the chevron championship aces debut at new home

From a new home to an even bigger prize, it was a year of firsts at The Chevron Championship. Among those was Lilia Vu’s first major tournament win. Vu defeated fellow American Angel Yin in a playoff after each finished at 10 under par.

From April 20–23, 132 players competed for the largest purse in the tournament’s history. And in keeping with the tradition of past winners, Vu dove into the water on the 18th hole to celebrate her win.

In addition to Vu’s victory, Chevron announced a $1 million charity donation for the first hole-in-one on the 17th hole. South Korea’s In Gee Chun aced the 164-yard, million-dollar shot on Saturday during the third round.

Chevron also committed $10,000 for every birdie on the 17th hole during the first three rounds of the tournament and $100,000 for each birdie on Sunday. Our total charitable donation from The Chevron Championship exceeded $2 million.

All donations will benefit eight charities: Girls Golf of Greater Houston, Women in Golf Foundation, National Society of Black Engineers, Techbridge Girls, KPMG Foundation, Catalyst, Fab Foundation and Houston Sports Authority Foundation.

This year’s event at The Club at Carlton Woods marked the second of a six-year title sponsorship deal for Chevron. The new venue, north of Houston, ended a 51-year tradition of the tournament being held at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.

Kim McHugh, vice president of the Chevron Rockies business unit, said, “The goals for moving the event to Houston were twofold: continuing to highlight the accomplishments of female athletes and bringing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles to young girls. It also makes it possible to showcase Chevron Human Energy with our employees volunteering at the event.”

“This is just the right fit to bring together women’s athletics and STEM,” McHugh said. “Our outreach programs exhibit to young girls that they can accomplish great things through STEM.”

Throughout the week, Chevron hosted activities off the course, including the Junior Legacy Pro-Am. That event saw 16 local junior female golfers play alongside some of the greatest players in LPGA history.

Chevron, in partnership with the LPGA Foundation, also hosted two career panels for local female high school students and college athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to encourage them toward becoming the next generation of leaders in business and in golf.

At the four-day tournament, more than 130 Chevron volunteers helped with hospitality, caddie services and the Chevron STEM Zone. They also served as on-course marshals and ambassadors.

Chevron’s Craig Hagan, senior digital financial analyst, and Allison Davis, liquefied natural gas portfolio analyst, volunteered as walking scorekeepers for Daniela Darquea, Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Valentina Rossi.

“I’ve been with Chevron for 22 years, and I have volunteered with the company from the very beginning,” Hagan said. “It’s a big part of who I am, and I’m lucky to wear the Chevron logo while I volunteer and represent the company.”

Hagan also volunteered for the Whole in One STEM clinic, an event leading up to The Chevron Championship.

The clinic, held this year at Memorial Park golf course in Houston a week prior to the tournament, offered golf instruction as well as health and wellness tips to girls from the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy.