Yuna Nishimura captured her inaugural LPGA Tour championship with a dominant wire‑to‑wire performance at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, while England’s Lottie Woad was forced to withdraw during the final round. Heading into the Sunday finale at Pinnacle Country Club, the 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer held a comfortable five‑stroke cushion after posting consecutive 63‑shot rounds. She maintained her momentum on the last day, carding a five‑under‑par 66 that sealed a five‑stroke margin of victory. During her closing round, Nishimura highlighted the par‑five 14th hole with an eagle and mixed five birdies with two bogeys across the remaining holes.
Her final tally left her well ahead of a trio of competitors—Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen, and In Gee Chun—who all finished tied for second place. "Holding a five‑shot lead can feel intimidating, but I trusted my game and kept pressing forward until the very end," Nishimura reflected. "I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this event is a total surprise and a dream realized." Iwai had briefly threatened the lead after an astonishing bogey‑free 62 that featured six birdies in a stretch of seven holes. Wannasaen posted 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.
A few memorable moments added extra excitement to the tournament. Yealimi Noh recorded her first career LPGA Tour hole‑in‑one on the 15th, a par‑three that she tackled with a nine‑iron from 136 yards.
In a similar display of skill, Mao Saigo sank a seven‑iron shot from 159 yards on the third hole, also a par‑three. Lottie Woad, who started the day six shots off the lead, found herself five over par for the round before withdrawing due to illness. Her exit came shortly after an errant drive that landed out of bounds on the 14th hole. Woad’s Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, ultimately finished seven strokes behind the leader, sharing eighth place, while Charley Hull slipped to a tie for 22nd after posting a final‑round 70.
The report also covered the Ladies European Tour, where South Africa’s Casandra Alexander added a third LET title—her second within a single month—by prevailing at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open. Alexander, a five‑time runner‑up on the LET 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.
During her eventful final round, Alexander recorded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey. The win followed her triumph at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open just a month earlier. "I’m glad this victory didn’t take as long as the previous one," she said.
"My game feels in the right place to win tournaments, and I’m excited for the rest of the season and the chances that lie ahead." Alexander began the Sunday round tied for the lead, fell four strokes back after the first five holes, then clawed back with an eagle on the par‑five ninth. She closed strongly, adding three birdies in the final four holes to distance herself from the field. The victory bolsters her standing 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 shift its focus to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship, which kicks off Thursday at Ewa Beach on Oahu.
Live coverage will begin 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 updated on the latest Sky Sports offers or stream events without a contract via NOW.
Overall, Nishimura’s breakthrough win and Alexander’s continued dominance illustrate the depth of talent across women’s professional golf, setting the stage for an exciting second half of the season on both the LPGA and LET circuits.