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. Nishimura entered the Sunday round at Pinnacle Country Club holding a five‑stroke advantage, having posted consecutive 63s on the preceding days. She solidified her lead with a five‑under‑par 66, ultimately sealing a five‑stroke margin of victory. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer showcased her skill on the pivotal par‑five 14th, where she recorded an eagle, and she mixed five birdies with two bogeys across the rest of her round.
Her final tally left her well ahead of a 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 until the very end," Nishimura explained. "I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this event is a huge surprise and a dream realized." Iwai had surged into contention after a spectacular bogey‑free 62 that featured six birdies in a stretch of seven holes. Wannasaen posted a 64 and Chun a 65, both finishing 16 strokes under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff rounded out the top five after three straight rounds of 66.
In a memorable moment, Yealimi Noh recorded her first career LPGA Tour ace on the 15th‑hole par‑three, sinking a nine‑iron from 136 yards. Likewise, Mao Saigo holed a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the third‑hole par‑three, adding to the day’s excitement. Lottie Woad, who began the day six shots off the lead, found herself five over par before she withdrew due to illness, shortly after an errant drive that landed out of bounds on the 14th‑hole par‑five. Her Solheim Cup teammate Julia Lopez Ramírez ultimately finished seven strokes behind, sharing eighth place, while Charley Hull slipped to a tie for 22nd after posting a final‑round 70.
In parallel news on the Ladies European Tour, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander clinched her third LET title—and second within a single month—by prevailing by three strokes at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open. The 27‑year‑old, who has already finished runner‑up five times this season, carded 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 a double‑bogey, yet managed to hold off the chase pack. The victory follows her triumph at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open just weeks earlier.
"I’m glad I didn’t have to wait as long for this one as I did for the previous win," she said. "My game feels right for winning tournaments, and I’m excited about the rest of the season and the chances ahead." She entered the Sunday round tied for the lead, fell four shots back after five holes, then rebounded with an eagle on the par‑five ninth to regain parity. Three birdies in the closing four holes allowed her to pull away decisively.
The win bolsters Alexander’s standing atop the LET Order of Merit, extending her lead over Anna Huang as the season enters its final phase. Looking ahead, the LPGA Tour will shift to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, kicking off Thursday at Ewa Beach on 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, scheduled for October 8‑11, where Hyo Joo Kim defends her title. Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream without a contract via NOW.