Yuna Nishimura captured her inaugural victory on the LPGA Tour by delivering a commanding wire‑to‑wire performance at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, a tournament that also saw England’s Lottie Woad withdraw partway through the final round due to illness. Nishimura entered the Sunday showdown with a comfortable five‑stroke cushion after an impressive display at Pinnacle Country Club, where she had already posted consecutive rounds of 63.
On the final day she added a solid five‑under‑par 66, sealing a five‑stroke margin of triumph over a tightly packed group of runners‑up. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer showcased her skill on the par‑five 14th hole, sinking an eagle that helped her round out the day with five birdies and two bogeys. Her steady play kept her ahead of Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun, who all finished tied for second place. "Holding a five‑shot lead can be a daunting situation, but I trusted my game and kept pressing forward until the very end," Nishimura reflected after the win.
"I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this event feels like an unexpected dream come true." Iwai had been the closest challenger, having surged with six birdies in a span of seven holes during a flawless 62‑stroke round that briefly put her in the lead. Wannasaen posted a 64 and Chun a 65, both finishing 16 under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart‑Shadoff rounded out the top five after a trio of consistent 66s. Notable moments from the tournament included Yealimi Noh’s first career hole‑in‑one on the 15th, a short par‑three that she aced with a nine‑iron from 136 yards, and Mao Saigo’s dramatic long‑range eagle on the third hole, where she holed a seven‑iron from 159 yards. Lottie Woad, who started the day six shots off the lead, was forced to retire after a bout of illness.
She was already five over par for the round when she pulled out, shortly after an errant drive that landed out of bounds on the 14th hole. Her Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, ultimately finished seven strokes behind the winner, sharing eighth place, while Charley Hull slipped to a tie for 22nd after posting a 70 in the final round.
In parallel news from the Ladies European Tour, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander added another title to her résumé, securing her third LET victory – and her second within a single month – by winning the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open with a three‑stroke margin. 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. Her round featured an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, highlighting the dramatic swings that characterized her play. "I’m glad this win didn’t take as long as the previous one," Alexander said.
"My game feels in the right place to capture tournaments, and I’m excited for 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, but clawed back with an eagle on the par‑five ninth and then added three birdies in the closing stretch to pull away decisively. The victory bolsters her standing at the top of 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, set to begin Thursday at Ewa Beach on the island of Oahu. Live coverage is slated to start 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 up to date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the action without a contract on NOW.
Overall, Nishimura’s breakthrough win underscores the depth of talent emerging on the LPGA Tour, while Alexander’s continued success highlights the competitive spirit of the LET. Both players have demonstrated resilience and the ability to seize opportunities when they arise, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the season across both tours.