Yuna Nishimura hadn't made an eagle all season on the LPGA until the final hole of the first round in Arkansas. On Sunday, the petite player made her second eagle of the season with a gutsy move on the par-5 14th to take all the momentum at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
After missing five of her last six cuts on tour, Nishimura turned things around in a big way by going wire-to-wire at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas, tying the 54-hole scoring record of 21-under 192 set by compatriot Nasa Hataoka.
An eagle for Yuna 🤯
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 27, 2026
An incredible approach sets her up for eagle and gives her a three-stroke lead pic.twitter.com/ZcTJRBXWwh
Nishimura came into the final round with a five-shot lead and watched it all evaporate as countrywoman Aki
Iwai came out hot in the final round. Iwai, who teed off first on the 10th hole, birdied the first five holes on her back nine, briefly taking a one-shot lead. She closed with a 62 and then waited to see how Nishimura would respond.
As the heat ratcheted up, Nishimura answered with a hole-out from the bunker for birdie on the 11th, another rare eagle on the 14th and a birdie on the 15th to build a lead that wouldn't be challenged. The day ended as it began – with Nishimura ahead by five.
"I still can't believe it," she said. "I still shake my hand. But, yeah, I'm proud of myself and I'm super happy."
A six-time winner on the JLGPA, Nishimura was forced to go back to LPGA Q-School last year to keep her card. She tripled her earnings this week with the $450,000 first-place prize.
The third Japanese player to win this event, Nishimura locks up full membership on the LPGA through 2028. Ranking 157th on tour in driving distance, Nishimura relied on precision to overtake the field.
Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen (64) and In Gee Chun (65) finished in share of second with Iwai. A number of Solheim Cup players returned to the tour in strong form. Auston Kim (T-5) NS Julia Lopez Ramirez (T-8) finished in the top 10.
Spot on!
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 27, 2026
Catch the earlier ace from Yealimi Noh 🤩 pic.twitter.com/tM7APkbDE0
Lauren Coughlin began the second round 127th after an opening 73. On Saturday, she had a record-breaking day after making birdie on every hole of her front nine for an eye-popping 26. After carding a career-best 61, Coughlin closed with a 66 to take a share of 12th.
Yealimi Noh, buoyed by her first ace in an LPGA event on the par-3 15th, shot 64 to take a share of 15th.
Lottie Woad began the final round in a share of fifth after back-to-back 66s but withdrew on the back nine due to illness.
Jenny Bae, who just missed out on making Angela Stanford's U.S. team, took a share of fifth.
Former Florida State standout Mirabel Ting has already locked up her card for 2027 by leading the Epson Tour's Race for the Card points list. Ting Monday-qualified for this week's event in Rogers and took a share of 15th.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: One of LPGA's shortest hitters goes wire-to-wire in Arkansas with 2 eagles
