Remarkable Stacy Lewis Donates Prize Money to Houston Relief Fund

Stacy Lewis picked up her first LPGA Tour victory in three years at the Portland Classic, but that fact was overshadowed by the American’s remarkable gesture of donating her entire prize money – all $195,000 of it – to the relief fund for victims of Storm Harvey in her hometown of Houston.

“We're going to be able to help people rebuild houses and get their homes back. That's more important than any win,” said Lewis after finishing one shot ahead of South Korea's Chun In-gee.

It was an admirable pledge that the 32-year-old had made prior to the tournament, and that added inspiration appeared to have carried the two-time major champion back onto a winning pedestal once again, following many disappointments and near-misses since her last success in 2014.

Her story had caught the attention of sponsors KPMG – who matched the donation – and Marathon Oil, who jumped in with a $1 million contribution as residents of the Houston area look to recover from the devastating floods that have caused shattering damage and tragically seen lives lost in the disaster.

"We're going to be able to help people rebuild their houses-that's more important than any win"- @Stacy_Lewis #HarveyRelief #PortlandClassic pic.twitter.com/cpU3qf28rP

— LPGA (@LPGA) September 3, 2017

Lewis and her golf coach husband, Gerrod Chadwell, have a residence at The Golf Club of Houston – a regular venue on the PGA Tour – and retain close personal links to a community that is nursing the deepest of wounds. Several golfers have made their own contributions to the relief fund, but none have quite had the same dramatic punch as the former Ricoh Women’s British Open champion’s generosity and determination to make a difference.

There have been bigger and more momentous stories in golf throughout 2017, but none were more meaningful than this victory in Oregon. Sport is often about the personal and tales of the individual. This was emblematic of a city and region looking to collectively recover together from the lowest of points.

Stacy Lewis shone a small bright light into the darkness. And that is credit to her.