Yuna Nishimura captured her inaugural LPGA Tour championship with a commanding wire‑to‑wire performance at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, while England’s Lottie Woad was forced to abandon her round midway through the final day. Entering the Sunday round at Pinnacle Country Club, Nishimura held a comfortable five‑stroke cushion over the field after two consecutive rounds of 63.
She solidified her dominance with a five‑under‑par 66, sealing a five‑stroke margin of victory. The 26‑year‑old Japanese star showcased a blend of precision and power, carding an eagle on the par‑five 14th and mixing five birdies with two bogeys across the remainder of her round. Her final tally left her well ahead of a trio of players—Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun—who were tied for second place.
Reflecting on the pressure of maintaining a five‑shot lead, Nishimura said, “Having that kind of advantage can be daunting, but I trusted my game and kept pressing forward until the very end. I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this tournament feels like a surprise and a dream come true.” Iwai had briefly threatened Nishimura’s lead after posting a flawless 62, which included six birdies in a stretch of seven holes and no bogeys. Wannasaen (64) and Chun (65) also finished at 16 under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart‑Shadoff, after three straight rounds of 66, shared fifth place just one stroke behind the trio.
Other notable moments included Yealimi Noh’s first career hole‑in‑one on the par‑three 15th, where she used a nine‑iron from 136 yards to drop the ball into the cup. Likewise, Mao Saigo made a spectacular shot on the par‑three third, holing a seven‑iron from 159 yards.
Lottie Woad, who began the day six shots off the lead, found herself five over par for the round before withdrawing due to illness. Her exit came shortly after she drove her ball out of bounds on the par‑five 14th. Woad’s Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, ultimately finished seven strokes back, sharing eighth place, while Charley Hull slipped to a tie for 22nd after posting a 70 in the final round. In a separate story on the Ladies European Tour, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander added a third LET title to her résumé—and her second in just one month—by triumphing at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open.
Alexander, a five‑time runner‑up on the LET this season, posted a three‑under‑par 69 on the final day at Golf Club Milano, edging out Germany’s Sophie Hausmann and American rookie Anna Morgan. The 27‑year‑old Alexander’s final round was a roller‑coaster: she recorded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, but managed to hold on for a three‑stroke win. This victory follows her success at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open the previous month. “I’m glad I didn’t have to wait as long for this one as I did for the last,” Alexander said.
“My game feels right for winning tournaments, and I’m excited about the rest of the season and the chances that lie ahead.” Alexander entered the final round tied for the lead, fell four strokes behind after five holes, then clawed back with an eagle on the par‑five ninth. She finished strong, delivering three birdies in the last four holes to pull away from her competitors. The win bolsters Alexander’s standing atop the LET Order of Merit, extending her lead 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 kicks off Thursday at Ewa Beach on Oahu. Live coverage is slated to begin on Friday at 1 a.m. 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 updated on the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the action without a contract on NOW.
Overall, the weekend delivered a mix of breakthrough victories, dramatic withdrawals, and memorable moments that will be remembered by fans of women’s golf worldwide.