Rio Takeda hinted at what she was capable of last fall. She proved it Sunday in China
The 21-year-old rookie from Japan closed in 8-under 64, the best round of the day at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course, to capture her second LPGA title at the 2025 Blue Bay LPGA. Her first victory came last year at the co-sanctioned Toto Japan Classic, when she beat Marina Alex in a six-hole playoff to earn LPGA status for 2025. Now, she’s the first rookie to win on the LPGA since Haeran Ryu in 2023.
“I’m really happy with this,” Takeda said. “Really happy to win this tournament because the course layout, it’s really, really different, like compared to Japanese course(s). I had so many win(s) at the JLPGA but this win is meaningful.”
Takeda dominated her way to a six-shot win, finishing at 17 under for the tournament. It’s a new record for largest margin of victory at the Blue Bay. Minjee Lee was the runner-up, coming in at 11 under for the week. The two-time major champ closed in 67 for the solo second.
“I think for most of the week I was hitting it pretty solid,” Lee said. “Just try to capitalize on the shots that I hit close. It’s quite hard if you’re not on the right sections of the greens here, so I did have a few putts over hills.
Takeda is the second first-time winner this season, joining Yealimi Noh, who earned her first LPGA win at the Founders Cup. With the victory, Takeda takes home $350,000 from the $2.5 million purse.
Ayaka Furue finished solo third, a shot behind lee and seven behind Takeda. Takeda also became the 10th Japanese player to win at least twice on the LPGA.
The Blue Bay LPGA was the final of three LPGA events in Asia for the spring swing in the Eastern Hemisphere. The tour will take two weeks off and return to action in Arizona at the Ford Championship.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rio Takeda wins Blue Bay LPGA with record showing in China
