It’s safe to say that Nasa Hataoka likes the par 3 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. She made a hole in one on each of her first two rounds at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark. The first came at the 135-yard 11th hole on the first round. The second was 180 yards on the sixth hole on the second round, which was her 15th hole since it started on the back on round 2.
The 22-year-old Japanese said the second hole-in-one was a good shot and that the first round was a little happier.
“When I actually met him, he didn’t have very good contact. I thought it would stop at the top, however [it] I kind of got up and down the slope and got the hole-in-one, ”Hataoka said.
According to the tour, Hataoka is the fifth player to score two aces in an LPGA tournament and the first since 2016.
The two holes in one helped Hataoka, a four-time LPGA winner, come to 12 under after two rounds of the 54-hole tournament. She is tied with Minjee Lee at the helm. The Holes-in-One did more than get them to the top of the rankings: The LPGA Tour donates $ 20,000 to St. Jude’s Hospital for every ace won at the tournament.
“I’m also glad I got the hole-in-ones, but then again, I’m really very happy to be able to help St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. That makes me really happy, ”said Hataoka.