Miyu Yamashita currently holds the top position in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award standings, leading Rio Takeda by 32 points and Chisato Iwai by 295 points after her fourth-place finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G in Ohio.

The Japan native is on a remarkable streak, having recorded her fifth consecutive top-10 finish in her rookie season at TPC River’s Bend, a run that dates back to her tie for 10th at the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open and that includes her first victory at the AIG Women's Open in July, making her the second 2025 major winner from Japan alongside Mao Saigo, who won The Chevron Championship in April.

Yamashita's other top-10 performances this year include a tie for fourth at the Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands in February, a tie for eighth at the Blue Bay LPGA in March and a tie for third at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro in April.

She also tied for fifth at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer and finished in a tie for sixth at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, both in June. In July, she tied for 10th at the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open and tied for seventh at the FM Championship in August.

The rookie ranked high in multiple statistical categories following this week's event in the Buckeye State – tying for fourth in birdies made (22), tying for sixth in fairways hit (50 of 56) and sitting at fourth in greens in regulation (59 of 72). Also of note, Yamashita was one of just four players who posted all four rounds in the 60s, carding scores of 69-67-66-69 at TPC River's Bend.

"I want to play as much as I can," said Yamashita regarding her plans for the remainder of the season. "I want to do my best and win more again."

While the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race is poised to remain competitive, it seems only a matter of time before the 24-year-old makes another appearance in the LPGA Tour winner's circle.

Since the Rookie of the Year award was established in 1962, only two winners have come from Japan—Hiromi Kobayashi in 1990 and Mao Saigo in 2024. But the odds are high that the Tour will see a third Japanese athlete at the top of the standings, with Yamashita leading her fellow countrywomen Takeda, who is ranked second, and twins Chisato Iwai and Akie Iwai, who are third and fourth, respectively.

Miyu Yamashita Takes Lead in Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Race

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