WASHINGTON, United States — Yuna Nishimura captured her first LPGA title on Sunday (Monday in Manila) at the NW Arkansas Championship, doing so in wire-to-wire fashion after firing a final-round five-under-par 66 at Pinnacle Country Club.
The 26-year-old Japanese standout, a six-time winner on her homeland tour, managed her first top-10 finish of the year outside pairs events after missing the cut in five of her past six starts.
Nishimura fired back-to-back 63s to seize a five-stroke lead before closing the 54-hole event with five birdies, two bogeys and an eagle to finish on 21-under 192 for a five-stroke triumph at Rogers, Arkansas.
“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 became the third LPGA first-time winner of the season and the 24th Japanese player with an LPGA victory.
Sharing second on 197 were Japan’s Aki Iwai, South Korean Chun In-gee and Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen.
Iwai fired five consecutive birdies in her closing 62.
“I was thinking it’s going to be low every player,” Iwai said. “That’s why I have to go... more aggressive.” AFP
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 in the NFL’s first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro as the Washington Commanders and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota stunned Seattle 33-31 Sunday (Monday in Manila).
The first NFL game at Brazil’s iconic Maracana, where the build-up had been dominated by concerns over the soccer stadium’s patchy surface, proved to be a breathless thriller decided by a final kick.
With Derrick Henry at his unstoppable best, rushing for two early touchdowns, the Baltimore Ravens opened a 24-13 lead in the third quarter.
The Cowboys scored 15 without reply to edge ahead, before Ravens rookie Matt Hibner grabbed a touchdown back. Deep in the red zone, Dallas could not force a touchdown, but a field goal with seven seconds remaining appeared to force overtime.
Instead, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson hurled the ball 26 yards to Zay Flowers, and immediately called a timeout with one second left on the clock.
Tyler Loop converted a 56-yard field goal to prompt wild celebrations.
“Major, major credit to those guys straining all the way till the end,” said Ravens coach Jesse Minter.
“We felt like we had time to maybe get the ball in range. Unbelievable play by Lamar and Zay, and then obviously Tyler Loop.”
Earlier Sunday, reeling from two losses and an injury to franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders turned to 32-year-old journeyman Mariota.
He completed three passing touchdowns to hand the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks their first loss of the season, and snap Seattle’s 12-game winning streak.
Seattle’s loss came despite their own star quarterback Sam Darnold returning from injury to pass for 379 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions.
