Hataoka finds her sweet spot with another victory in Arkansas

LOS ANGELES: Japan’s Nasa Hataoka followed up a pair of aces with a hot start in the final round to capture the NW Arkansas Championship for the second time.

Hataoka kept the accelerator down, draining three birdies in her first four holes on Sunday in a closing round of four-under 67 for a 16-under 197 total.

The 22-year-old Hataoka clinched her fifth career LPGA Tour title to go with her first in 2018 which came at the same tournament.

“My first win being here and of course the two holes-in-one, it kind of feels like it’s my power spot,” said Hataoka.

The co-leader heading into Sunday’s final round, Hataoka rolled in two hole-in-ones in as many days during her opening two rounds of the 54-hole event at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.

Hataoka aced the 175-yard parthree No. 6 on Saturday with a five iron, one day after she aced the parthree No. 11 in a second straight round of 65.

She became just the fifth player in LPGA Tour history to make two aces in one tournament and the first since her Japanese compatriot Ayako Uehara at the 2016 Women’s Open.

Lee Min-jee, who started the final round tied with Hataoka for the lead, shot a 68 to grab a share of second place with South Korea’s Ji Eun-hee, who had a 67.

Major champions Yuka Saso, of the Philippines, and American Danielle Kang placed fourth at 14-under overall, two shots adrift of Hataoka.

Stacy Lewis and world No. 2 Ko Jin-young ended in a tie for sixth at 12-under. Eight players tied for eighth at 11-under, including 2017 Arkansas champion Ryu So-yeon, who shot a blistering 62 in final round.