Yuna Nishimura celebrated her inaugural victory on the LPGA Tour by delivering a flawless wire‑to‑wire performance at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, a tournament that also saw England’s Lottie Woad abandon her round during the final day. Entering the Sunday finale at Pinnacle Country Club, Nishimura held a comfortable five‑stroke cushion over the field, a lead she had built after posting consecutive 63‑shot rounds earlier in the week.
On the decisive day she posted a solid five‑under‑par 66, extending her margin to five strokes and securing a commanding win. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer highlighted the 14th hole, a par‑five, with an eagle, and throughout the round she mixed five birdies with two bogeys, pulling well ahead of a tightly packed trio that shared second place: Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen, and In Gee Chun. "Holding a five‑shot lead can feel like a heavy burden, but I trusted my game and kept my focus until the very end," Nishimura reflected. "I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning here is a huge surprise and truly a dream come true." Iwai had mounted a serious challenge after an astonishing bogey‑free 62 that featured six birdies in seven holes, briefly narrowing the gap.
Wannasaen posted a 64 and Chun a 65, both finishing 16 under par and sharing the runner‑up spot. England’s Jodi Ewart‑Shadoff, another seasoned competitor, finished a stroke behind them after three steady rounds of 66, tying for fifth place.
The round also produced a couple of memorable moments: Yealimi Noh recorded her first ever LPGA Tour hole‑in‑one on the 15th, a par‑three that she conquered with a nine‑iron from 136 yards. Likewise, Japan’s Mao Saigo holed a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the third hole, adding to the day’s excitement. Lottie Woad, who started the day six shots off the lead, was forced to withdraw after a bout of illness. Her round turned sour when she drove her ball out of bounds on the par‑five 14th, leaving her five over par at the time she left the course.
Her Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, ultimately finished seven strokes back, sharing eighth place, while Charley Hull faded to a tie for 22nd after posting a final‑round 70. In a separate highlight from the Ladies European Tour, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander captured her third LET title – and her second within a single month – by winning the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open by three strokes.
Alexander, a 27‑year‑old who has already been runner‑up five times 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. Alexander’s final round was a roller‑coaster: she recorded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and even a double‑bogey, yet managed to hold onto her lead after a dramatic comeback.
Earlier in the round she had been four shots behind the leader after five holes, but an eagle on the par‑five ninth catapulted her back into contention. She then closed with three birdies in the last four holes to seal the victory. "I’m glad this win came quickly after my last one," Alexander said. "My game feels right for winning tournaments, and I’m excited about the rest of the season and the chances ahead." The triumph also solidified Alexander’s position atop the LET Order of Merit, extending her lead over Anna Huang as the season moves into its final phase.
Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour will shift its focus to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, set to begin Thursday at Ewa Beach on the island of Oahu. Live coverage will kick off 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 will defend her title. Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream events without a contract on NOW.