TOKYO: Shuri Sakuma won the LPGA Japan Classic by four shots on Sunday after firing off six birdies in her last eight holes of a scorching final round.
Sakuma, who is ranked number two on Japan’s JLPGA Tour, carded a final-day score of 8-under-par 64 after starting the round three shots behind leader Aki Iwai.
She rattled in eight birdies in a bogey-free final round at the Taiheiyo Club’s Minori Course in Omitama, outside Tokyo.
It gave her a final score of 20-under overall, putting her comfortably clear of runner-up Iwai.
It was the 23-year-old Sakuma’s fifth win of the season and her second in consecutive weeks on the Japanese tour.
Iwai finished a stroke clear of Erika Hara, with Yuna Araki and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol one further back.
Japan’s defending champion Nasa Hataoka, a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, finished seven strokes off the lead.
Thailand’s world number two Jeeno Thitikul finished on 4-under overall. – AFP