Japanese rookie Chisato Iwai fired a final-round 6-under-par 66 to jet away from the pack and secure a six-stroke win on Sunday at the inaugural Mexico Riviera Maya Open in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Iwai, who started the round one shot out of the lead, tamed El Camaleon Golf Course at Mayakoba on a day when few others could. Only two players shot rounds of 69, and none of the other 63 golfers in the field broke 70.
Iwai birdied five of her first six holes to leap ahead. She had two birdies and a single bogey on the inward nine to finish 12-under 276 for the week.
Iwai credited her mental game for guiding her through her hot start.
“My mental is so calm, calm, every day, every time. So it was just calm. Good play,” Iwai said.
It marks Iwai’s first win on the LPGA Tour, though she already has eight titles to her name from LPGA of Japan tournaments.
Iwai’s closest competition was Jenny Bae, the leader after the second and third rounds. The American opened Sunday with consecutive bogeys and struggled to get into gear, carding a 1-over 73 and placing second at 6 under.
Bae, like Iwai, was hunting for her first LPGA victory.
“I’m pretty happy with this week,” Bae said. “It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I’m also getting there, too. So I’m happy. I definitely know what I need to work on for the week off for me. Hopefully I’ll be able to score better at the next tournament.”
Iwai, who was ranked 45th in the world entering this week, revealed that she wears pink on Sundays akin to how Tiger Woods always wore red.
“This is my lucky color,” Iwai said. “Yes, every time final day I have pink something. Yeah, that’s why today wear pink, yes.
“Why? So when I won the tournament in Japan I often clothes pink, pants, pink wear, so this is my lucky color.”
Iwai will try to carry this form with her to Wisconsin next week. She was already in the field for the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills, the second major of the women’s season.
Haeji Kang of South Korea posted a 71 Sunday and took third place at 5 under. Sweden’s Linn Grant (70), China’s Weiwei Zhang (71) and South Koreans Jenny Shin (71), Somi Lee (72) and Hye-Jin Choi (72) tied for fourth at 4 under.
–Field Level Media
