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lpga returns to Japan

The LPGA returns to Japan for the 43rd edition of the TOTO Japan Classic held at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Ibarkabi. It marks the first time the LPGA has played in the Tokyo area since 1991.

Throughout the years, several of the LPGA’s best have captured victories in Japan including; Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley, Betsy King, Annika Sorenstam and a trio of former champs who are in the field this week, Mi Hyang Lee, Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis.

As in the past, members of the JLPGA have been invited to compete in this year’s event as 35 members, including defending champion Sun-Ju Ahn, will be teeing it up among the LPGA’s best. For a complete list of JLPGA members competing please see page 4.

who’s in the field

Past Champions (7):

Sun-Ju Ahn (2015), Mi Hyang Lee (2014), Teresa Lu (2013), Stacy Lewis (2012), Momoko Ueda (2011, 2007), Jiyai Shin (2010, 2008), Karrie Webb (2006)

Japanese LPGA Golfers (3):

Ai Miyazato, Mika Miyazato, Haru Nomura

END OF LONG ASIA SWING FOR 6

The TOTO Japan Classic will mark the end of a six event in six week Asian stretch for six golfers who competed in the five previous Asia events and are in the field this week. The six golfers are:

               

                Moriya Jutanugarn                  Danielle Kang                            

                Christina Kim                             Pornanong Phatlum               

                Beatriz Recari                            Jenny Shin

Of the six, Danielle Kang has had the most impressive play during the five tournament stretch with a pair of top-10 finishes, including a tie for seventh last week at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

2016 lpga leaders

Wins - 5 (Ariya Jutanugarn)

Top-10s - 15 (Brooke Henderson)

Money List - $2,451,642 (Lydia Ko)

Race to CME Globe - 4,416 (Ariya Jutanugarn)

Scoring Average - 69.552 (Lydia Ko)

Rolex Player of the Year - 260 (Ariya Jutanugarn)

feng on fire

Since to Olympics, no player on the LPGA Tour has been playing better than Bronze Medalist Shanshan Feng. Who has registered five top-4 finishes and a victory last week at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. Below are Feng’s finishes in events since Rio:

Tournament                                         Result

Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia                  Win

KEB-HanaBank Championship               T3

Fubon LPGA Taiwan                                     2

Reignwood LPGA Classic                          T4

The Evian Championship                            4

race to cme globe enters the home stretch

The Race to CME Globe is entering its home stretch with just two events left to decide who will be competing for the $1 million dollar first prize at the CME Group Tour Championship.

The top 72 LPGA Members and those tied for 72nd on the Race to the CME Globe Points Standings, ranked in the order of their position on the standings at the conclusion of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex will have earned their way into field at CME.

Once the players have qualified for the event the points will reset. After the reset, the players in the top-3 positions on the Race to the CME Globe Points Standings will be able to win the Race to the CME Globe with a win at the Tour Championship. Additionally, the players in the top-9 positions will have a mathematical chance to win the race based on various scenarios.

The battle for the top-3 and top-9 is coming down the stretch as laid out below.

Race to cme globe battles

Top-4                                                                    8, 9, 10, 11

1. Ariya Jutanugarn - 4,416                           8. Anna Nordqvist - 2,440

2. Lydia Ko - 4,365                                            9. Haru Nomura - 2,439

3. Brooke Henderson - 3,186                       10. Amy Yang - 2,233

4. Sei Young Kim - 2,753                                 11. Shanshan Feng - 2,051