Yuna Nishimura is the latest player from Japan to win an LPGA event, but her victory might be the most improbable.
Nishimura, ranked 350th in the world, shot 63-63-66 for a 21-under 192 total to win the 20th playing of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship by five shots at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers.
The 26-year-old is the 15th Japanese player to win on tour since 2006, and she’s the 24th Japanese player overall to win. She earned her breakthrough moment Sunday in her fourth season. She had just one top-10 finish on tour this season and missed nine cuts in 15 starts, but she proved she can play well with the lead, which she held after the first and second rounds for the first time in her career. She briefly lost the lead, then closed it out in the final round.
“I still can’t believe it. My hands are still shaking. I’m proud of myself, and I’m super happy,” said Nishimura, who was celebrated on the 18th green with many of her fellow countrywomen.
She won $450,000 from the overall $3 million purse and now has her tour card through 2028.
Nishimura knows how to win as she has six victories on the Japan LPGA, and she won for the first time on this tour with several key shots. She lost her lead to Aki Iwai, who stormed back after being nine shots off the lead to start the final round. Iwai teed off a couple of hours before Nishimura and even held a one-shot lead at one point. By the time Iwai finished with a nine-under 62, she was tied with Nishimura.
“I was debating the distance [on 14], but I told myself to go aggressive until the very end, and I went for it,” she said.
Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun all tied for second, five shots back.
“The second half was going to be when I had to be aggressive. I went for it and it all worked out,” Nishimura said.
Nishimura is the third first-time winner this season, joining Yana Wilson and Gina Kim. World No. 7 Lottie Woad, who captured the winning point for Europe two weeks ago at the Solheim Cup, withdrew during Sunday’s final round. She started the day six shots off the lead and in fifth place.
WIN: Yuna Nishimura, -21/192, $450,000
T-2: Aki Iwai, -16/197, $212,764
T-2: Chanettee Wannasaen, -16/197, $212,764
T-2: In Gee Chun, -16/197, $212,764
T-5: Jenny Bae, -15/198, $105,198
T-5: Jodi Ewart Shadoff, -15/198, $105,198
T-5: Auston Kim, -15/198, $105,198
T-8: Miyu Yamashita, -14/199, $65,717
T-8: Julia Lopez Ramirez, -14/199, $65,717
T-8: Jin Hee Im, -14/199, $65,717
T-8: Mary Liu, -14/199, $65,717
T-12: Lauren Coughlin, -13/200, $50,229
T-12: Sophia Schubert, -13/200, $50,229
T-12: Michelle Zhang, -13/200, $50,229
T-15: Yealimi Noh, -12/201, $38,469
T-15: Mirabel Ting, -12/201, $38,469
T-15: Pajaree Anannarukarn, -12/201, $38,469
T-15: Amy Yang, -12/201, $38,469
T-15: Lizette Salas, -12/201, $38,469
T-15: Yuri Yoshida, -12/201, $38,469
T-15: A Lim Kim, -12/201, $38,469
T-22: Youmin Hwang, -11/202, $31,483
T-22: Frida Kinhult, -11/202, $31,483
T-22: Charley Hull, -11/202, $31,483
T-25: Erika Hara, -10/203, $26,541
T-25: Laney Frye, -10/203, $26,541
T-25: Chiara Tamburlini, -10/203, $26,541
T-25: Gaby Lopez, -10/203, $26,541
T-25: Gurleen Kaur, -10/203, $26,541
T-25: Yu Liu, -10/203, $26,541
T-31: Nasa Hataoka, -9/204, $22,160
T-31: Ashleigh Buhai, -9/204, $22,160
T-31: Celine Boutier, -9/204, $22,160
T-34: Somi Lee, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Gina Kim, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Carlota Ciganda, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Yuka Saso, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Mao Saigo, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Chizzy Iwai, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Ana Belac, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Gemma Dryburgh, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Dewi Weber, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Andrea Lee, -8/205, $16,714
T-34: Manon De Roey, -8/205, $16,714
T-45: Caley McGinty, -7/206, $11,844
T-45: Nataliya Guseva, -7/206, $11,844
T-45: Jiwon Jeon, -7/206, $11,844
T-45: Morgane Metraux, -7/206, $11,844
T-45: Rio Takeda, -7/206, $11,844
T-45: Juniper Jang, -7/206, $11,844
T-51: Daniela Darquea, -6/207, $9,781
T-51: Linn Grant, -6/207, $9,781
T-51: Paula Reto, -6/207, $9,781
T-51: Robyn Choi, -6/207, $9,781
T-51: Briana Chacon, -6/207, $9,781
T-56: Lauren Walsh, -5/208, $7,909
T-56: Brianna Do, -5/208, $7,909
T-56: Jennifer Chang, -5/208, $7,909
T-56: Lauren Tenuta, -5/208, $7,909
T-56: Mi Hyang Lee, -5/208, $7,909
T-56: Reagan Zibilski, -5/208, $7,909
T-56: Brooke Matthews, -5/208, $7,909
T-56: Maude-Aimee Leblanc, -5/208, $7,909
T-64: Cassie Porter, -4/209, $6,877
T-64: Polly Mack, -4/209, $6,877
T-64: Soo Bin Joo, -4/209, $6,877
67: Hinako Shibuno, -3/210, $6,573
68: Linnea Strom, -2/211, $6,418
69: Celine Borge, E/213, $6,266