MANILA, Philippines — Chisato Iwai stormed to her maiden LPGA Tour title with a dazzling performance at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open in Playa del Carmen on Sunday (Monday Manila time), closing with a six-under-par 66 to seal a resounding six-stroke victory over Jenny Bae.
Starting the final round one stroke behind Bae, Iwai wasted no time asserting her dominance. A birdie-bogey swing on the opening hole flipped the leaderboard, and the 22-year-old Japanese rookie never looked back.
She fired a flurry of four straight birdies from No, 3, effectively turning the $2.5 million championship into a runaway triumph and a perfect tune-up for next week’s US Women’s Open in Wisconsin.
“My mental is so calm — calm every day, every time,” said Iwai, reflecting on her poise under pressure.
That composure paid off as she drained every critical putt en route to becoming the third LPGA rookie to win this season. She finished at 12-under 276 at the El Camaleon Golf Course — a venue known for its challenging layout and coastal winds.
Iwai, who previously tallied eight victories on the Japan LPGA Tour before earning her LPGA card, methodically dismantled the field. She birdied the third from four feet, holed a seven-foot putt at the fourth, and deftly chipped to within two feet on the par-5 fifth for her third in a row. A 15-foot birdie on the sixth capped her early barrage.
In contrast, Bae struggled to find her rhythm. After a shaky start, she faltered with a 73 to settle for second at 282. South Korea’s Haeji Kang carded a 71 to finish solo third at 283.
Bianca Pagdanganan, backed by ICTSI, showed early promise with an opening-round 68 that placed her in a four-way tie at the top. However, she couldn’t sustain the momentum, slipping with a 74 in the second round and failing to capitalize on moving day with an even-par 72.
Her final-round 74, marred by four bogeys against three birdies, left her tied for 26th at 288.
Still, for Pagdanganan — who had missed the cut in her previous four starts leading into Mexico — the performance offered a silver lining and renewed confidence for one of the Tour’s longest hitters.