ROGERS, Ark. (AP) — Yuna Nishimura had a big finish to her front and back nines Friday for an 8-under 63 that carried her to a one-shot lead in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship as the LPGA Tour got back to its regular schedule following the Solheim Cup.
Nishimura, a six-time winner on the Japan LPGA now in her fourth year on the LPGA Tour, closed out the front nine at Pinnacle Country Club with three straight birdies. Even better was the finish, birdie-eagle for a one-shot lead over Yu Liu.
“I really went for the last putt. I wanted to make it so I kind of went aggressively and it went in, so I’m hoping it’s going to continue tomorrow,” Nishimura said.
Europe once again had the upper hand among the Solheim Cup players, even if there won't be a score to settle for two more years. Celine Boutier and Charley Hull each had a 65, while Lottie Woad had a 66. The eight players from Europe's winning Solheim Cup team all broke par.
Auston Kim and Andrea Lee had the top scores from the U.S. team at 67.
“I feel like you’re in bit of a downer because obviously the adrenaline, and then last week was a crash,” Hull said. “This week actually feels nice to come out on the golf course with not a whole load of nerves that the Solheim Cup produces.”
Hull also decided to change from blonde to brunette after the Solheim Cup, and she has gone from loving it to hating it to loving it again.
“I will go back to blonde hopefully just after Christmas,” she said.
The tournament is one of two 54-hole events on the LPGA schedule, leaving Saturday for Nishimura or anyone else to get some separation.
There were 25 players at 66 or lower, and 99 players in the 144-player field broke par.
See AP’s full golf coverage here
Charley Hull of Europe plays from a bunker near the 8th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Volpe made his first career big league appearance at third base for the New York Yankees in the opener of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit a drive off the third-base bag and over Volpe in the ninth inning of New York's 10-2 loss. That was the only ball hit toward Volpe.
“Not a lot of action over there but there's something to be said for being in there, thinking through the situations and moving and setting up how you're supposed to." manager Aaron Boone said.
Volpe started at shortstop for the first time since Aug. 1 in the second game and could appear at third again if the Yankees play on Sunday, when rain is forecast.
“We'll see,” Boone said. “He's worked a lot over there. He played a little bit down there in Triple-A so just because he didn't get a ball in the game, I just wanted him moving around so we have some options."
Volpe had started 11 games at second base since his recall from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Sept. 10.
During his last stint in Triple-A after rookie George Lombard Jr. replaced him as the Yankees shortstop, Volpe started three games at third. Volpe did not commit an error in three chances while batting 284 with 10 homers and 21 RBIs in 28 games.
Volpe was New York’s opening day shortstop for the 2023-25 seasons, then began this season on the injured list while recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. After his 20-day minor league rehab assignment ended May 3, Volpe was optioned to Triple-A and returned to the Yankees 10 days later when José Caballero fractured his right middle finger.
Volpe. 25, hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs in a memorable return to the big leagues Sept. 10. He is hitting .241 with two homers and 26 RBIs in 68 games this year.
Attempting to return from injuries to calf muscles in both legs, Giancarlo Stanton took on-field batting practice against a minor league pitching and Ryan Weathers, who hopes to come off the injured list for the postseason.
Stanton saw 20 pitches in four at-bats along with Trent Grisham, sidelined since straining his right hamstring Sept. 4. Stanton struck out three times against a minor league pitcher and struck out against Weathers, who is recovering from a strained right forearm.
Stanton hit on the field at Yankee Stadium for the second straight day. He took swings for about 40 minutes against a high-velocity pitching machine on Thursday.
Stanton hasn’t played since April 24 because of strained calf muscles in both legs after starting the season with a .256 batting average, three homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games. If the right-handed-hitting Stanton is on New York’s roster for the best-of-three World Card Series that starts Tuesday, he likely would be a possible pinch hitter.
“A lot of that comes down to how many position players, we go with,” Boone said. “So those will kind of be kind those conversations that happen in earnest the next couple of days. We’ll talk to G, see where he’s at mentally, physically and all that and then we’ll do the best we can to make the right decision.”
Weathers may be an option for the postseason bullpen. He was 5-8 with a 3.60 ERA in 25 starts before feeling pain forearm pain on Aug. 22 against Toronto.
“I think postseason, for sure," Boone said. “Whether it’s the first round or not, that will be the conversations we have in the next day or two.”
Boone said the Yankees may not decide on their 26-man Wild Card Series roster until Monday night. The roster must be submitted to Major League Baseball by 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Right-hander Fernando Cruz was transferred to the 60-day injured list and is done for the season
Cruz hasn’t pitched in a game since Aug. 25 because of right elbow discomfort caused by a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Cruz opted against Tommy John surgery on his elbow and said Tuesday, he was in a good position to return in the next couple of weeks.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Baltimore Orioles' Leody Taveras (30) is safe at second base after beating the throw by New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe during the third inning in the second baseball game of a double header, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Yankees second baseman Anthony Volpe lines up for play during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Yankees Anthony Volpe scores during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)
