Page 50 - Golf Champion - October 2021

[LPGA TOUR]

NASA HATAOKA EARNS SECOND WIN OF 2021 AT

WALMART NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

2021년 월마트 NW 아칸소 챔피언십

나사 하타오카, 두 번째 우승

asa Hataoka earned her second title of the season at strong with pars until the end, the 22-year-old passed
Nthe Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented Hiromi Kobayashi for third-most victories by a Japanese
by P&G on Sunday. Off in the morning with 36-hole co- player, trailing Ayako Okamoto (17) and Ai Miyazato (9).
leader Minjee Lee and Eun-Hee Ji, Hataoka hung on for “It was pretty tight, very stressful because the other
her fifth-career LPGA Tour victory and second win in players were so close to me. It was pretty stressful for me,
Rogers, Ark., after becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner yeah,” said Hataoka. “The grass type, it matches what I
in 2018 at Pinnacle Country Club. was doing when I was young, and so I'm able to kind of
“My first win being here and of course the two holes-in- know how it reacts, so that kind of helps me. And so I like
one, it kind of feels like it's my power spot,” said Hataoka, this course.”
who also set the tournament scoring record back in 2018. Lee and Ji tied for second at -15. Lee struggled on the
Hataoka carded birdies on her first two holes, and front nine, carding two birdies and two bogeys to make
notched three more at Nos. 4, 7 and 11. When she took the turn four strokes behind Hataoka. The Australian
her approach over the green on 13, Hataoka saved bogey turned it around quick, notching three more birdies to
after putting a 50-foot par putt close to the pin. Holding earn her fifth top-five performance of the season. Ji’s

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