Hana Wakimoto has been the standout so far, with a stunning 63 in the opening round and keeping up the pace with a solid 4-under 68 on Friday. With a 13-under total through 36 holes, the Japanese player looked ready to lead the field to the finish. But bad weather hit just as everything seemed set. The season is soon to wrap up, but it won’t be complete without a twist, right? This time, the twist is less of a “surprise” and more of a “shock.” The highly anticipated Toto Japan Classic teed off on October 31, with golfing stars like Jin Young Ko, Ayaka Furue, and Haeran Ryu gracing the course. After two rounds, things seemed to be going smoothly – until dark clouds surrounded the fate of the tournament. 

Tournaments getting delayed due to weather changes is something that has been a constant thing in sports. It was predicted earlier that the players would experience a storm, and the weather would be “humid with rain, heavy at times,” with a 90% chance of rain at a density of 26.7 mm. So, it’s fair to say that none of it was unexpected. However, the weather got beyond worse due to Tropical Storm Kong-Rey. As per CNN, it is the largest storm to hit Taiwan in nearly three decades.

In response, the LPGA Tour announced that “the Seta Golf Course will be closed on Saturday due to the effects of Tropical Storm Kong-Rey.”  The third round of the TOTO Japan Classic? Well, it is suspended until Sunday, November 3. Has it affected the tournament in any way? Well, yes, it has: what was originally a 72-hole event is now shortened to 54 holes.

The pairings will remain the same for Sunday, with adjusted starting times. So, for now, all eyes are on the weather

How bad are the weather conditions so far?

Pretty devastating. Tropical Storm Kong-Rey has already left a brutal mark, claiming at least two lives and injuring over 500 people in Taiwan, as local authorities reported. The storm came in on Thursday with maximum sustained winds of about 109 miles per hour, which is intense enough to hit like a Category 2 hurricane, according to the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

The warnings didn’t go unheard as Taiwan’s Interior Ministry ordered the evacuation of more than 11,900 across 14 cities and counties. Kong-Rey’s eye had passed Taiwan, but the storm wasn’t done yet – its next target was China. Officials in Zhejiang Province quickly evacuated about 282,000 people, in anticipation of heavy rain, wind, and risks of flooding.

Authorities in Zhejiang and neighboring regions weren’t taking any chances. Several train routes in China’s eastern Yangtze River Delta region were already suspended on Thursday because of the storm. In Zhejiang, all passenger ferries were suspended including nearly 350 boats across 152 routes. Even Shanghai is on alert, with forecasters predicting wind and rain could reach its bustling streets.

With sustained winds still reaching 57 miles per hour, Kong-Rey has everyone on edge, waiting to see what its next move will bring. For now, safety is the main priority. Thankfully, all the LPGA players are safe, but with this $2 million event in limbo, the frustration over delays is understandable.

What do you think, will the game be resumed by Sunday or will it lead to further delay? Let us know in the comments!