ROGERS — Former University of Arkansas golfer Stacy Lewis donated $100,000 to the Razorbacks women’s golf program Wednesday to help build an indoor facility for putting and chipping at Blessings Golf Course in Fayetteville.
Lewis, the world’s No. 2 women’s golfer, made the announcement Wednesday at Pinnacle Country Club, site of the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship, which begins Friday. Lewis, 27, is second on the LPGA money list with $906,000 in earnings this year.
“I say it all the time, I would not be where I am if I had gone to any other university,” said Lewis, who now lives in Florida. “I came here as a kid. I couldn’t swing a golf club at the time and there was no guarantee I would ever play golf again, and this university and these coaches took a chance on me.”
Lewis sat out her first year at Arkansas after having back surgery for scoliosis. She recovered to win the NCAA individual title in 2007 before turning professional in 2008.
Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor and Lewis have talked through the years about how Lewis could help the program. Lewis said one of the reasons she lives in Florida is the inability to practice during Arkansas winters.
When Estes-Taylor mentioned the fundraising drive to raise money for the indoor short-game facility, Lewis offered to write a check to start the ball rolling.
“One hundred thousand is a lot, but we still need more to kick start,” Lewis said. “We need more to get this building done. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”
Sports, Pages 17 on 06/28/2012