By: Max Bechtoldt
Hana Wakimoto, ranked No. 236 in the Rolex Rankings has the lead over a stacked field after one round at the Toto Japan Classic.
Wakimoto, a Japan native, shot a -9 63 in the opening round to take a two stroke lead over Jin Young Ko. Wakimoto only hit eight fairways, but was much stronger on approach. Wakimoto hit 15 greens in regulation, and converted well with 24 putts.
Wakimoto is a full-time JLPGA Tour player, but even on the second strongest tour in the world. She does have five top 10 finishes, but nothing better than fifth. Her most recent top 10 was in August at the Nitori Ladies.
Right behind Wakimoto is two-time LPGA Tour Player of the Year Jin Young Ko (above), who is looking for her first win of the season. It was a tale of two nines for Ko, who shot -1 on the front, but rallied for six birdies with no dropped shots on the back nine.
Ko isn’t the only superstar chasing, as Ayaka Furue, Hyo Joo Kim, Linn Grant, Haeran Ryu, Minjee Lee and Ariya Jutanugarn are all chasing in the top 10.
This would certainly be a bit of a Cinderella story for Wakimoto, but it wouldn’t be the first time a full-time JLPGA Tour player won this event. Just last year, Mone Inami won this event as a non-LPGA Tour member. Even Inami though was an Olympic silver medalist.
