The 42nd edition of the TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC will get underway tomorrow at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima-Shi, Mie. 43 of the LPGA’s best will square off with 35 JLPGA golfers in the third-to-last tournament of the LPGA season.
Leading the JLPGA contingent of 35 players is a familiar face to LPGA fans, 11-time LPGA winner Jiyai Shin, who has been competing on the JLPGA full-time since 2014.
“I’m really enjoying the JLPGA at the moment but I do really miss the LPGA.”
Shin, who captured the TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC in 2008 and 2010, has been a force on the JLPGA winning six times since joining in 2014, including a pair of victories this season.
“I had a new goal in Japan Tour and that was to win Player of the Year and after making that I’m really thinking about going back to the U.S.”
On the LPGA, Shin had the 11 aforementioned wins and was No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings for a combined 25 weeks during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
“On my second year on the LPGA I was already up to number one so it was so exciting and I was so happy but I think that time came to me a little bit early,” Shin admitted. “It felt like I lost my passion because I already made all of my goals and I didn’t make another target or goal. I was enjoying it but I lost the hunger. That’s why I came here to make new goals.”
Shin will have a chance to earn her LPGA Card back if she picks up a victory this week through Category 7, non-member win. It won’t be easy, however, as she faces off against a strong field which includes the likes of Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie and six additional past TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC champions - Mi Hyang Lee (2014), Teresa Lu (2013), Stacy Lewis (2012), Momoko Ueda (2011 and 2007), Karrie Webb (2006) and Maria McBride (1999).
Kelly Shon Looking To Play Her Way Into CME Group Tour Championship
Kelly Shon is one of four players in the field at this week’s TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC who is looking to play her way into the CME Group Tour Championship.
“It would mean a lot,” Shon said of possibly playing her way into the season’s final event. “That’s what I’ve been working towards pretty much all year trying to get into as many tournaments as I can including CME so that would be a good cherry on year to a good rookie season for me.”
Shon currently ranks 79th in the points race but is only a mere 75 points behind the crucial 72nd position. To qualify for the final event of the season, players must either finish in the top-72 in the Race to the CME Globe standings following next week’s Lorena Ochoa Invitational or win an official LPGA Tournament.
While Shon has a goal of Naples in mind she is also enjoying her rookie experience in Asia.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Shon said. “This is my first time touring any other countries in Asia besides Korea so it’s been a really good cultural experience for me. It’s kind of different playing over here versus playing in the states just because there’s no cuts and you see the same people every week. There’s a consistency to it and it’s a little more relaxed but at the same time everyone is trying to win. That part never changes. It’s a little different but it’s fun.”
Sakura Yokomine Returns to TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC As LPGA Rookie
Sakura Yokomine has played in every TOTO Japan Classic since 2004 as a member of the JLPGA but this season will have a different feel as the she will be competing as a rookie on the LPGA Tour.
“I set my goal earlier this year to at least get a win on the LPGA Tour,” Yokomine said. “It would be great if I could accomplish that in my home country.”
Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club may be the place for Yokomine to break through for her first LPGA win as she has recorded her best LPGA finish to date, a tie for fourth, at the event last season.
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