Stacy Lewis is clearly comfortable at the top of women’s golf.

The 29-year-old American came from four strokes behind on Sunday to win the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship from another fast finisher in Lydia Ko to cement her place atop the world ranking.

Stacy Lewis poses with the trophy after winning the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. PHOTO: Getty Images Stacy Lewis poses with the trophy after winning the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. PHOTO: Getty Images

Lewis made seven birdies – including on three of the last four holes – in a closing 65 that sent her to 12-under, a shot ahead of Ko who shot the same score in the final round. Left chasing on the course were Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, So Yeon Ryu and Suzann Pettersen, but all four women came up short.

Kerr had the best chance to catch Lewis. A shot behind playing the birdieable par-5 18th at Pinnacle Country Club, Kerr missed her birdie putt to force a play-off and settled for a share of second place.

Stacy Lewis reacts to a birdie putt on the 15th hole during the final round. PHOTO: Getty Images Stacy Lewis reacts to a birdie putt on the 15th hole during the final round. PHOTO: Getty Images

“It’s so hard to play here,” said Lewis, who attended the University of Arkansas and received constant support from the galleries. “I can tell you I was more nervous today than I was at the US Open last week. That’s just how much this place means to me.”

The victory was sweet revenge for Lewis, who ‘won’ the same tournament while still an amateur in 2007 after poor weather curtailed the event to just 18 holes and was deemed unofficial. This was Lewis’ third win for 2014, her second this month and her 11th title in an LPGA Tour career that continues to blossom. With top-three finishes at the first two majors of the year, Lewis will be the player to beat when she defends her Women’s British Open title at Royal Birkdale next week.

Newly crowned US Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie carried the lead into the final round in Arkansas but made three straight bogeys around the turn in a closing 73 that left her in a share of eighth place.

LEADERBOARD

1. Stacy Lewis (US)       70-66-65—201

T2. Lydia Ko (NZ)          69-68-65—202

T2. Cristie Kerr (US)       69-66-67—202

T2. Angela Stanford (US)           68-67-67—202

5. So Yeon Ryu (Kor)     67-67-69—203

ALSO:

T47. Katherine Kirk (Qld)          70-69-72—211

T57. Julia Boland (NSW)           73-69-71—213

* For the full leaderboard, click here