PORTLAND, Oregon: Stacy Lewis picked the right time to break out of a slump and the end of her winless drought will bring a windfall to the flood victims in her hometown of Houston.
The American golfing star had promised earlier in the week to donate her prize money to the Hurricane Harvey relief effort.
Lewis earned her first LPGA Tour title in three years on Sunday at the Portland Classic, firing a closing round of 69 to defeat In-Gee Chun by one stroke.
Lewis did it by playing steady golf down the stretch. She posted four birdies, two pars and a bogey over her first seven holes but then parred the final 11 holes to finish with a total of 20-under 268.
“That’s unbelievable,” said Lewis, of her $195,000 winner’s check. “When I said that I had the goal of winning the tournament, you have got to get a lot of things right, to go your way.
“We’re going to be able to help rebuild houses and get their homes back. That’s more important than anything.”
Hurricane Harvey has killed at least 50 people and unleashed massive flooding that damaged up to 50,000 homes in Houston.
For Chun it marked another runner-up finish in 2017. She shot a six-under 66 while Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn (72) and American Brittany Altomare (69) finished in a tie for third, six shots adrift of the lead.
Lewis moved to Houston at a young age and her husband is the golf coach at the University of Houston.
She completed the final round with 11 pars, scrambling for saves on the final two holes. She had just one bogey on the last day as she wrapped up her 12th career victory on the US Tour.
“I knew it was going to be hard,” Lewis said. “I was hitting a lot good shots, a lot of good putts, and they just weren’t going in. “To make that up and down on 17 and then to hit the shot out of the bunker on 18, it’s something you dream about.”
Chun can’t shake the bridesmaid label as she finished second for the fifth time in 2017.
“I made another bogey-free round. I think it was great round today,” Chun said. “Stacy’s play was good, too. I really enjoy playing with Stacy. I know Stacy had a little hard time before, so I want to give to her big congratulations.”
Lewis triumphs, donates earnings to hometown Harvey relief effort
Lewis triumphs, donates earnings to hometown Harvey relief effort
Roshn Group announced as title partner of LIV Golf Riyadh
- LIV Golf’s season opener returns to the capital from Feb. 4-7 with entertainment over 4 nights under the lights
RIYADH: Roshn Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading real-estate developer, has been announced as the title partner of LIV Golf’s Riyadh event for 2026.
Roshn Group LIV Golf Riyadh will open the league’s 2026 season from Feb. 4-7 at Riyadh Golf Club, as it did last year. The event will again stage the world’s largest professional night-golf tournament.
The event will have some of the game’s leading players, live entertainment, and a range of premium hospitality and fan experiences across four nights of competition.
In 2025, fans were treated to drone light shows, live concerts from award-winning artists, and a Fan Village featuring rides, games, food trucks and family-friendly activities.
As a part of the group’s global partnership across all LIV Golf events, the two brands also launched the “Roshn Rising Stars” program, which will introduce 100 young people to the sport.
Chad Biggs, LIV Golf’s executive vice president and head of global partnerships, said: “Last season’s event under the lights in Riyadh delivered an event unlike anything else in the sports world.
“With ROSHN Group as the title partner this year, we’re excited to collectively build on that momentum in 2026 with an expanded four-day tournament, more entertainment, and enhanced fan experience.
Fans can expect a world-class field headlined by reigning LIV Golf Individual Champion Jon Rahm and last season’s Team Champions Legion XIII, alongside defending LIV Golf Riyadh 2025 winner Adrian Meronk of Cleeks Golf Club.
They will be joined by some of the sport’s biggest names, including Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC), Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC), Cam Smith (Ripper GC), Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC), Sergio Garcia (Fireballs GC), and Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC).
The 2026 field will feature 13 major champions with a combined 23 major championship titles.
Fans can secure their four-day and single-day grounds passes as well as hospitality packages at LIVGolf.com.
