LPGA Tour rookie Erika Hara closed with a 2-under 70 on Sunday to finish solo third at the TOTO Japan Classic. Her 15-under 273 at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Omitama, Ibaraki, Japan, is her best career result on the LPGA Tour.

The 27-year-old from Japan began the final round in a tie for third at 13-under and finished solo in the same position. Countrywoman Shuri Sakuma won at 20-under 268 after a final-round 64. Fifty-four-hole leader Aki Iwai finished solo second at 16-under, one shot ahead of Hara.

Hara made her first birdie of the day at the par-5 second and turned in 1-under 35. After a run of pars, she birdied the par-4 14th to reach 15-under. A bogey at the par-3 16th cost her a stroke, but Hara answered right away with a birdie at the par-5 17th. She parred the 18th for a back-nine 35 and finished the round with three birdies and one bogey.

Hara's week began with a 2-under 70 on Thursday. That round included five birdies against three bogeys and closed with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18. She surged on Friday with a bogey-free 7-under 65, making seven birdies to move to 9-under, three shots off the lead. Hara followed with a bogey-free 4-under 68 on Saturday to climb into solo third at 13-under.

Over four rounds, Hara made 19 birdies against four bogeys, and her middle two rounds were both bogey-free.

The result is Hara's best finish in four appearances at the TOTO Japan Classic. She previously tied for 20th in 2019, tied for 56th in 2023 and tied for 34th in 2024.

The third-place finish is Hara's sixth top-10 in 25 starts this season. It beats her previous best LPGA Tour result, a T8 at the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open in July. She also has a T9 at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, a T9 at the Mizuho Americas Open, and a T10 at both the Blue Bay LPGA and the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

Hara earned her LPGA Tour card through the Epson Tour in 2025, when she won the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic and finished fifth in the Race for the Card standings. The two-time Japan Women's Open champion is projected to jump from 40th to 32nd in the Race to CME Globe as she heads into the close of her rookie season.

Rookie Erika Hara Claims Career-Best Third at 2026 TOTO Japan Classic

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