File this under things we love this Valentine’s Day: ISPS Handa Australian Open co-leader Jodi Ewart Shadoff has double the reason to smile each time she makes a birdie. The European Solheim Cup player has pledged to donate $100 for every birdie that she makes this week to the Adelaide Koala Rescue, and her sponsor, Radar Tires, is matching.
Ewart Shadoff has carded 12 birdies through two rounds at Royal Adelaide and is knotted atop the board with LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park at 10 under. The Englishwoman is looking for her first LPGA title. She has twice finished runner-up on the LPGA, including the 2017 AIG Women’s British Open.
SCORES: ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open leaderboard
The Aussie Open leaderboard is actually stacked with women who are playing for a bigger cause. So Yeon Ryu, who lost in a playoff last week at the Vic Open, pledged to donate half of her winnings during the Down Under swing to wildfire relief efforts. Ryu is currently tied for eighth, four strokes back.
After Aussie Sarah Kemp posted on Twitter that she planned to donate $40 for every birdie during the Australia Open to the Australian Red Cross, Marina Alex pledged to do the same. Kemp said her parents almost lost their home several months ago. Fortunately, only their back fence was burned.
Nelly Korda pledged to donate $150 for every birdie and $300 for every eagle that she made in the first three events of the season. The 2019 Australian Open winner is six shots back of the leaders.
Mel Reid pledged to donate $25 per birdie and $75 for every eagle she made in Australia. On Friday, she aced the 12th hole to go along with three birdies.
Tiffany Joh missed the cut at Royal Adelaide, but still scored a win for the South Australia Bushfire Appeal, which is raising funds for people impacted by bushfires in Cudlee Creek and on Kangaroo Island. Joh pledged $20 for every birdie and $50 for every eagle she made Down Under and encouraged her supporters to do the same. She made seven birdies at the Aussie Open.
“Thank you everyone who followed and pledged this Australia Swing!” wrote Joh on Instagram. “You guys are the Vegemite on my toast.”
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