Singapore: For the second time in her fledgling golfing career, Yuna Nishimura has been left to reflect on a near miss at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course.
It was in late February, 2018, that Nishimura lined-up in a four-way play-off at the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP), alongside fellow-Japanese Yuka Saso, New Zealand’s Keh Wenyung, and Thai Atthaya Thitikul.
In a tense finale, Keh was eliminated at the first extra hole with Saso bowing out at the second. Nishimua and Atthaya went on to the 12th for the third additional hole where Atthaya prevailed with a par-four.
Fast forward six years and Nishimura, now aged 23, once more found herself in the spotlight at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course.
With a closing bogey-free six-under-par 66, Nishimura had the distinction of returning the low round of the final day at the 16th HSBC Women’s World Championship.
It also catapulted her up the leaderboard from joint 17th after day three into a share of third place on nine-under 279 – three shots behind second-placed Celine Boutier of France and four adrift of the victorious Australian Hannah Green.
Despite missing out on the top prize, there was plenty for Nishimura to be happy about after equalling her best-ever finish on the LPGA Tour, matching her effort at last year’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
“I'm extremely happy to be here in Singapore. I didn't make it here last year and I'm just so happy I played well this early in the season. I feel like I can make it better throughout the year,” said Nishimura, who was fourth in the second edition of the WAAP in her native Japan in 2019 after which she turned professional.
Throughout the latest tournament at Sentosa, Nishimura, 75th in the Rolex Women’s World Ranking, enjoyed excellent support.
“All four days they come here to support me, almost 50 of them and it means a lot to me,” said Nishimura of the members of her fan club who were by her side every round at the Tanjong Course.
Nishimura was one of seven players in the elite 66-strong HSBC Women’s World Championship field to have participated in that inaugural WAAP six years ago.
The others were Saso, Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (tied 15th at the WAAP), Japan’s Ayaka Furue (tied 11th), Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines (tied 15th), Korean Ryu Hae-ran (tied 18th) and Australian Grace Kim (tied 47th).
For her part, Green turned pro in 2018 and did not take part in the first WAAP, but she was a three-time representative for Australia in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Ladies Golf Team Championship for the Queen Sirikit Cup – 2014, 2015 and 2016.
