JLPGA Tour player Mone Inami of Japan closed with a 69 on Sunday to reach 22-under and win her 13th JLPGA Tour victory and her first on the LPGA Tour.
“The past couple days I have enjoyed the feeling (of being in contention). It kind of a birdie chasing game so I tried to pour them out. Since I got eagle and birdie on last two holes yesterday, that makes me play in final group for final day so that is lucky for me,” Inami said of being near the top of the leaderboard all week before she was able to take the top spot-on Sunday. “For today, actually, the first nine holes I actually tried to enjoy them but its going to be big pressure coming down on the back nine. It was a tough game.”
The Taiheiyo Club Minori Course played more difficult on Sunday than it did any other day due to higher winds. With the added difficulty, the expected birdie barrage turned into a struggle.
While this is Inami’s 13th victory on the JLPGA Tour, it has been over a year since she was last in the winner’s circle. She had not earned a win this season despite six top-10 finishes.
“I always aim to win at least one time per year. However, I have struggled this year. I had a good start this year. However, from the middle of the season I am struggling not only with my golf but also with my body condition. It made me unable to play well. Also, I did not feel comfortable with my swing all year long and changed my swing 4 times. But, I got something good feeling with my swing this week, it worked well and I won this tournament.”
With her win, she had the opportunity to accept immediate LPGA Tour membership and make 2023 her rookie season, however, Inami decided not to accept immediate Tour membership and will have until 5 p.m. ET on November 13 to decide whether she will accept membership for the 2024 season.
“I am very happy to get an option that I can play not only on the Japan tour but also on the US tour now. I will discuss with my team to make a final decision whether we will take this option or not,” she said after her round.
Korean golfer Seon Woo Bae closed with a 5-under 67 to finish in a share of second place at 21-under alongside second- and third-round co-leader Shiho Kuwaki of Japan, who was bogey free through three rounds but shot a 1-under 71 with three bogeys and four birdies to finish.
Korea’s Jiyai Shin shot one of the low rounds of the day, a 7-under 65, to move from T19 to a tie for fourth, where she finished alongside China’s Xiyu Lin (67). Lin’s T4 finish is her sixth top-four result of the 2023 season, but she has yet to win on Tour.
Defending champion Gemma Dryburgh also shot a final-round 65 to finish in T6 with Thai player Jasmine Suwannapura (69). Both players entered this week in the top-60 bubble (positions 55-65) on the Race to the CME Globe points list, but will move into the top-60 in the Race with their top-10 results.
Overnight co-leader Nasa Hataoka of Japan closed with a 74 to finish T8 at 18-under.
