Nishimura Builds Five-Shot Lead In Arkansas As Coughlin Sets LPGA Record With 9 Straight Birdies

Yuna Nishimura strengthened her grip on the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Saturday, firing a second straight 8-under 63 to take a five-shot lead, while Lauren Coughlin produced one of the most remarkable rounds in LPGA history.

Nishimura made nine birdies and one bogey to reach 16-under 126 after 36 holes of the 54-hole tournament at Pinnacle Country Club. The Japanese golfer, seeking her first LPGA Tour victory after six wins on the Japan LPGA, has dropped only one shot through two rounds.

Her lone bogey came on the par-4 13th, but she quickly recovered, going out in 31 before birdies on the seventh and eighth holes helped her finish strongly.

“I was a little disappointed on the 13th, but overall I was kind of relieved by it,” Nishimura said through an interpreter. “Not too much pressure on myself and it worked out.”

Auston Kim, Mary Liu and Michelle Zhang were tied for second at 11 under after rounds of 64, while Lottie Woad and Charley Hull were among those at 10 under.

Coughlin, however, stole the spotlight by opening her round with nine consecutive birdies, an LPGA record. She reached the turn in 9-under 26 before adding another birdie on the third hole to move to 10 under.

Needing three more birdies over her final six holes to shoot 59, Coughlin instead made six straight pars and finished with a career-best 61.

The performance lifted her 106 places into a tie for 21st after she had opened with a 2-over 73.

The cut fell at 4 under, with 117 of 143 players making par or better. Nishimura will take her five-shot advantage into Sunday's final round.