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The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G turns 20 this year, and it welcomes home one of LAGC’s stars.
Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G
Pinnacle Country Club
Rogers, Arkansas
Purse: $3,000,000
Gaby López played college golf at the University of Arkansas, just 20 miles south of Pinnacle Country Club, host of this week’s championship.
For Aki Iwai, this is another opportunity to build momentum on her impressive young career. For Kiara Romero, it’s an opportunity to make her mark as she begins her professional career. And for Gaby López, she’s looking for a win on some of her old stomping grounds.
Pinnacle Country Club and NW Arkansas
What is it about Northwest Arkansas? Rogers sits tucked into the Ozark Mountains, and it’s playing an integral role in the economic boom the region is seeing. The NW Arkansas area is home to three Fortune 500 companies, including #1 on the entire Fortune list — Walmart.
The explosion of business in the area has turned a collection of small towns into a bustling hub of great business, great food, great music, great art, and yes… fantastic golf.
Pinnacle Country Club was built in 1988, and its course opened for business in 1990. Since its beginning, it’s been touted as one of the top private courses in the state, and it’s been the home of this event since its debut in 2007. Two decades later, it has grown into one of the premier stops on the LPGA Tour, drawing 144 of the world's best players for a $3 million purse.
Pinnacle Country Club plays as a par-71 at 6,438 yards this week. Given it’s one of the few 54-hole tournaments on the circuit, the ladies will want a hot start. Start too far behind in Round 1, and you may not have enough time or enough holes to climb back to the top.
Last year, the tournament was cancelled after just 18 holes due to inclement weather, as it saw nearly four inches of rain fall overnight, with no sign of stopping. This year, we’re seeing clear skies for Round 1, with a chance of some showers on Saturday and Sunday.
The field includes 15 of the top 25 players in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, and the 20th anniversary edition has drawn a particularly deep group.
For LAGC, three players are in Rogers this week — each coming into the weekend with very different feelings, but one shared goal: win.
LAGC Storylines
Gaby López is home. The Mexico City native played college golf at the University of Arkansas, won three titles as a Razorback, and finished runner-up at the 2015 NCAA Championship. She’s in her 11th year as a pro, and she’s having her best collective year yet.
López spent four years in Fayetteville, AR, just down the road. With access to some of the best golf in the area, she’s sure to have spent her fair share of time at Pinnacle. This could give her an advantage down the stretch.
Aki Iwai is coming off two straight top-10s in international tour events. She enters this weekend ranked 23rd in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, just a few spots behind López, and continues to be one of the most compelling young players on the LPGA Tour.
She’s already won on tour, but this could be a breakout moment for Iwai that propels her into the next tier of great golfers.
Kiara Romero enters the week at the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her career. The former University of Oregon standout recently turned professional after an accomplished amateur career and now gets another opportunity to test her game against one of the strongest fields on Tour.
What to Watch
The field is deep. Like we mentioned, 15 of the top 25 are here. This is a premiere event on Tour, and López, Iwai and Romero will fight for their share of the $3,000,000 purse.
The LAGC players have their own reasons to feel confident teeing it up this weekend. Catch the action on LPGA Live and Golf Channel all weekend long.