Iijima wins Japan LPGA Championship by 4 shots

Iijima wins Japan LPGA Championship by 4 shots

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Akane Iijima holds up her trophy after winning the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup gold tournament at Regus Crest Golf Club Grand course in Hiroshima Prefecture on Sept. 9.

Iijima edges Yokomine in playoff to win Golf 5 Ladies

Iijima edges Yokomine in playoff to win Golf 5 Ladies

BIBAI, Japan - Akane Iijima smiles with her trophy in hands after edging Sakura Yokomine in a playoff to win the Golf 5 Ladies at Alpen Golf Club's Bibai Course in Hokkaido on Sept. 2.

Yokomine, Iijima share lead at New Caterpillar Ladies

Yokomine, Iijima share lead at New Caterpillar Ladies

HAKONE, Japan - Sakura Yokomine shot 6-under 67s to share the lead with Akane Iijima in the opening round of the New Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ladies at the par-73 Daihakone Country Club on Aug. 17.

Creamer trails Fukushima with Iijima and Ueda at NEC Karuizawa

Creamer trails Fukushima with Iijima and Ueda at NEC Karuizawa

KARUIZAWA, Japan - American Paula Creamer shot a 6-under 66 in the second round of the NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament at Karuizawa 72 Golf North Course in Nagano Prefecture on Aug. 11, tying with Akane Iijima and Momoko Ueda, both from Japan, at 8-under 136.

Ahn, Iijima hug at Suntory Ladies Open

Ahn, Iijima hug at Suntory Ladies Open

KOBE, Japan - Ahn Sun Ju (R) of South Korea and Akane Iijima of Japan hug after completing the final round of the Suntory Ladies Open golf tournament at Rokko Kokusai Golf Club in Kobe on June 15, 2014. Ahn won the tournament and Iijima finished second.

Jeon second at Vernal Ladies

Jeon second at Vernal Ladies

ASAKURA, Japan - South Korean Jeon Mi made five birdies and three bogeys to share second with compatriot Lee Eun Hye, Japan's Akane Iijima and China's Zhang in the first round of the Vernal Ladies at Fukuoka Century Golf Club on May 11.

Creamer, Iijima tied for Masters GC Ladies lead

Creamer, Iijima tied for Masters GC Ladies lead

MIKI, Japan - Defending champion Paula Creamer shot a 2-under-par 70 to move into a tie for the lead with Akane Iijima after the second round of the Masters GC Ladies at Masters Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture on Oct. 21.

Creamer, Iijima tied for Masters GC Ladies lead

Creamer, Iijima tied for Masters GC Ladies lead

MIKI, Japan - Akane Iijima watches her approach shot during the second round of the Masters GC Ladies at Masters Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture on Oct. 21. She shot a 2-under-par 70 to move into a tie for the lead with defending champion Paula Creamer.

Iijima wins Kinmirai Tsuushin Queens for 1st career title

Iijima wins Kinmirai Tsuushin Queens for 1st career title

KAMO, Japan - Akane Iijima, who turned professional last year, wins her first career title on the Japan LPGA tour at the Kinmirai Tsuushin Queens Open at Kagoshima Takamaki Country Club in Kagoshima Prefecture on March 19.

Iijima joins Lee in lead at Golf 5 Ladies

Iijima joins Lee in lead at Golf 5 Ladies

MIZUNAMI, Japan - Akane Iijima carded a 3-under-par 69 to move alongside joint overnight leader Lee Ji Hee in a share of first place after the second round of the Golf 5 Ladies at Mizunami Country Club on Sept. 3.

