Toto Japan Classic

Toto Japan Classic
Tournament information
LocationOmitama, Ibaraki, Japan (2023)
Established1973; 51 years ago (1973)
Course(s)Taiheiyo Club Minori Course (2023)
Par72
Length6,608 yards (6,042 m)
Organized byMBS
Sports Nippon
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
LPGA of Japan Tour
FormatStroke play – 72 holes
Prize fund$2.0 million
Month playedNovember
Tournament record score
Aggregate192 Annika Sörenstam (2003, 3 rnds)
266 Mone Inami (2023)
To par−24 Annika Sörenstam (2003, 3 rnds)
−22 Mone Inami (2023)
Current champion
Japan Rio Takeda
Omitama is located in Japan
Omitama
Omitama

The Toto Japan Classic is an annual women's professional golf tournament in Japan, jointly sanctioned by the two richest women's professional tours: the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Japan Tour. It was an unofficial money event on the LPGA Tour from 1973 to 1975. It has taken place every year since 1973 at various locations, and is typically held in early November. From 2006 through 2015, the event has been played at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima, Mie. In 2016 and 2017, the events have been held at Minori Course of Taiheiyo Club in Omitama, Ibaraki, then changed back to the North Course of Seta Golf Course in Ōtsu, Shiga prefecture for 2018 events.

The tournament has had various names and sponsors throughout its history. Its current title sponsor is Toto Ltd. a Japanese bathroom products supplier.

Annika Sörenstam won the tournament five consecutive times from 2001 to 2005.

In 2007, Momoko Ueda of Japan scored a final round double eagle to win by two strokes over runners-up Maria Hjorth and Reilley Rankin.[1]

Tournament names

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  • 1973–1974: LPGA Japan Classic
  • 1975: Japan Classic
  • 1976: LPGA/Japan Mizuno Classic
  • 1977–1979: Mizuno Japan Classic
  • 1980–1992: Mazda Japan Classic
  • 1993–1997: Toray Japan Queens Cup
  • 1998: Japan Classic
  • 1999–2014: Mizuno Classic
  • 2015–present: Toto Japan Classic

