ROGERS, Ark. — Yuna Nishimura captured her first LPGA title Sunday at the NW Arkansas Championship, going wire-to-wire with a final-round five-under-par 66 at Pinnacle Country Club to finish at 21-under 192 for a five-stroke triumph in Rogers, Arkansas.
The 26-year-old Japanese standout seized control with back-to-back 63s to build a five-stroke lead entering the final round of the 54-hole event, then closed with five birdies, two bogeys and an eagle to secure the victory. Sharing second on 197 were Japan's Aki Iwai, South Korean Chun In-gee and Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen, with Iwai firing five consecutive birdies in her closing 62.
"A five-shot lead is a pretty tough situation but I believed in myself and just kept going until the end," Nishimura said. "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." Nishimura, a six-time winner on her homeland tour, earned her first top-10 finish of the year outside pairs events after missing the cut in five of her past six starts.
Nishimura became the third LPGA first-time winner of the season and the 24th Japanese player with an LPGA victory. "I was thinking it's going to be low every player," Iwai said. "That's why I have to go... more aggressive."