Iijima joins Lee in lead at Golf 5 Ladies

Iijima joins Lee in lead at Golf 5 Ladies

MIZUNAMI, Japan - Akane Iijima carded a 3-under-par 69 to move alongside joint overnight leader Lee Ji Hee in a share of first place after the second round of the Golf 5 Ladies at Mizunami Country Club on Sept. 3. (Kyodo)

Iijima wins Kinmirai Tsuushin Queens for 1st career title

Iijima wins Kinmirai Tsuushin Queens for 1st career title

KAMO, Japan - Akane Iijima, who turned professional last year, wins her first career title on the Japan LPGA tour at the Kinmirai Tsuushin Queens Open at Kagoshima Takamaki Country Club in Kagoshima Prefecture on March 19. (Kyodo)

Creamer, Iijima tied for Masters GC Ladies lead

Creamer, Iijima tied for Masters GC Ladies lead

MIKI, Japan - Akane Iijima watches her approach shot during the second round of the Masters GC Ladies at Masters Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture on Oct. 21. She shot a 2-under-par 70 to move into a tie for the lead with defending champion Paula Creamer. (Kyodo)

Creamer, Iijima tied for Masters GC Ladies lead

Creamer, Iijima tied for Masters GC Ladies lead

MIKI, Japan - Defending champion Paula Creamer shot a 2-under-par 70 to move into a tie for the lead with Akane Iijima after the second round of the Masters GC Ladies at Masters Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture on Oct. 21. (Kyodo)

Jeon second at Vernal Ladies

Jeon second at Vernal Ladies

ASAKURA, Japan - South Korean Jeon Mi made five birdies and three bogeys to share second with compatriot Lee Eun Hye, Japan's Akane Iijima and China's Zhang in the first round of the Vernal Ladies at Fukuoka Century Golf Club on May 11. (Kyodo)

Creamer trails Fukushima with Iijima and Ueda at NEC Karuizawa

Creamer trails Fukushima with Iijima and Ueda at NEC Karuizawa

KARUIZAWA, Japan - American Paula Creamer shot a 6-under 66 in the second round of the NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament at Karuizawa 72 Golf North Course in Nagano Prefecture on Aug. 11, tying with Akane Iijima and Momoko Ueda, both from Japan, at 8-under 136. (Kyodo)

Yokomine, Iijima share lead at New Caterpillar Ladies

Yokomine, Iijima share lead at New Caterpillar Ladies

HAKONE, Japan - Sakura Yokomine shot 6-under 67s to share the lead with Akane Iijima in the opening round of the New Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ladies at the par-73 Daihakone Country Club on Aug. 17. (Kyodo)

Iijima edges Yokomine in playoff to win Golf 5 Ladies

Iijima edges Yokomine in playoff to win Golf 5 Ladies

BIBAI, Japan - Akane Iijima smiles with her trophy in hands after edging Sakura Yokomine in a playoff to win the Golf 5 Ladies at Alpen Golf Club's Bibai Course in Hokkaido on Sept. 2. (Kyodo)

Iijima wins Japan LPGA Championship by 4 shots

Iijima wins Japan LPGA Championship by 4 shots

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Akane Iijima holds up her trophy after winning the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup gold tournament at Regus Crest Golf Club Grand course in Hiroshima Prefecture on Sept. 9. (Kyodo)

S. Korean Lee Bo Mee wins Yokohama Tire PRGR golf tournament

S. Korean Lee Bo Mee wins Yokohama Tire PRGR golf tournament

South Korean Lee Bo Mee poses on March 13, 2016 with the winner's trophy after her victory in the Yokohama Tire PRGR Ladies Cup golf tournament at Tosa Country Club in Kinan, Kochi Prefecture. Lee, the LPGA money leader last year, won the three-way playoff with Japan's Akane Iijima and Asuka Kashiwabara. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan's Iijima wins T-Point Ladies golf tournament

Japan's Iijima wins T-Point Ladies golf tournament

Akane Iijima of Japan poses with her trophy after winning the T-Point Ladies golf tournament at Wakagi Golf Club in the city of Takeo, Saga Prefecture, on March 22, 2015. Iijima beat Jeon Mi Jeong of South Korea in a playoff. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan's Iijima wins T-Point Ladies golf tournament

Japan's Iijima wins T-Point Ladies golf tournament

Akane Iijima of Japan (L) is congratulated by Jeon Mi Jeong of South Korea after beating Jeon in a playoff to win the T-Point Ladies golf tournament at Wakagi Golf Club in the city of Takeo, Saga Prefecture, on March 22, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo