[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Rio Takeda Continues to Shine on the JLPGA Tour

Read the full story on SportsLook - [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Rio Takeda Continues to Shine on the JLPGA Tour

How successful has Rio Takeda been during the 2024 JLPGA Tour season? To quantify it, consider the following: She has as many tournament titles this season (seven) as the four players behind her in the money rankings. 

Takeda also has more than twice as many victories this season as the two golfers with the second-most victories on the tour, Akie Iwai and Haruka Kawasaki (three wins apiece).

September was a glorious month for Takeda, who is 21.

On September 8, Takeda triumphed in the Sony JLPGA Championship with a 19-under 269 at Kanehide Kise Country Club in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture. It was her first victory in a major in her blossoming career.

Three weeks later, Takeda added to her growing list of accomplishments in 2024 by winning the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship at Ohtone Country Club in Bando, Ibaraki Prefecture. 

She was tied for the lead with two-time defending tour champion Miyuu Yamashita at 8-under 208 heading into the final round on Sunday, September 29.

Takeda closed out the four-round event with a 2-under 70. Her 8-under 278 bested Iwai's 280 and Yamashita's 281.

Keeping Focused One Round at a Time

What was Takeda's mindset entering the final round at Ohtone Country Club?

She later described it as a plan to "concentrate on my game and play without giving up until the end."

Takeda was delighted to win the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship.

"I've always wanted to win this tournament, so I'm very happy that I was able to achieve it," Takeda said, according to NHK. 

She added, "The course was difficult, and there were times when I couldn't get a birdie, but I tried not to show it on my face, and I'm glad that I was able to hold on well."

A Season of Success for Rio Takeda

Takeda leads the JLPGA Tour in scoring average (69.2793 heading into October) and is No 1 in top-10 finishes (17) tournaments). She's competed in 24 tournaments and made the cut in all but two of them.

What's also notable is the fact that Takeda leads all golfers in average birdies per round (4.2394).

It shouldn't be surprising based on her seven tournament titles this season that Takeda has also had the best results in the final round, which is often the deciding round. Specifically, Takeda is No 1 in scoring average in the final round (69.2472). Only Yamashita (69.2727) and Chisato Iwai, Akie's twin (69.5006), also have below-70 averages in the final round.

In a breakthrough season for Rio Takeda ― all seven of her career titles have been won this year ― she remains humble and appreciative of her supporters.

"I want to play well for the people who support me and cheer me on, and I think that's why I was able to win seven times," Takeda was quoted as saying by NHK.

"I'll continue to do my best in every [tournament], and I want to win an overseas major tournament someday, so I'll work hard again to get there."

Continue reading the full story, which includes news items on soccer, basketball, basketball and more, on SportsLook.

RELATED:

• [ODDS and EVENS] Rio Takeda Having a Breakthrough Season on the JLPGA Tour
• [ODDS and EVENS] Saiki Fujita Makes JLPGA History with Her 7th Hole-in-One

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.