Yuna Nishimura celebrated her inaugural triumph on the LPGA Tour by dominating the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship from start to finish, while England’s Lottie Woad was forced to withdraw during the final round. Nishimura entered the concluding day at Pinnacle Country Club with a comfortable five‑stroke cushion after posting consecutive rounds of 63.
She extended that advantage with a solid five‑under‑par 66, sealing a five‑stroke victory that left her ahead of a tightly packed group tied for second place. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer capped her round with an eagle on the par‑five 14th hole, and her scorecard reflected a balanced mix of five birdies and two bogeys. Her steady play kept her well ahead of Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun, who all finished tied for second. "Holding a five‑shot lead can feel intimidating, but I trusted my game and kept pressing forward until the very end," Nishimura explained.
"I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this event is a huge surprise and truly a dream come true." Iwai had mounted a serious challenge after a spectacular bogey‑free 62 that featured six birdies in seven holes, briefly narrowing the gap. Wannasaen posted a 64 and Chun a 65, both ending the tournament at 16 under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff was a stroke behind in a shared fifth place after three steady rounds of 66.
Among the other highlights, Yealimi Noh recorded her first career hole‑in‑one on the par‑three 15th, sinking a nine‑iron from 136 yards. Mao Saigo also made a dramatic finish, holing a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the par‑three third. Lottie Woad, who started the day six shots off the lead, was forced to retire after a bout of illness. She had already taken a penalty for an out‑of‑bounds drive on the par‑five 14th when she decided to withdraw, leaving her five over par for the round.
Woad’s Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, ended the tournament seven strokes behind the leader, sharing eighth place. Charley Hull, another English contender, faded in the final round with a 70, finishing tied for 22nd.
The news from the Ladies European Tour (LET) was equally compelling. South Africa’s Casandra Alexander captured her third LET title – and second in just a month – by out‑playing the field at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open. Alexander, a 27‑year‑old who has already finished runner‑up five times this season, posted a three‑under‑par 69 on the final day at Golf Club Milano.
Her round included an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, enough to pull ahead of Germany’s Sophie Hausmann and American rookie Anna Morgan. "I’m glad this win didn’t have to wait as long as the previous one," Alexander said after the victory. "My game feels right for winning tournaments, and I’m excited about the rest of the season and the chances it will bring." Alexander entered the final round tied for the lead and overcame a four‑stroke deficit after five holes, leveling the field with an eagle on the par‑five ninth.
She then added three more birdies in the closing four holes to distance herself from the competition. The win solidifies her lead on the LET Order of Merit, extending her margin over Anna Huang as the season approaches its climax. Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour will shift its focus to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, which begins Thursday at Ewa Beach on Oahu. Live coverage is slated to start on Friday at 1 am on Sky Sports Golf.
Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Asia for the Aramco Korea Championship, scheduled for October 8‑11, where Hyo‑Joo Kim returns as the defending champion. Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream events without a contract on NOW, ensuring they don’t miss any of the action as both tours continue their global campaigns.