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Nasa Hataoka Finishes Tied for Second in LPGA's Season-Ending Tourney

Amy Yang wins her first LPGA Tour title since 2019 by finishing stronger than Nasa Hataoka over the final three holes in the CME Group Tour Championship.

Published

6 months ago

November 20, 2023

Ed Odeven

Nasa Hataoka tees off on the seventh hole in the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship on November 19, 2023, in Naples, Florida. (KYODO)

Read the full story on SportsLook - Nasa Hataoka Finishes Tied for Second in LPGA's Season-Ending Tourney

Nasa Hataoka held a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds of the LPGA Tour's final tournament of 2023.

But, as is usually the case in golf, the CME Group Tour Championship was decided on the final day ― this time, over the final three holes.

South Korea's Amy Yang had a better performance than Hataoka in the tourney's final round, shooting a 6-under 66 and earning the top prize of $2 million USD (¥296.5 million JPY). And that was the deciding factor on Sunday, November 19 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. Yang finished the weekend at 27-under 261.

Hataoka, who has won six LPGA Tour titles in her career, carded a 3-under 69 in the last round.

The 24-year-old Hataoka shared the runner-up spot with American Alison Lee, who had a final-round 66, at 24-under 264. They both pocketed $445,000 USD (about ¥66 million JPY).

Also for Japan, Yuna Nishimura finished tied for 13th at 14-under 274, while Ayaka Furue was tied for 16th at 13-under 275.

Yang Outplays Hataoka to Close Out the Final Round

On Sunday, Yang and Hataoka were tied for the lead with three holes remaining.

With a bogey on the par-3 16th hole (her first bogey in 35 holes), Hataoka fell a stroke off Yang's pace.

On the 17th hole, Yang made a 3-foot birdie. Hataoka had to settle for par. That extended Yang's lead to two strokes.

Hataoka made two birdies on the back nine, shooting a 1-under 35 in that span. She also made par on the final hole.

Yang had three birdies and an eagle on the par-4 13th hole for a 31 on the back nine. She completed the round with another birdie.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

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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 on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.