Japan's Nasa Hataoka gave up a three-stroke lead during Sunday's final round of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, with her equal-second place finish meaning she ends the season without a win on the LPGA Tour for the first time since 2020.
The 24-year-old started the day tied for the lead with Amy Yang but a 3-under 69 was bettered by a 66 from the South Korean winner at Tiburon Golf Club's Gold Course in Naples, Florida. American Alison Lee tied Hataoka in second with a 24-under 264 total.
"It's disappointing I couldn't improve my score," said Hataoka, who could not get her seventh win on tour and first since April last year after carding four birdies and a bogey on the day.
"I wavered on the back nine. It's frustrating I couldn't provide myself with chances."
Birdies on Nos. 1 and 5 for Hataoka and a bogey on the third from Yang left the Japanese with a three-shot lead, but three birdies and then an eagle on the par-4 13th allowed Yang to take the lead.
Hataoka bogeyed on the 16th before missing a 2-meter birdie putt on the 17th to finish in second as she did in 2021, while Yang birdied her last two holes and won the $2 million first prize.
"I managed to play with confidence but fell short. I have to win next time," said Hataoka, who held at least a share of the lead from the opening round and took positives from her best finish of the season.
"I hope to return stronger," she said.
Japan's Yuna Nishimura had a 67 and finished in a tie for 13th, 10 strokes behind Hataoka. Ayaka Furue was a further shot behind and ended in a tie for 16th, with Yuka Saso tied for 23rd another shot back.
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