Yuna Nishimura celebrated her inaugural triumph on the LPGA Tour by delivering a dominant wire‑to‑wire performance at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, a tournament that also saw England’s Lottie Woad exit the competition during the final round. Nishimura entered the last day at Pinnacle Country Club with a comfortable five‑stroke cushion after posting consecutive rounds of 63, and she solidified her lead with a five‑under‑par 66 to finish five shots 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 balanced the round with five birdies and two bogeys. Her steady play left her well ahead of a trio tied for second place: Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun.
"Holding a five‑stroke advantage can feel like a heavy burden, but I trusted my game and kept pressing forward until the very end," Nishimura explained. "I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this event is a complete surprise and truly a dream realized." Iwai had mounted a serious challenge after an impressive stretch of six birdies in seven holes, posting a bogey‑free 62 that briefly put her in contention. Wannasaen carded a 64 and Chun a 65, both finishing 16 under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart‑Shadoff was a stroke further back, sharing fifth place after three steady rounds of 66.
The tournament also featured a few memorable moments. Yealimi Noh recorded her first LPGA Tour hole‑in‑one on the par‑three 15th, striking a nine‑iron from 136 yards straight into the cup. In a similar display of precision, Mao Saigo holed a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the par‑three third, adding to the day’s excitement. Lottie Woad, who began the day six shots behind the leader, was forced to withdraw after a bout of illness.
Her exit came shortly after an errant drive that sent her ball out of bounds on the par‑five 14th, leaving her five over par for the round. Her 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. On the Ladies European Tour, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander added another title to her résumé, capturing her third LET victory – and second within a single month – at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open.
Alexander, a 27‑year‑old who has finished 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 eventful: she recorded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, demonstrating both resilience and firepower. The win follows her recent success at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, and she expressed relief at the quick succession of victories. "I’m glad I didn’t have to wait as long for this one as I did for the previous title," Alexander said.
"My game feels in the right place to win tournaments, and I’m excited for the remainder of the season and the opportunities ahead." She began the final day tied for the lead, fell four strokes behind after the first five holes, but rallied with an eagle on the par‑five ninth to re‑establish parity. A strong finish, highlighted by three birdies in the last four holes, allowed her to pull away and secure the three‑stroke margin. Alexander’s triumph strengthens her hold on the LET Order of Merit, extending her lead over Anna Huang as the season approaches its climax.
Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour will head to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, set to start Thursday at Ewa Beach on Oahu. Live coverage will commence on Friday at 1 a.m.
on Sky Sports Golf. Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour’s next stop is in Asia for the Aramco Korea Championship, scheduled for October 8‑11, where Hyo‑Joo Kim will defend her title. Fans can stay updated on the latest Sky Sports offers or stream without a contract via NOW.