Winners

[edit]
Year Date Champion Country Score Venue Purse
($)
Winner's
share($)
2024 Nov 3 Rio Takeda  Japan 2013 (−15)PO Seta Golf Course, North Course 2,000,000 300,000
2023 Nov 5 Mone Inami  Japan 266 (–22) Taiheiyo Club Minori Course 2,000,000 300,000
2022 Nov 6 Gemma Dryburgh  Scotland 268 (−20) Seta Golf Course, North Course 2,000,000 300,000
20212 Nov 7 Ayaka Furue  Japan 272 (−16) Seta Golf Course, North Course ¥220,000,000 ¥33,000,000
20202 Nov 8 Jiyai Shin (2)  South Korea 197 (−19) Taiheiyo Club, Minori Course ¥160,000,000 ¥24,000,000
2019 Nov 10 Ai Suzuki  Japan 199 (−17) Seta Golf Course, North Course 1,500,000 225,000
2018 Nov 4 Nasa Hataoka  Japan 202 (−14) Seta Golf Course, North Course 1,500,000 225,000
2017 Nov 5 Shanshan Feng (2)  China 197 (−19) Taiheiyo Club, Minori Course 1,500,000 225,000
2016 Nov 6 Shanshan Feng  China 203 (−13) Taiheiyo Club, Minori Course 1,500,000 225,000
2015 Nov 8 Ahn Sun-ju  South Korea 200 (−16)PO Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,500,000 225,000
2014 Nov 9 Lee Mi-hyang  South Korea 205 (−11)PO Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,200,000 180,000
2013 Nov 10 Teresa Lu  Taiwan 202 (−14) Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,200,000 180,000
2012 Nov 4 Stacy Lewis  United States 205 (−11) Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,200,000 180,000
2011 Nov 6 Momoko Ueda (2)  Japan 200 (−16)PO Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,200,000 180,000
2010 Nov 7 Jiyai Shin (2)  South Korea 198 (−18) Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,200,000 180,000
2009 Nov 8 Song Bo-bae  South Korea 201 (−15) Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,400,000 210,000
2008 Nov 9 Jiyai Shin  South Korea 201 (−15) Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,400,000 210,000
2007 Nov 4 Momoko Ueda  Japan 203 (−13) Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,400,000 210,000
2006 Nov 5 Karrie Webb  Australia 202 (−14) Kashikojima Country Club in Shima 1,200,000 180,000
2005 Nov 6 Annika Sörenstam (5)  Sweden 195 (−21) Seta Golf Course 1,000,000 150,000
2004 Nov 7 Annika Sörenstam (4)  Sweden 194 (−22) Seta Golf Course 1,000,000 150,000
2003 Oct 9 Annika Sörenstam (3)  Sweden 192 (−24) Seta Golf Course 1,130,000 169,500
2002 Nov 10 Annika Sörenstam (2)  Sweden 201 (−15) Seta Golf Course 1,130,000 169,500
2001 Nov 4 Annika Sörenstam  Sweden 203 (−13) Musashigaoka Golf Course 1,080,000 162,000
2000 Nov 5 Lorie Kane  Canada 204 (−12)PO Seta Golf Course 850,000 127,500
1999 Nov 7 Maria Hjorth  Sweden 201 (−15) Seta Golf Course 800,000 120,000
1998 Nov 8 Hiromi Kobayashi  Japan 205 (−11)PO Musashigaoka Golf Course 800,000 120,000
1997 Nov 9 Liselotte Neumann (2)  Sweden 205 (−11) Seta Golf Course 750,000 112,500
1996 Nov 3 Mayumi Hirase  Japan 212 (−4)PO Tone Golf Club 750,000 112,500
1995 Nov 5 Ko Woo-soon (2)  South Korea 207 (−9) Seta Golf Course 700,000 105,000
1994 Nov 6 Ko Woo-soon  South Korea 206 (−7) Oak Hills Country Club 700,000 105,000
1993 Nov 7 Betsy King (2)  United States 205 (−11) Lions Country Club 650,000 97,500
1992 Nov 8 Betsy King  United States 205 (−11) Musashigaoka Golf Course 650,000 97,500
1991 Nov 10 Liselotte Neumann  Sweden 211 (−5) Seta Golf Course 550,000 82,500
1990 Nov 4 Debbie Massey (2)  United States 1331 (−11) Musashigaoka Golf Course 550,000 82,500
1989 Nov 5 Elaine Crosby  United States 205 (−11) Seta Golf Course 500,000 75,000
1988 Nov 6 Patty Sheehan (2)  United States 206 (−10)PO Musashigaoka Golf Course 450,000 67,500
1987 Nov 8 Yuko Moriguchi  Japan 206 (−10) Musashigaoka Golf Course 350,000 52,500
1986 Nov 9 Tu Ai-yu  Taiwan 213 (−3)PO Lions Country Club 300,000 45,000
1985 Nov 10 Jane Blalock  United States 206 (−10) Musashigaoka Golf Course 300,000 45,000
1984 Nov 4 Nayoko Yoshikawa  Japan 210 (−6)PO Hiroshima Country Club 300,000 41,250
1983 Nov 13 Pat Bradley  United States 206 (−10) Musashigaoka Golf Course 250,000 37,500
1982 Nov 6 Nancy Lopez  United States 207 (−9) Melshin-Yokaichi Country Club 250,000 30,000
1981 Nov 8 Patty Sheehan  United States 213 (−9) Sagamihara Golf Club 250,000 30,000
1980 Nov 9 Tatsuko Ohsako  Japan 213 (−9)PO Hanayashiki Golf Club 225,000 26,250
1979 Nov 3 Amy Alcott  United States 211 (−11) Hanayashiki Golf Club 125,000 18,750
1978 Nov 3 Michiko Okada  Japan 216 (−6)PO Hanayashiki Golf Club 125,000 18,750
1977 Nov 3 Debbie Massey  United States 220 (−2) Hanayashiki Golf Club 100,000 15,000
1976 Nov 3 Donna Caponi  United States 217 (−5) Hanayashiki Golf Club 100,000 15,000
1975 Oct 19 Shelley Hamlin  United States 218 (−1) Ibaraki Kokusai Golf Club 100,000 15,000
1974 Nov 3 Chako Higuchi  Japan 218 (−4) Horyuju Country Club 100,000 15,000
1973 Dec1 Jan Ferraris  United States 216 (E) Shin Sode-Gahara Country Club 50,000 7,500

PO Won sudden-death playoff
1 The 1990 tournament was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.
2 The 2020 and 2021 tournaments were solely sanctioned by the LPGA of Japan Tour, and not on the United States-based LPGA Tour because of pandemic-related travel restrictions.[2][3]
3 The 2024 tournament was shortened to 54 holes due to impact of Typhoon Kong-rey in Japan cancelling the third round.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ueda captures the Mizuno Classic". UPI. November 4, 2007.
  2. ^ "LPGA Announces New Drive On Championship Amid Asia Cancellations". LPGA. September 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "2021 Toto Japan Classic Removed From LPGA Schedule". LPGA. October 4, 2021.
[edit]

34°57′22″N 135°55′19″E / 34.956°N 135.922°E / 34.956; 135.922