangers hurler Nathan Eovaldi (1.56). All three men have made 12 starts. In his latest start, Senga got a no-decision against the Colorado Rockies on Friday. He pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits. Senga, who has a 6-3 win-loss record, walked two and struck out six. The Mets rallied for a 4-2 victory in the ninth inning in Denver. New York manager Carlos Mendoza said he's confident whenever Senga steps on the pitcher's mound. "[Senga gives] an ace-type outing every time he takes the baseball," Mendoza said, according to the New York Post , on Friday. "I feel good with all our guys, too, but with Kodai, he continues to get better." Mendoza added, "I feel he's getting to a point now where, since [the] first pitch, there is intensity there, the way the ball is coming out and he's using all his pitches." Keisei Tominaga shoots in the NBA G League Up Next Game on February 16 in San Francisco. (NBAE/GETTY IMAGES/via KYODO) Former University of Nebraska sharpshooter Keisei Tominaga has signed a contract to play for the Levanga Hokkaido in the 2025-26 season. Tominaga, 24, received limited playing time in his rookie season as a pro with the NBA G League's Indiana Mad Ants. He averaged 5.4 points and 8.7 minutes in 14 games. Indiana had a 34-game G League season. Now, Tominaga, who played for the Japan national team at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, looks ahead with a fresh outlook. The Aichi Prefecture native said he wants to help the Levanga qualify for the playoffs for the first time. "Together with the fans, [new] head coach [Torsten] Loibl and my teammates, I will do my best in all green using my 3-point shot as my weapon to achieve our immediate goal of the club's first championship appearance," Tominaga said in a statement. He added that the team's bigger goal is to win the league championship. The Levanga missed the playoffs this past season, finishing with a 21-39 record. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Yomiuri Shimbun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Chisato Iwai Wins Mexico Riviera Maya Open by 6 Shots for First LPGA Title
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Chisato Iwai PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Chisato Iwai took a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show Sunday, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a 6-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open for her first LPGA title. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way. 'My mental is so calm — calm every day, every time,' Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished at 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. It didn't take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn this into a rout. She hit wedge to 4 feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a 7-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to 2 feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No. 6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. 'It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too,' Bae said. 'So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament.' The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda of Japan also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her last six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead, made only one birdie in her round of 76. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her last seven holes for a 78. Iwai won $375,000 for her first title. It's the first time in 10 years the LPGA has had three rookies win before the end of May. The LPGA returned to Mexico for the first time since 2017 and didn't attract a strong field with the U.S. Women's Open next week at Erin Hills is Wisconsin. Charley Hull at No. 15 was the highest-ranked player in the field. She didn't break 70 all week and tied for 32nd.
Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Chisato Iwai wins Mexico Riviera Maya Open by 6 shots for first LPGA title
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Chisato Iwai took a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show Sunday, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a 6-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open for her first LPGA title. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way. 'My mental is so calm — calm every day, every time,' Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished at 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. It didn't take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn this into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No. 6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. 'It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too,' Bae said. 'So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament.' The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda of Japan also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her final six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead, made only one birdie in her round of 76. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her final seven holes for a 78. Iwai won $375,000 for her first title. It's the first time in 10 years the LPGA has had three rookies win before the end of May. Canadian Maddie Szeryk finished in a three-way tie for 60th at 8 over. The LPGA returned to Mexico for the first time since 2017 and didn't attract a strong field with the U.S. Women's Open next week at Erin Hills is Wisconsin. Charley Hull at No. 15 was the highest-ranked player in the field. She didn't break 70 all week and tied for 32nd. ___ AP golf:
Winnipeg Free Press
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Chisato Iwai wins Mexico Riviera Maya Open by 6 shots for first LPGA title
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Chisato Iwai took a tournament up for grabs and turned it into her own highlight show Sunday, making five birdies in her opening six holes for a 6-under 66 and a six-shot victory in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open for her first LPGA title. Iwai led from the opening hole at El Camaleon when she made birdie and Jenny Bae made bogey, and the 22-year-old from Japan was on her way. 'My mental is so calm — calm every day, every time,' Iwai said. She ran off four straight birdies, poured in every putt that mattered and then cruised home to become the third LPGA rookie to win this season. Iwai, whose twin sister Akie Iwai has been runner-up twice this year, finished at 12-under 276. Bae had a one-shot lead going into the final round at Mayakoba, and the 10 players behind her also had never experienced winning on the LPGA Tour. It didn't take long for Iwai, who had eight wins on the Japan LPGA before getting her LPGA card, to turn this into a rout. She hit wedge to four feet on the third hole for birdie. She rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the fourth. Her approach to the par-5 fifth was right of the green, close to the water, and she calmly chipped that to two feet for a third straight birdie. Iwai finished the big birdie run with a 15-foot putt on No. 6. Bae bogeyed the opening two holes and never caught up. She steadied herself on the back nine to salvage a 73 and a runner-up finish. 'It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too,' Bae said. 'So I'm happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I'll be able to score better at the next tournament.' The six-shot victory for Iwai matched the largest margin this year. Rio Takeda of Japan also won by six at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. Iwai took off early and it seemed as though everyone simply cleared out of her way. Gabriela Ruffels, who birdied five of her final six holes on Saturday to get within two shots of the lead, made only one birdie in her round of 76. Miranda Wang, who stayed in the game with clutch par putts down the stretch in the third round, closed with a 76 without making a birdie. Yahui Zhang made bogey on six of her final seven holes for a 78. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Iwai won $375,000 for her first title. It's the first time in 10 years the LPGA has had three rookies win before the end of May. Canadian Maddie Szeryk finished in a three-way tie for 60th at 8 over. The LPGA returned to Mexico for the first time since 2017 and didn't attract a strong field with the U.S. Women's Open next week at Erin Hills is Wisconsin. Charley Hull at No. 15 was the highest-ranked player in the field. She didn't break 70 all week and tied for 32nd. ___ AP golf:
