Latest news with #JLPGA
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Bear on golf course brings early end to women's tournament in Japan; "surprised" teen declared winner
Bear attacks in Japan at record high as the animals struggle to find food Golfers in Japan had more than just bunkers and water hazards to deal with when a bear sighting brought an early end to a tournament because of safety concerns, marking the second time in less than two weeks that creatures have invaded a pro golf tournament. The final round of the Twinfields Ladies on the women's second-tier Step Up tour in central Japan was cancelled after a bear was spotted on the course on Saturday. The decision was taken to protect players and spectators, said organizers. Reina Maeda, who was leading on six-under par after Friday's second round, was declared the winner, earning 2.7 million yen (about $19,000) for the victory. "I was very surprised, but I'm very happy," said the 19-year-old. Empty 18th green is seen as the play of the final day has been cancelled after a bear is witnessed during the final round of the Twinfields Ladies Tournament at Golf Club Twin Fields on May 24, 2025 in Komatsu, Ishikawa, Japan. Yoshimasa Nakano/JLPGA via Getty Images Earlier this month, a snake slithered onto the golf course at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, the BBC reported. That came just a day after a turtle interrupted play on the same course. Human encounters with bears have reached record levels in Japan, with 219 people attacked, resulting in six deaths in the 12 months leading up to April 2024. Climate change affecting food sources and hibernation times, along with depopulation caused by an ageing society, are causing bears to venture into towns more frequently. Experts previously told CBS News that as Japan's population shrinks, humans are leaving rural areas, and bears are moving in. "Then that area recovered to the forest, so bears have a chance to expand their range," biologist Koji Yamazaki, from Tokyo University of Agriculture, told CBS News. Japan's government in February approved a bill allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas. In December, a bear that rampaged through a Japanese supermarket for two days was lured out with food coated in honey. Police said the animal was trapped and later killed.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Prize money payouts for every LPGA player at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open
Prize money payouts for every LPGA player at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open The highly-decorated 2025 LPGA rookie class is living up to its billing. Japan's Chisato Iwai became the third rookie on tour to win this season, joining Japan's Rio Takeda (Blue Bay LPGA) and Sweden's Ingrid Lindblad (JM Eagle LA Championship). While Chisato's twin sister Akie (who tied for 16th in Mexico) boasts a pair of runner-up finishes so far this year, Chisato's only headline prior to this week's inaugural 2025 Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba was a slow-play penalty she received in Utah, where she ultimately missed the cut. Chisato came out firing on Sunday in Mexico, where she entered the final round trailing another rookie, Jenny Bae, by one stroke. Five birdies over the first six holes built a commanding lead she never relinquished. An eight-time winner on the JLPGA, Chisato closed with a 66 to finish six strokes ahead of Bae. Iwai earned $375,000 for the victory and heads next to the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. Prize money payouts for the 2025 Mexico Riviera Maya Open
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LPGA rookie bounces back after slow-play penalty in Utah to contend at Liberty National
LPGA rookie bounces back after slow-play penalty in Utah to contend at Liberty National One week after LPGA rookie Chisato Iwai received a two-stroke penalty for slow play, she's back in the mix at the rainy Mizuho Americas Open. Iwai carded a second-round 5-under 67 at Liberty National and currently sits in the top 10. Iwai, 22, was assessed the slow-play penalty during the second round of the Black Desert Championship, where she ultimately missed the cut by two. It marked the second second slow-penalty of the season after the tour released a new stricter Pace of Play Policy that went into effect in March. "At first I was really shocked, and it really did get to me," Iwai said through an interpreter. "But after the penalty was finalized I had time to talk about it with the team and it was a good learning experience moving forward." Iwai went on to say that she'd be more mindful of her time going forward. When asked if she'd ever considered herself to be a slow player, she said "absolutely not." Earlier this season at the T-Mobile Match Play, Hira Naveed was assessed a one-stroke penalty for slow play on the 16th hole. The penalty did not impact the outcome, however, as she had already lost the hole. Iwai, currently No. 44 in the Rolex Rankings, joined the tour at the same time as twin sister, Akie, who is ranked 22nd. Akie already has two runner-up finishes this season. Chisato is an eight-time winner on the JLPGA while Akie has won six times.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
As everyone around her crumbled, Japan's Mao Saigo stood tall in wild Chevron finish
As everyone around her crumbled, Japan's Mao Saigo stood tall in wild Chevron finish THE WOODLANDS, Texas – When it comes to major championships, the 2025 Chevron Championship proved unforgettable. Mao Saigo, who counts famed Japanese player Jumbo Ozaki as a mentor, ultimately won the five-way playoff and took a victory plunge that quickly turned form celebration to distress as the water was deep and she can't swim. The women who jumped with her struggled as well. 'Every time I broke the surface, I got pulled under again,' said Saigo's caddie, Jeffrey Snow. 'They were trying to grab someone.' Mercifully, all turned out well and Saigo and team emerged from the water all smiles in their towels and robe. Saigo, speaking through an interpreter with the press, didn't hold back when asked about what's next. 'I still have four more majors to go, and I want to shoot for No. 1 in the world,' she said. 'I will do my best in the remaining four majors.' 18th hole at The Club at Carlton Woods was a hot topic Before Saigo even got to the jump though, it was already a wild scene on the 18th. Golf Twitter erupted as players – including Saigo – used the grandstand as a backstop when going for the green in two. Ariya Jutanugarn actually hit the volunteer she was aiming at after her ball bounced off the grandstand. Jutanugarn couldn't get a drop for her third, however, and practically whiffed her chip shot, which advanced only a few inches. She wound up making bogey on the hole when a par would've won her the tournament outright. That bogey dropped her to 7 under and into a tie with clubhouse leader Hyo Joo Kim. The pair were later joined by Ruoning Yin, Saigo and Lindy Duncan, the 116th-ranked player in the world whose finding her stride in her mid-30s. The first five-way playoff in LPGA major championship history commenced on the 18th, and the fear was that this might go on all night. After a fearless Yin struck an exceptional hybrid some 15 feet beyond the hole, the young Chinese superstar appeared in control. A ghastly three-putt, however, ruined her chances. Jutanugarn's birdie attempt took a hard lip-out, ending her chances at a third different major title. "The front nine was very solid especially with the eagle, but back nine just couple mistakes on par 5 that I made; two bogeys," she said. For Duncan, the share of second marked her best finish in a major. The gutsy up-and-down for birdie on the 18th to make it into the playoff gives her a world of confidence going forward. 'That was the loudest I've ever heard on a golf course,' said Duncan. 'The cheering was incredible. To make a putt like that to get into the playoff I'll remember forever.' Mao Saigo is the fifth Japanese golfer to win a major Saigo shot 2-over 74 in regulation but her two birdies on the 18th made her the fifth Japanese player to win a major. A six-time winner on the JLPGA, Saigo won the 2024 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year title on strength of consistent play. As she entered the most pressure-packed moment of her life, Saigo stepped up to a 3-foot putt after everyone around her had collapsed and got the job done. 'I was so laser-focused and nervous and really in the zone,' she said. 'All I could think of is the ball in front of me. I couldn't see anything else. 'I was shaking from nervousness, but I did my best to calm down and I shot and it went in.'
USA Today
10-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rio Takeda wins Blue Bay LPGA in dominating fashion, first rookie to win on LPGA since 2023
Rio Takeda wins Blue Bay LPGA in dominating fashion, first rookie to win on LPGA since 2023 Rio Takeda hinted at what she was capable of last fall. She proved it Sunday in China. The 21-year-old rookie from Japan closed in 8-under 64, the best round of the day at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course, to capture her second LPGA title at the 2025 Blue Bay LPGA. Her first victory came last year at the co-sanctioned Toto Japan Classic, when she beat Marina Alex in a six-hole playoff to earn LPGA status for 2025. Now, she's the first rookie to win on the LPGA since Haeran Ryu in 2023. "I'm really happy with this," Takeda said. "Really happy to win this tournament because the course layout, it's really, really different, like compared to Japanese course(s). I had so many win(s) at the JLPGA but this win is meaningful." Takeda dominated her way to a six-shot win, finishing at 17 under for the tournament. It's a new record for largest margin of victory at the Blue Bay. Minjee Lee was the runner-up, coming in at 11 under for the week. The two-time major champ closed in 67 for the solo second. "I think for most of the week I was hitting it pretty solid," Lee said. "Just try to capitalize on the shots that I hit close. It's quite hard if you're not on the right sections of the greens here, so I did have a few putts over hills. Takeda is the second first-time winner this season, joining Yealimi Noh, who earned her first LPGA win at the Founders Cup. With the victory, Takeda takes home $350,000 from the $2.5 million purse. Ayaka Furue finished solo third, a shot behind lee and seven behind Takeda. Takeda also became the 10th Japanese player to win at least twice on the LPGA. The Blue Bay LPGA was the final of three LPGA events in Asia for the spring swing in the Eastern Hemisphere. The tour will take two weeks off and return to action in Arizona at the Ford Championship, March 27-30.
