Yuna Nishimura captured her inaugural LPGA Tour title with a commanding wire‑to‑wire performance at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, while England’s Lottie Woad was forced to withdraw during the final round due to illness. Nishimura entered the final day at Pinnacle Country Club holding a five‑stroke advantage, having posted consecutive rounds of 63. She solidified her lead with a five‑under‑par 66, finishing five strokes ahead of the nearest competitors. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer showcased her skill on the par‑five 14th hole, where she recorded an eagle, and she combined five birdies with two bogeys across the remainder of her round.
Her margin of victory placed her well ahead of Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun, who all shared second place. "Holding a five‑shot lead can be a daunting situation, but I trusted my game and kept pushing until the very end," Nishimura reflected. "I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this event is a complete surprise and a dream realized." Iwai had briefly threatened the lead after a flawless stretch of six birdies in seven holes, posting a bogey‑free 62.
Wannasaen (64) and Chun (65) were both 16 under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff lingered a stroke further back, sharing fifth place after three steady rounds of 66. In a notable moment, Yealimi Noh recorded her first LPGA Tour hole‑in‑one on the par‑three 15th, striking a nine‑iron from 136 yards. Similarly, Mao Saigo holed a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the par‑three third, adding excitement to the final round.
Lottie Woad began the day six shots behind the leader. After an errant drive that landed out of bounds on the par‑five 14th, she found herself five over par for the round and subsequently withdrew because of illness. Her Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, ultimately finished seven strokes back, sharing eighth place. Charley Hull, another English competitor, faded to a tie for 22nd after posting a 70 in the final round.
The tournament also featured a significant achievement on the Ladies European Tour. South Africa’s Casandra Alexander clinched her third LET title—and her second within a single month—by edging out her rivals with a three‑stroke win at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open. 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. During her dramatic final round, Alexander recorded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, demonstrating both resilience and aggressive play.
This victory follows her triumph at last month’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open, underscoring a surge in form. "I’m glad this win didn’t take as long as the previous one," Alexander said.
"My game feels right for winning tournaments, and I’m excited about the rest of the season and the chances ahead." Alexander entered the final round tied for the lead, fell four shots back after five holes, but quickly rebounded with an eagle on the par‑five ninth. She then added three birdies over the last four holes, creating a decisive gap over the field. The win further solidifies her lead atop the LET Order of Merit, extending her advantage over Anna Huang as the season approaches its climax. Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour will travel to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, scheduled to start Thursday at Ewa Beach in Oahu.
Live coverage begins Friday at 1 a.m. on Sky Sports Golf.
Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour heads to Asia for the Aramco Korea Championship, set 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 without a contract via NOW. Overall, Nishimura’s breakthrough victory and Alexander’s continued dominance illustrate the depth of talent emerging on both the LPGA and LET circuits.
Their performances not only highlight individual perseverance but also set the stage for an exciting remainder of the season, with upcoming events promising further drama and opportunities for new champions to emerge.