01치열한 선두 경쟁 속 1타 차 리드… 우승 향한 최종 승부
이와이 아키가 LPGA 투어 TOTO 재팬 클래식 최종라운드에 1타 차 단독 선두로 들어서며 우승을 향한 유리한 고지를 점했다.
대회 내내 견고한 경기력을 선보인 이와이 아키는 팽팽한 흐름 속에서도 집중력을 잃지 않고 리더보드 가장 높은 곳에 이름을 올렸다.
2위 그룹과의 격차가 단 1타에 불과해 최종일 마지막 순간까지 우승 트로피를 둘러싼 치열한 샷 대결이 펼쳐질 것으로 예상된다.
02Original (English) — LPGA
Aki Iwai of Japan attempts a putt on the 18th green during the third round of the TOTO Japan Classic 2026 at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course on November 7, 2026 in Omitama, Japan.
OMITAMA, Japan (AP) — Aki Iwai shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead going into the final round of the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic.
Iwai was one shot clear of Arpichaya Yubol of Thailand, who carded a 65 on Saturday at the Taiheiyo Club north of Tokyo. She had the low round on a sunny day on the course.
Iwai was 15-under 201 after three rounds.
Yubol is looking for her first victory on the LPGA Tour. Iwai picked up her first LPGA Tour win last year in the Standard Portland Classic.
Youmin Hwang of South Korea and Erika Hara of Japan were two shots behind after both shot 68.
Defending champion Nasa Hataoka closed with a 72 and was in a group of four players three shots back. Hataoka, the leader after two rounds, won the event last year in a playoff in a rain-shortened tournament.
The Toto Japan Classic is the last of four tournaments in the LPGA’s so-called late-season Asian swing.