Local charity shines through at KIA Open
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Launched in 2014 and celebrating its tenth anniversary as a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event, the Kia Open was the fifth of six Latin America Swing events in the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas inaugural season schedule. (Gregory Villalobos/PGA TOUR)
The 'Birdies for Meals' initiative raised $7,470 at the fifth Latin America Swing event
Written by Gregory Villalobos
The 'Birdies for Meals' initiative raised $7,470 at the fifth Latin America Swing event
QUITO, Ecuador – Last week the KIA Open and ProGolf by ProSports Latam pledged to donate $5 for each birdie and $10 for each eagle recorded at their event. The official tally came in at 1,402 birdies and 46 eagles through 54 holes after the fifth event of the PGA TOUR Americas season was shortened due to rainfall.
The $7,470 raised through this charity initiative branded as “Birdies for Meals” will support a cause promoted by the Queen of Quito Foundation, which seeks funds to help feed children affected by chronic malnutrition across the city of Quito.
“We aim to become the best tournament on PGA TOUR Americas and as our event grows we feel the need to give back to the community and that’s what we did through the ‘Birdies for Meals’ program,” said tournament promoter Nicolas Gross. “We thank the Queen of Quito Foundation for allowing us to join its efforts through their ‘First Smiles’ charity that feeds children in need here in Quito.”
Several PGA TOUR Americas players pitched in, recording a strong number of birdies and eagles throughout the week at the Quito Tennis & Golf Club. The tournament winner, Thomas Longbella, and the runner-up, Gunn Yang, recorded 16 birdies and one eagle each. In a tie for third, the leading Latin player Ricardo Celia of Colombia had 11 birdies and a week-leading three eagles. The birdie leader for the tournament was Evan Brown, who made 20 birdies.
“It means a ton to be the lead birdie maker of the week,” said Brown, a 24-year-old from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. “It makes me feel really good to be able to give back like that through my golf game. Any time that we as players can give back through playing good golf and making birdies through a charity endeavor like that, that's huge… We want to play well for ourselves, make a lot of points, and move up the standings, but to have another thing to play for (like charity) is another thing that's important for us to have.”
Launched in 2014 and celebrating its tenth anniversary as a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event, the Kia Open was the fifth of six Latin America Swing events in the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas inaugural season schedule.
“Events like this show Ecuador as it really is, a country of peace and good, hard-working people who can achieve great things,” added Gross.
