RR Donnelley, LPGA Create "Japan Relief Zone" For Holes 15-18

RR Donnelley, title sponsor of this week’s RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, has committed to donate $100 for every birdie and $500 for every eagle made on holes 15-18 this weekend to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s Japan relief efforts. Players will be encouraged to “Finish Strong for Japan” as the closing stretch of the course will be dubbed the “Japan Relief Zone.” The tournament had already schedule to donate its entire $1 million purse to charity prior to the tragedy in Japan, meaning players receive no paychecks for the weekend. Instead, $500,000 will go to the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and $500,000 to the designated charities of the top-10 finishers.

“Given the exceptionally charitable spirit of this event, the LPGA and RR Donnelley decided to reflect the spirit of giving here by doing something extra for those in need in Japan,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.

The “Japan Relief Zone,” holes 15-18, begins with a reachable, 485-yard par-5. Hole 16 is another birdie hole, a par-4 playing to just 307 yards. With a forward tee possible this weekend, the longer hitters will be tempted to drive the green and have a putt for eagle. Hole 17 is a 153-yard par-3 with a sizeable bunker short and left that shouldn’t really come into play, and 18 is a closing par-4 that stretches to 420 yards.