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 took an unexpected turn when England’s Lottie Woad withdrew during the final round. Nishimura entered the Sunday round at Pinnacle Country Club holding a comfortable five‑stroke cushion, having already posted consecutive rounds of 63. She cemented her lead with a solid five‑under‑par 66, ultimately finishing five strokes ahead of a tightly packed group of runners‑up.
The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer showcased her skill on the par‑five 14th hole by making an eagle, and she balanced that highlight with a mixture of five birdies and two bogeys over the remainder of her round. Her final tally left her well ahead of Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun, who all shared second place.
Reflecting on the pressure of carrying a five‑shot lead, Nishimura said, “A five‑shot lead is a pretty tough situation, but I believed in myself and just kept going until the end. I missed a lot of cuts this year, so for me to win this tournament is a surprise, but it’s a dream come true.” Iwai had been the closest challenger after a spectacular stretch of six birdies in seven holes, posting a flawless 62 that brought her within striking distance. Wannasaen carded a 64 and Chun a 65, both finishing 16 under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart‑Shadoff lingered a stroke further back after a trio of steady 66s earned her a share of fifth place. The round also featured a few memorable moments beyond the leaders.
Yealimi Noh recorded the first ace of her LPGA career on the par‑three 15th, striking a nine‑iron from 136 yards directly into the hole. In a similar display of precision, Mao Saigo sank a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the par‑three third, adding excitement for spectators. Lottie Woad, who began the day six shots behind the leader, found herself five over par early in her round.
After an errant drive that landed out of bounds on the par‑five 14th, she announced a withdrawal due to illness, ending her tournament prematurely. 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 final‑round 70. Across the Atlantic, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander continued her impressive run on the Ladies European Tour (LET) by clinching her third LET title—and second within a single month—at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open. Alexander, a 27‑year‑old who has already recorded five runner‑up finishes this season, posted a three‑under‑par 69 on the final day at Golf Club Milano, pulling ahead of Germany’s Sophie Hausmann and American rookie Anna Morgan.
Alexander’s final round was a roller‑coaster of emotions: she recorded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and even a double‑bogey, yet managed to hold onto a three‑stroke margin. The victory came on the heels of her recent success at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, and she expressed relief at the quick turnaround, saying, “I’m glad I didn’t have to wait for this one as long as I waited for the previous one. My game’s in the right place to win golf tournaments, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and having more opportunities.” Starting the day tied for the lead, Alexander fell four strokes behind after five holes but fought back with an eagle on the par‑five ninth.
She then added three birdies in the closing four holes, creating a decisive gap between herself and the field. This win further solidifies her lead on the LET Order of Merit, extending her advantage 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, set to begin Thursday at Ewa Beach in Oahu. Live coverage is slated to start on Friday at 1 a.m. on Sky Sports Golf.
Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour will head to Asia for the Aramco Korea Championship, scheduled for October 8‑11, where Hyo‑Joo Kim will defend her title. Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream events without a contract on NOW. The upcoming weeks promise a blend of high‑stakes competition and fresh storylines as both tours continue to showcase emerging talent and seasoned veterans alike.