Japanese rookie Chisato Iwai fired a final-round six-under-par 66 to jet away from the pack and secure a six-stroke win on Sunday at the inaugural Mexico Riviera Maya Open in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Iwai, who started the round one shot out of the lead, tamed El Camaleon Golf Course at Mayakoba on a day when few others could. Only two players shot rounds of 69, and none of the other 63 golfers in the field broke 70.
Iwai birdied five of her first six holes to leap ahead. She had two birdies and a single bogey on the inward nine to finish 12 under for the week.
Iwai credited her mental game for guiding her through her hot start.
"My mental is so calm, calm, every day, every time. So it was just calm. Good play," Iwai said.
It marks Iwai's first win on the LPGA Tour, though she already has eight titles to her name from LPGA of Japan tournaments.
Iwai's closest competition was Jenny Bae, the leader after the second and third rounds. The American opened Sunday with consecutive bogeys and struggled to get into gear, carding a one-over 73 and placing second at six under.
Haeji Kang of South Korea posted a 71 and took third place at five under. Sweden's Linn Grant (70), China's Weiwei Zhang (71) and South Koreans Jenny Shin (71), Somi Lee (72) and Hye-Jin Choi (72) tied for fourth at four under.
Leona Maguire was not involved in the weekend rounds after the Cavan native's underwhelming 2025 season continued with a second consecutive missed cut on Friday.
