Stacy Lewis wins LPGA's Portland Classic, gives earnings to Harvey relief efforts in hometown
Nick Daschel, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Sunday, September 03, 2017 08:48 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, September 03, 2017 09:29 PM EDT
PORTLAND, Ore. — Stacy Lewis won for Houston.
Lewis ended a long winless streak Sunday at Cambia Portland Classic, with her $195,000 in winnings going to the relief efforts in her hometown area. Her two biggest sponsors also stepped up, with KPMG matching her donation and Marathon Oil kicking in $1 million.
“Probably was more pressure, to be honest,” Lewis said. “Honestly, I think that’s what helped me through the week, just knowing people wanted me to do well. People wanted me to win this for Houston. To do it when I added pressure to myself is a pretty good, pretty cool deal.”
The 32-year-old Lewis, from The Woodlands just north of Houston, won her 12th LPGA Tour title and first since June 2014, ending a frustrating stretch that included 12 runner-up finishes. She closed with a 3-under 69 to hold off In Gee Chun by a stroke at tree-lined Columbia Edgewater.
“Just kind of handed over control and said, ‘Take me. Take me to the finish line. Let me know what happens, God,”’ Lewis said. “It was just amazing how when you let go of the control like that how great you can play.”
Lewis embraced and kissed husband Gerrod Chadwell, the University of Houston women’s golf coach, on the 18th green. She didn’t know he had made the trip to Oregon until he appeared on the green — after hiding out in the Golf Channel tower during the round.
“I was fine until he showed up, and then I started crying,” Lewis said. “You go through all the emotions of finishing second when sometimes it’s your fault and sometimes it’s not, and things just don’t seem to ever go your way and you get really frustrated at times. He went through all of that with me, and it was probably as hard on him as it was on me. So just to have him here and get to share the win with him was pretty special.”
Lewis parred the final 11 holes. She got up-and-down from off the green on the par-4 17th and reached the green on the par-4 18th from a fairway bunker to set up her winning two-putt.
“I kind of resigned to the fact that whatever was going to happen was going to happen,” Lewis said. “I just needed to commit to my golf shots and hit them. I pulled off a great up-and-down on 17 and probably hit one of shots of my life on 18.”
Chun also parred the final two holes in a 66.
Lewis finished at 20-under 268 after opening with rounds of 70, 64 and 65 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round. She also broke through in Portland after finishing second twice — two strokes behind Suzann Pettersen in 2013 and four shots behind Canadian Brooke Henderson last year.
On Sunday, she birdied four of the first seven holes, and made the turn four strokes ahead of Chun.
Chun cut the lead to two with birdies at the par-5 10th and 12th. Chun missed a short birdie putt at the par-4 14th, and pulled to within a stroke with a birdie at the par-3 16th.
Perhaps the biggest hole of the day for Lewis came at the difficult 17th when she hit her approach over the green and saved par after chipping 7 feet past the hole.
“I hit a really good chip,” Lewis said. “I knew I was going to have at least a 5-footer, and just hit one of the best putts I’ve hit on that back nine.”
Chun missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the hole.
“It was a great round today,” Chun said. “But Stacy’s play was good, too. I really enjoy playing with Stacy. I know Stacy have a little hard time before, so I want to give her a big congratulations.”
The South Korean player was bogey-free the final 53 holes.
Brittany Altomare (69) and Moriya Jutanugarn (72) tied for third at 14 under.
Ai Miyazato shot a 67 to tie for fifth at 13 under in the Japanese star’s final U.S. start. The 2010 Portland winner plans to retire after The Evian Championship in two weeks in France.
“It’s been a tremendous week for me,” Miyazato said. “On the last hole, I got really emotional ... I have so many great memories of this tournament. This is my favourite city forever now.”
Henderson, trying to win for the third straight year, had a 70 to tie for 15th at 10 under. The 19-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., had an eagle and three birdies in a four-hole stretch, but finished with a triple bogey on 18.
Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (73) was 6 under while Maude-Aimee Leblanc (72) of Sherbrooke, Que., was 2 over.
