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 concluding day at Pinnacle Country Club with a comfortable five‑stroke cushion after posting consecutive rounds of 63.
She maintained her dominance by carding a five‑under‑par 66, ultimately sealing a five‑stroke victory. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer showcased her skill on the par‑five 14th hole, where she recorded an eagle, and she balanced the round with five birdies and two bogeys. Her steady play left her well ahead of the trio tied for second place: Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen, and In Gee Chun. "Holding a five‑shot lead can feel intimidating, but I trusted my game and kept pressing forward," Nishimura reflected.
"I missed a lot of cuts earlier this season, so winning this event is a huge surprise and a dream realized." Iwai had briefly threatened the lead after an impressive stretch of six birdies in seven holes, delivering a bogey‑free 62. Wannasaen posted a 64 and Chun a 65, both finishing 16 under par, while England's Jodi Ewart‑Shadoff rounded out the top five with three consecutive rounds of 66, one stroke behind the leaders. Other notable moments included Yealimi Noh's first career LPGA Tour ace on the par‑three 15th, where she holed a nine‑iron from 136 yards.
Mao Saigo also made a highlight, sinking a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the par‑three third. Lottie Woad, who began the day six shots off the lead, found herself five over par when she withdrew after an errant drive on the 14th sent her ball out of bounds, and she cited illness as the reason for ending her round early. Woad's Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, finished seven strokes back, sharing eighth place, while Charley Hull slipped to a tie for 22nd after posting a 70 in the final round. On the Ladies European Tour, South Africa's Casandra Alexander added a third LET title—and her second in just one month—by triumphing at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open.
Alexander, a five‑time runner‑up on the LET this season, shot a three‑under 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 round featured an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, capping a week that followed her victory at the KPMG Women's Irish Open.
"I'm glad this win didn't have to wait as long as my 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 began the final round tied for the lead, fell four strokes back after the first five holes, then surged back with an eagle on the par‑five ninth.
She closed the round with three birdies in the last four holes, creating a three‑stroke margin over the field. This win solidifies her position atop the LET Order of Merit, extending her lead over Anna Huang as the season draws to a close. Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour will head to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, set to start Thursday at Ewa Beach on Oahu, with live coverage beginning Friday at 1 am on Sky Sports Golf.
Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Asia for the Aramco Korea Championship from October 8‑11, where Hyo‑Joo Kim defends her title. Fans can stay updated on the latest Sky Sports offers or stream without a contract via NOW.