Yuna Nishimura celebrated her inaugural victory on the LPGA Tour by leading from start to finish at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, a tournament that took an unexpected turn when England’s Lottie Woad withdrew during the final round. Nishimura entered the concluding day at Pinnacle Country Club with a comfortable five‑stroke cushion, having already posted consecutive rounds of 63.
She maintained her dominance with a five‑under‑par 66, ultimately sealing a five‑stroke win. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer showcased a blend of power and precision, notably eagling the par‑five 14th hole.
Over the remainder of her round she recorded five birdies and two bogeys, which proved enough to keep her well ahead of a tightly packed group that included Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun, all of whom finished tied for second place. "Holding a five‑shot lead can feel like a heavy burden, but I trusted my game and kept pushing until the very end," Nishimura explained. "I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so capturing this title is a huge surprise and truly a dream come true." Iwai had briefly threatened to overtake the lead after delivering a flawless 62 that featured six birdies in seven holes and no bogeys. Wannasaen posted a 64 and Chun a 65, each finishing 16 under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart‑Shadoff rounded out the top five with three straight rounds of 66, just one stroke behind the trio tied for second.
The tournament also produced several memorable moments. Yealimi Noh recorded her first-ever LPGA Tour hole‑in‑one on the par‑three 15th, sinking a nine‑iron from 136 yards. Meanwhile, Mao Saigo demonstrated her long‑iron prowess by holing a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the par‑three third. Lottie Woad, who started the day six shots off the lead, found herself five over par when she withdrew after an illness forced her out of the competition shortly after an out‑of‑bounds drive on the par‑five 14th.
Her 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 final‑round 70. In a parallel story on the Ladies European Tour, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander clinched her third LET title – and her second in just one month – by winning the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open by three strokes. Alexander, a five‑time runner‑up on the LET this season, carded a three‑under‑par 69 on the final day at Golf Club Milano, pulling ahead of Germany’s Sophie Hausmann and American rookie Anna Morgan.
The 27‑year‑old’s final round was a roller‑coaster: she recorded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, yet managed to stay ahead thanks to a strong start and a clutch eagle on the par‑five ninth. She added three more birdies in the closing four holes, widening the gap and securing the win. "I’m glad this victory didn’t require the long wait that my previous win did," 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’s triumph bolsters her lead atop the LET Order of Merit, extending her advantage over Anna Huang as the season approaches its climax.
Her win follows a successful defense at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open just a month earlier, underscoring a remarkable run of form. Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour will head to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, set to begin Thursday at Ewa Beach in Oahu, with live coverage kicking off 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 enters as the defending champion. Fans can stay up to date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the action without a contract on NOW. Overall, the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship delivered a blend of dominant performances, dramatic withdrawals, and historic milestones, highlighting the depth of talent across both the LPGA and LET circuits.
Nishimura’s wire‑to‑wire triumph marks a significant milestone in her career, while Alexander’s back‑to‑back victories signal her rising stature on the European stage. Both players now look forward to building on their momentum as the season progresses, with new challenges and opportunities awaiting on the global stage of women’s professional golf.