Hana Wakimoto set the first round of the Toto Japan Classic on fire. The 27-year-old Japanese International shot 9-under 63 tying the Seta course record in the first 18 hole. If the name sounds unfamiliar, it’s reasonable. The Asian golfer, who bettered a handful of LPGA icons and major winners, is not a member of the LPGA Tour. 

Wakimoto competes on her home circuit, the JLPGA, which co-hosts the Asian swing event in coordination with the American tour. The 27-year-old has been a JLPGA member since 2018 but has yet to secure a tournament win on her home circuit.

This year, Wakimoto has managed five top-tens from her 32 appearances.  Currently, she ranks 35th in JLPGA’s Mercedes ranking and 33 in the money rankings. In the Rolex World Ranking, she is far behind the star-studded lineup at the Seta Golf Course. That, of course, didn’t stop the world no.236 from playing carefree golf.

She hit 15 of the 18 fairways at the par-72 layout in Shiga, picking nine birdies in the first round. The Japanese golfer said, “Recently my ball striking has been very good, so I have been confident and I could attack the pins today.” The 9-under 63 is also the best round of her career. 

She bettered her previous lowes round by two shots. Hana Wakimoto shot 7-under 65 twice in her career. First in the opening round of the 2019 AXA LADIES GOLF TOURNAMENT in MIYAZAKI and then again in the 2023 Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies Open Golf Tournament. But now that she has bettered that, the current question can Wakimoto earn an LPGA Tour card via the Toto Japan Classic? The answer is both yes and no. 

Hana Wakimoto’s next steps for an LPGA Tour card

The 27-year-old has a chance to secure an LPGA membership by Sunday. To achieve this, she must maintain her blistering form through the final round and secure a win within two years. Non-member winners are eligible to join the LPGA Tour; in fact, last year’s Toto Japan Classic winner, Mone Inami, accepted LPGA membership following her victory. However, this comes with only a one-year exemption.

The other route is the LPGA Q-series. There are 25 cards on offer at the end of this route. On the other hand, the top five players from the Epson Tour after the final championship also earn their LPGA Tour cards. 

It’s also worth considering whether Hana Wakimoto actually wants to join the LPGA Tour. According to a report from Golf Digest Middle East, two Japanese golfers declined Tour cards initially last year. Hinako Shibuno turned down the opportunity after her 2019 Women’s Open victory, later joining through Q-School, while Ai Suzuki passed on the chance following her 2019 Toto Championship win.