TOTO Japan Classic R2

Ai Suzuki takes 3-stroke lead into the final day

by GT Editor

Saturday 9th of February 2019

November 08-10
Seta Golf Club, Shiga, Japan
$1,500,000
Round 1, Round 3

Last Sunday, Ai Suzuki won for a 5th time this year on the JLPGA.

This Sunday, the 25yo enters the final round of the TOTO Japan Classic with a three-stroke lead looking for her first career @LPGA title.

The 14-time JLPGA winner, is making her 15th career start on the LPGA. pic.twitter.com/495csNVmkv
— LPGA Media (@LPGAMedia) November 9, 2019

Ai Suzuki fired a bogey-free7-under 65 to take a 3-stroke lead into the final day at the LPGA Japan Classic.

“I have to shoot more than 3 under to win the tournament,” Suzuki said. “Usually winner scores low. Especially this week with this course, I think I have to play and score 5 to 6 under. That will be my target score tomorrow.”

Gaby Lopez finished with back-to-back birdies for a second round 67 to take second place.

“It’s key to be below the hole on every single green,” Lopez said. “Everything slopes back to front. The more you are putting uphill the more aggressive you can be.”

Saturday in Japan saw a number of players go low to set up an exciting final round at the TOTO Japan Classic.

HIGHLIGHTS ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/E5YJzzsyDM
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 9, 2019

First round co-leader Hanna Green shot a 69 and is tied for third with Hyo Joo Kim.

Suzuki had seven birdies at the par-72 Seta Golf Course for a 12-under 132 total. Gaby Lopez shot a 67 and was in second place in the final event of the LPGA Tour’s Asia Swing.

“The back end of the round I felt a lot more confident and I pushed myself to make sure I finished under par. It was nice to finish birdie-birdie today because I didn’t do that yesterday.”

With a win

Ai Suzuki would become the third non-Member winner of the 2019 season, joining AIG Women’s British Open winner Hinako Shibuno and BMW Ladies Championship winner Ha Na Jang

Suzuki would become eligible for LPGA Tour Membership; she could accept immediate Membership or take Membership for the 2020 season – she would have until Monday of the CME Group Tour Championship to make her decision

Suzuki would become the 15th different winner from Japan in LPGA Tour history, and would join Kia Classic winner Nasa Hataoka as 2019 Japanese winners

Gaby Lopez would earn her second career LPGA Tour win; and would capture titles at the penultimate event for the second-straight year

Mexico would become the 10th different country to be represented by a winner in 2019

Suzuki or Lopez would become the 23rd different winner on the LPGA Tour in 2019

Omega Dubai Desert Classic R3

Tours

By GT Editor

Pos.	Player	To Par	R1	R2	Total
1	Ai Suzuki	-12	67	65	132
2	Gaby Lopez	-9	68	67	135
T3	Hyo Joo Kim	-8	68	68	136
T3	Hannah Green	-8	67	69	136
T5	Shanshan Feng	-7	70	67	137
T5	Minjee Lee	-7	68	69	137
T7	Ah-Reum Hwang	-6	72	66	138
T7	Chella Choi	-6	70	68	138
T7	Erika Kikuchi	-6	70	68	138
T7	Jing Yan	-6	69	69	138
T7	Hinako Shibuno	-6	69	69	138
T7	Jennifer Kupcho	-6	68	70	138
13	Sakura Koiwai	-5	70	69	139
T14	Su Oh	-4	72	68	140
T14	Minami Katsu	-4	69	71	140
T14	Yu Liu	-4	69	71	140
T14	Teresa Lu	-4	68	72	140
T18	Ariya Jutanugarn	-3	73	68	141
T18	Mi-Jeong Jeon	-3	73	68	141
T18	Nicole Broch Larsen	-3	70	71	141
T18	Misuzu Narita	-3	70	71	141
T18	Azahara Munoz	-3	70	71	141
T18	Sun-Ju Ahn	-3	70	71	141
T18	Morgan Pressel	-3	70	71	141
T18	Rumi Yoshiba	-3	70	71	141
T18	Seon Woo Bae	-3	69	72	141
T27	Lexi Thompson	-2	74	68	142
T27	Sakura Yokomine	-2	73	69	142
T27	Mel Reid	-2	73	69	142
T27	Momoko Ueda	-2	72	70	142
T27	Yui Kawamoto	-2	71	71	142
T27	Eri Okayama	-2	70	72	142
T27	Sayaka Takahashi	-2	70	72	142
T27	Kana Mikashima	-2	69	73	142
T27	Lydia Ko	-2	68	74	142
T36	Jiyai Shin	-1	74	69	143
T36	So Yeon Ryu	-1	74	69	143
T36	Pornanong Phatlum	-1	74	69	143
T36	Erika Hara	-1	73	70	143
T36	Kana Nagai	-1	72	71	143
T36	Marina Alex	-1	71	72	143
T36	Hina Arakaki	-1	70	73	143
T36	Gerina Piller	-1	70	73	143
T44	Amy Olson	E	75	69	144
T44	Mone Inami	E	72	72	144
T44	Anna Nordqvist	E	71	73	144
T44	Jeongeun Lee6	E	70	74	144
T44	Rei Matsuda	E	69	75	144
T49	Eun-Hee Ji	1	75	70	145
T49	Saki Asai	1	74	71	145
T49	Mika Miyazato	1	74	71	145
T49	Ashleigh Buhai	1	74	71	145
T49	Megan Khang	1	74	71	145
T49	Ally McDonald	1	74	71	145
T49	Wei-Ling Hsu	1	73	72	145
T49	Ji-Hee Lee	1	73	72	145
T49	Celine Boutier	1	72	73	145
T49	Mamiko Higa	1	70	75	145
T59	Serena Aoki	2	74	72	146
T59	Kristen Gillman	2	73	73	146
T59	Hee-Kyung Bae	2	72	74	146
T59	Momoko Osato	2	70	76	146
T63	Lala Anai	3	76	71	147
T63	Mi Hyang Lee	3	75	72	147
T63	Mi Jung Hur	3	73	74	147
T63	Bronte Law	3	73	74	147
T63	Moriya Jutanugarn	3	72	75	147
T63	Min-Young Lee	3	71	76	147
T63	Nasa Hataoka	3	71	76	147
T63	Jenny Shin	3	69	78	147
T63	Angel Yin	3	69	78	147
T72	Asuka Kashiwabara	4	74	74	148
T72	Hikaru Yoshimoto	4	74	74	148
74	In-Kyung Kim	5	76	73	149
75	Nanna Koerstz Madsen	6	75	75	150
T76	Saranporn Langkulgasettrin	7	81	70	151
T76	Jasmine Suwannapura	7	75	76	151
78	Jaye Marie Green	10	75	79	154