Business as usual on the LPGA Tour, another week and no American winner.
The young woman named after the space program’s agency — Nasa Hattaoka — had herself a great week at the Kia Classic and held on Sunday to pick up her third win in the past 16 events. She went 64-67 over the weekend to shoot 18-under and win by three over what seemed like everyone and their sisters.
There were four tied for second. Good news is that American Danielle Kang was one of them. A closing 65 got her to 15 under and they had to take roll to make sure all the runnerups were accounted for — Kang, Jin Young Ko, Azahara Munoz, world No. 1 Sung Hyun Park and another Park, first name Inbee.
Another five jammed up at 14-under.
Hataoka was excited, mostly about the fact that she’s playing well heading into this week’s first women’s major of the season — the ANA Inspiration.
“Big tournament coming up next week, so I’ll celebrate a little bit but get my mind refreshed and start again next week,” Hataoka said.
Hataoka outplayed everyone on Saturday and played decent on Sunday.
“First couple days I wasn’t putting very well so I didn’t really think I could pull this off,” Hataoka said. “Until the 18th hole, anything could happen, but I was just very relieved that my second shot landed on the putting surface.”
After driving left into the water that caused a bogey on the par-4 16th, Hataoka hit a sand wedge to a foot for birdie on the par-5 17th and closed with a par on the par-4 18th.
“I forgot about the bogey very quickly,” she said. “I knew that 17 was a chance I could make a birdie, and just very relieved and felt great that I was able to actually get a birdie.”
