It’s safe to say that Nasa Hataoka is liking the par 3s at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. She’s made a hole in one in each of her first two rounds at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark. The first came at the 135-yard 11th hole in the first round. The second was 180 yards at the sixth hole in the second round, which was her 15th hole, as she started on the back in Round 2.
The 22-year-old from Japan said the second hole-in-one was a good shot, the one in the first round was a bit luckier.
“When I actually hit it, it didn’t get very good contact. I thought it would kind of stop at the top, but [it] kind of got on the slope and came down and got the hole-in-one,” Hataoka said.
According to the tour, Hataoka is the fifth player to make two aces in an LPGA tournament, and the first to do so since 2016.
The two holes-in-one have helped Hataoka, a four-time LPGA winner, get to 12 under after two rounds of the 54-hole tournament. She is tied with Minjee Lee for the lead. The holes-in-one did more than get her to the top of the leader board: The LPGA Tour is donating $20,000 to St. Jude’s Hospital for each ace made at the tournament.
“I’m also happy that I got the hole-in-ones, but on the other hand, I’m really, really happy to be able to help the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. That’s what makes my really happy,” Hataoka said.