Yuna Nishimura captured her inaugural victory on the LPGA Tour by dominating the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship from start to finish, a performance that unfolded while England's Lottie Woad withdrew during the final round. Nishimura entered the concluding day at Pinnacle Country Club with a commanding five‑stroke cushion, having already posted consecutive rounds of 63.
She solidified her lead with a five‑under‑par 66, ultimately sealing a five‑stroke triumph. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer showcased her skill on the pivotal par‑five 14th, where she recorded an eagle, and she balanced the remainder of her round with five birdies and two bogeys. Her steady play left 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 advantage is a difficult position because the pressure builds," Nishimura reflected. "I trusted my game and kept pushing until the very end. I missed a lot of cuts earlier this season, so winning this event feels like a dream come true and a huge surprise for me." Iwai had briefly closed the gap after delivering an impressive bogey‑free 62 that featured six birdies in a span of seven holes.
Wannasaen posted a 64 and Chun a 65, both finishing 16 under par, while England's Jodi Ewart‑Shadoff trailed by one stroke, sharing fifth place after three straight rounds of 66. Other notable moments included Yealimi Noh's first career hole‑in‑one on the par‑three 15th, achieved with a nine‑iron from 136 yards, and Mao Saigo holing a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the par‑three third. These highlights added excitement to a tournament already rich with drama.
Lottie Woad, who began the day six shots behind the leader, found herself five over par for the round before withdrawing due to illness. Her exit came shortly after an errant drive that landed 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 final‑round 70. 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 within a single month—by prevailing by three strokes at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open.
Alexander, a five‑time runner‑up on the LET this season, closed with a three‑under‑par 69 at Golf Club Milano, edging out Germany's Sophie Hausmann and American rookie Anna Morgan. The 27‑year‑old Alexander's final round was eventful: she carded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey. This victory followed her triumph at last month's KPMG Women's Irish Open, underscoring a period of strong form. "I'm glad I didn't have to wait as long for this win as I did for the previous one," Alexander said.
"My game feels right for winning tournaments, and I'm excited for the rest of the season and the opportunities ahead." Alexander entered the final day tied for the lead, fell four strokes behind after five holes, but rallied with an eagle on the par‑five ninth to level the field. She then recorded three birdies over the last four holes, pulling away decisively. Her win further cements her lead atop the LET Order of Merit, extending her margin over Anna Huang as the season approaches its climax.
Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour will head to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, set to begin Thursday at Ewa Beach on Oahu. Live coverage will commence on Friday at 1 am on Sky Sports Golf.
Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour's next stop is the Aramco Korea Championship in early October, where Hyo‑Joo Kim defends her title. Fans can stay up‑to‑date on the latest Sky Sports offers or stream without a contract via NOW.