Yuna Nishimura celebrated her inaugural triumph on the LPGA Tour by delivering a commanding wire‑to‑wire performance at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, a tournament that saw England’s Lottie Woad exit the competition during the final round due to illness. Entering the Sunday finale at Pinnacle Country Club, Nishimura already held a comfortable five‑stroke cushion over the field, a lead she had built after posting consecutive rounds of 63. She cemented her dominance with a solid five‑under‑par 66, ultimately finishing five strokes ahead of her nearest competitors. The 26‑year‑old Japanese golfer highlighted the pivotal moments of her round, noting an eagle on the par‑five 14th hole and a blend of five birdies and two bogeys that kept her well ahead of Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun, who all shared second place.
"Holding a five‑shot lead can feel like a heavy burden, but I trusted my game and stayed focused until the very end," Nishimura said in the post‑round interview. "I’ve missed a lot of cuts this season, so winning this event is a complete surprise and truly a dream come true for me." Iwai had made a serious push earlier in the day, rattling off six birdies in a stretch of seven holes and posting a flawless 62, which briefly threatened Nishimura’s lead. Wannasaen (64) and Chun (65) also posted impressive scores, both finishing at 16 under par, while England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff rounded out the top five with three consecutive rounds of 66, one stroke behind the trio tied for second.
Other notable moments included Yealimi Noh’s first career hole‑in‑one on the 15th, a par‑three that she conquered with a nine‑iron from 136 yards. In a similar display of skill, Mao Saigo holed a seven‑iron from 159 yards on the third hole, adding to the day’s excitement. Lottie Woad, who began the day six shots back, found herself five over par after a wayward drive that landed out of bounds on the 14th. Shortly thereafter, she withdrew from the tournament citing illness, ending her chances of a comeback.
Woad’s Solheim Cup teammate, Julia Lopez Ramirez, finished tied for eighth, seven strokes behind the leader, while Charley Hull slipped to a tie for 22nd after carding a final‑round 70. In a separate story from the Ladies European Tour, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander secured her third LET title—and her second in just a month—by edging out her rivals at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open. Alexander, a 27‑year‑old who has already been runner‑up five times this season, posted a three‑under‑par 69 on the final day at Golf Club Milano, finishing three strokes ahead of Germany’s Sophie Hausmann and American rookie Anna Morgan. Her final round was a roller‑coaster: she recorded an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double‑bogey, showcasing both her aggressive play and resilience.
The victory followed her recent win at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, underscoring a strong finish to her season. "I’m glad this win came quickly after my previous one," Alexander remarked. "My game feels in the right place to capture titles, and I’m excited for the remainder of the season and the opportunities ahead." Alexander entered the final round tied for the lead, fell four strokes back after five holes, but rebounded with an eagle on the par‑five ninth and three birdies in the closing four holes, pulling away from the field.
This triumph solidifies her position 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, set to begin 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 will travel to 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 deals or stream the action without a contract on NOW.