Yuna Nishimura celebrated her inaugural victory on the LPGA Tour by dominating the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship from start to finish, while England’s Lottie Woad was forced to withdraw during the final round. Nishimura entered the last day at Pinnacle Country Club holding a comfortable five‑stroke cushion after posting consecutive rounds of 63, and she sealed the win with a steady five‑under‑par 66, finishing five strokes ahead of the nearest competitors. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer displayed a blend of power and precision, carding an eagle on the demanding par‑five 14th hole and balancing five birdies with two bogeys over the remainder of her round. Her performance left Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun tied for second place, each finishing three shots behind the champion.
"Holding a five‑stroke lead can be intimidating, but I trusted my game and kept my focus through to the very end," Nishimura reflected after the round. "I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this event feels like a dream come true and a huge surprise for me." Iwai had surged into contention earlier in the day, posting a flawless 62 that included six birdies in a stretch of seven holes, but she could not maintain the momentum.
Wannasaen posted a solid 64 and Chun a respectable 65, both ending the tournament at 16 under par. England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff was another stroke back, sharing fifth place after three consecutive rounds of 66. Among the notable moments of the tournament, Yealimi Noh recorded her first LPGA Tour hole‑in‑one on the par‑three 15th, striking a nine‑iron from 136 yards into the cup. Likewise, Japan’s 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 final round six shots behind the leader, found herself five over par when she withdrew due to illness. Her exit came shortly after an errant drive that landed out of bounds on the par‑five 14th.
Woad’s Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramírez, ultimately finished tied for eighth, seven strokes behind the winner, while Charley Hull slipped to a tie for 22nd after carding a 70 in the closing round. The Ladies European Tour also featured a headline‑making performance. South Africa’s Casandra Alexander captured her third LET title – and her second in just a month – by edging out the competition 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, pulling ahead of Germany’s Sophie Hausmann and American rookie Anna Morgan. The 27‑year‑old displayed a dramatic round that included an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, showcasing the resilience that has defined her recent success, following a win at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open the previous month.
"I’m glad this victory didn’t take as long as the last one," Alexander said. "My game feels right for winning tournaments, and I’m excited for the rest of the season and the chances ahead." Alexander entered the final 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 finished strongly, adding three birdies in the last four holes to create a three‑stroke margin over the field.
The triumph solidifies Alexander’s hold on the LET Order of Merit, extending her lead over Anna Huang as the season draws to a close. Both the LPGA and LET schedules continue to heat up: the LPGA Tour will head to Hawaii for the Lotte Championship at Ewa Beach, Oahu, with live coverage beginning Friday at 1 a.m. on Sky Sports Golf. Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour moves to Asia for the Aramco Korea Championship from October 8‑11, where Hyo‑Joo Kim will defend her title.
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