Nasa Hataoka dominated the competition at Wilshire Country Club to win the LA Open by five strokes Sunday.
The 23-year-old entered the final round with a four-stroke lead after Jin Young Ko’s bogey-filled third round allowed Hataoka to move into first place by herself.
The putt that sealed the victory 🏆 @nasagolf7355 claims her sixth LPGA Tour win at the @lpga_LA! pic.twitter.com/JDwslhJ6in
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 25, 2022
Hataoka finished at 15-under 269, just one stroke shy of the tournament record set by Brooke Henderson in 2021. Consistent golf helped Hataoka clinch her sixth LPGA Tour title as the only golfer to shoot in the 60s during all four days of competition.
“I did have a lead, but obviously this course, this challenging course, you never know what’s going to happen,” Hataoka said following her win. “I was able to focus until the last putt.”
Hannah Green of Australia fired a final-round 68 to finish five strokes behind Hataoka, while Madelene Sagstrom rounded out the top of the leaderboard with a 7 under.
Jin Young Ko carded five birdies to finish with a 7-under 64 and secure a share of the lead alongside Nasa Hataoka at the DIO Implant LA Open on Friday.
Hataoka had a strong back nine during the second round at the Wilshire Country Club, birdieing her final three holes for a total of seven birdies and four bogeys to meet Ko at 7-under. Ko birdied holes No. 11-14 and notched her eighth of the day on the 17th to match Hataoka at the top of the LA Open leaderboard after two rounds.
Jin Young Ko bulldozed her way to the top of the leaderboard after the second day at the @lpga_LA.
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 23, 2022
Watch her highlights before she tees off on Saturday! 👇 pic.twitter.com/Zy6EFckso2
Play was delayed for an hour and 15 minutes due to rain damage Thursday night, with 18 players unable to complete their rounds because of darkness.
“The wind was pretty strong,” Hataoka said. “The greens are pretty tight, narrow. So my plan was to hit the green, not try to be too aggressive. On the back nine, the wind kind of got weaker, so I was able to hit at the pin.”
Hannah Green sits two strokes behind Ko and Hataoka after firing a bogey-free 67, while Minjee Lee is three strokes back.
The third round begins Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.