Stacy Lewis is lifted up by her caddie Travis Wilson after winning the Cambia Portland Classic in Portland, Ore., on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. (Steve DykesAP Photo)
Stacy Lewis wins LPGA's Portland Classic, gives earnings to Harvey relief effort
Justin Bieber donates US$25,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief
WENN.com
First posted: Sunday, September 03, 2017 03:31 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, September 03, 2017 03:41 PM EDT
Justin Bieber has donated US$25,000 to the American Red Cross to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
The What Do You Mean? singer is just one of a number of celebrities who have generously given to the charity which is helping to raise much needed funds for those who have been affected by the natural disaster.
The 23-year-old singer posted a heartfelt video on Instagram on Saturday saying how sorry he was and how he wanted to help the families who had lost everything in the wake of the deadly storm.
“Just looking at these photos from Hurricane Harvey. I just want to say that I am so sorry to all the families that have lost their homes, people that have lost their lives,” he said sadly in the video.
“I’m going to accept the Kevin Hart challenge and donate $25,000 towards the Red Cross, and I love you guys in Houston. You guys are awesome, you guys are strong. I am so sorry this is happening.”
Earlier this week, Kevin revealed on the social media site that he had donated $25,000, and asked his famous friends to follow suit.
“This is a serious matter,” the comedian said gravely in his Instagram video. “I think the people are in bad shape and they need help. I’m going to lead the charge and step it up in this way.”
Other stars that have dug deep include Pink, who donated $500,000 to the fund and Leonardo DiCaprio and Sandra Bullock have also given generously.
Miranda Lambert and The Bachelor’s Sean Lowe have physically been on the ground helping both animals and people relocate.
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Justin Bieber donates US$25,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief | Celebrities | Enter
Taylor Swift the latest star to make 'sizable donation' to Hurricane Harvey relief effort
WENN.COM
First posted: Sunday, September 03, 2017 10:42 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, September 03, 2017 10:55 PM EDT
Taylor Swift has reportedly made a “sizable donation” to a food bank in Texas to aid the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
The tropical storm hit the state late last month and left areas in and around Houston ravaged. A reported 44 people have lost their lives and many celebrities have stepped up to donate funds to help displaced residents rebuild. The Shake It Off singer has reportedly joined her famous friends by making a donation to the Houston Food Bank.
“Taylor Swift has generously made a very sizable donation to Houston Food Bank in honor of her mother who graduated from the University of Houston,” a message on the organization’s Facebook page reads. “We thank you, Taylor, and we thank everyone for donating to help rebuild our community.”
Taylor has not commented on the reported donation, but her generous pledge comes after Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul Simon, Tyler Perry, and Sandra Bullock offered up $1 million each to the relief effort following the historic storm.
The Oscar-winning The Blind Side star, who owns a home in Texas, has given her cash to the American Red Cross, stating, “There are no politics in eight feet of water. There are human beings in eight feet of water.”
“I’m just grateful I can do it,” she adds. “We all have to do our part.”
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian, her sisters and mother Kris Jenner have donated $500,000 to the cause, with the reality TV star tweeting: “Houston we are praying for you! My mom, sisters & I will be donating $500,000 to @redcross and @salvationarmyus today #HoustonStrong.”
Miley Cyrus and Pink have also donated $500,000, while Drake has given $200,000.
Meanwhile, news of Taylor’s generosity comes as fans grouse about her dodging them at a wedding in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts on Saturday, after they waited in the rain for a chance to glimpse the star.
Taylor’s security team went to great lengths to shield her from a bunch of kids and adults who were standing outside.
In video obtained by TMZ, the devotees went from cheering, “We love you Taylor” to a chorus of boos, with some chanting “Very disappointing, not cool.”
Taylor, who was a bridesmaid at her friend Abigail Anderson’s wedding, is heading back to the top of the U.S. charts with her new single Look What You Made Me Do.
Taylor Swift the latest star to make 'sizable donation' to Hurricane Harvey reli
