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
Learning every day: Kuwait players reflect on DP World ILT20 season 4
- ‘To play alongside players like Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Jonny Bairstow is a very big moment for me,’ says Mohammed Shafeeq of MI Emirates
DUBAI: Season four of the DP World ILT20 marked a significant step in the league’s regional development efforts, with players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia earning selection at the first ever auction and featuring across all six franchises.
Each team acquired at least one player from the two countries, offering emerging cricketers the opportunity to train and compete alongside some of the world’s leading players.
The DP World ILT20 season four ended on Jan. 4, with the Desert Vipers overcoming the MI Emirates to secure their first title.
Speaking over the course of the tournament, the Kuwait players reflected on their experiences and the opportunity to work alongside established international cricketers.
Captain of the Kuwait cricket team, Mohamed Aslam, said: “It’s a great opportunity for me to represent Sharjah Warriorz in the DP World ILT20, and we are getting a lot of experience in the dressing room.
He said he was sharing the dressing room with “leaders like Tim Southee and Sikandar Raza. I have gotten a lot of information from them and learned many things by asking questions.
“As an associate cricket player, this is a very good opportunity. I hope to apply all of this in Kuwait and do our best.”
Mohammed Shafeeq became the first player from Kuwait or Saudi Arabia to feature in a DP World ILT20 fixture when he played for the MI Emirates against the Dubai Capitals.
“The support from the coaching staff has been amazing because this is a completely different feeling for us. It will help us in the future, as the coaches are always watching us and giving technical inputs.”
“It is a very big moment for me to be part of this team and to play alongside players like Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Jonny Bairstow,” he added.
“All of them are top players and operate at different levels. They consider us for every match, and that means a lot to me.”
The Dubai Capitals’ Anudeep Chenthamara said: “I would like to thank the Kuwait Cricket Board and DP World ILT20 for giving me this opportunity, it is a big one for me and the whole team.
“There has been a lot of experience and learning over here. We have worked with experienced players and coaches; I have been able to work on many things from the basics to the higher level. For example, I have changed the base of my run-up.”
Echoing these sentiments, the Gulf Giants’ Meet Bhavsar, who has played 73 T20Is for Kuwait, said: “It’s been a great experience to share the dressing room with the superstars of modern-day cricket.
“Facing somebody like Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets has been really challenging and helped me immensely. I will try to share as much as I can with the rest of the Kuwait team, and I am grateful for the chance to be here.”
Representing the Desert Vipers, Bilal Tahir said: “We are learning a lot every day. We have very good coaches, a great environment, and the style of teaching really helps us improve.
“Playing with these stars is a dream for us because they are legends, and we learn so much from them. Just the other day in the nets, Fakhar Zaman told me how to improve certain things. I am very thankful to the Desert Vipers for giving us this opportunity.”
Adnan Idrees, whose services were secured by the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, added: “It’s a great experience and I’m really enjoying my time here.
“Learning from legends is always a blessing, and sharing the dressing room with players like Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone makes me feel my game will improve a lot.
“I keep getting tips from them about staying focused on my game, and I’ve learned a lot already. They are gems as people and as cricketers, and it’s a joy to share the dressing room with them.
“I feel blessed to be part of the DP World ILT20 and hope more players get the chance to come here.”
