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Men’s Golf Alum Alex Smalley Provides Boost for Birdies for Babies
6/24/2022 1:52:00 PM | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
DURHAM – The Birdies for Babies program received a big offseason boost this week as Duke men's golf 2019 graduate Alex Smalley earned $10,000 for a charity of his choice on behalf of the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlights.
Smalley, a four-year letterwinner with the Blue Devils from 2016-19, was playing a practice round on Tuesday and knocked his shot to 11 inches from the pin, close enough to win The Umbrella at 15 ½ Challenge. His shot earned $10,000 and he decided to select the Birdies for Babies program, which benefits the Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units.
Following the announcement on Tuesday, Smalley posted a tweet on Twitter, "Extremely honored and happy to help out the Birdies for Babies program at Duke Children's Hospital that my good friend Virginia Elena Carta set up while she was a member of Duke women's golf. Proud of you, Virginia!"
"It is truly gratifying that our student-athletes continue to support Birdies for Babies after graduation," said Ann M. Reed, MD, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief of Duke Children's. "Our continuing partnership with Duke Golf supports the smallest, most critically ill patients at our hospital. We are so proud of Alex and grateful that he chose Birdies for Babies for this meaningful gift."
Smalley was a two-time All-America with the Blue Devils. Since turning professional, Smalley has earned $1,356,130 on the tour. He is currently ranked No. 69 on the FedExCup ledger and has earned $1,204,777 this season. Smalley placed second in March at the Corales Puntacana Championship for his best finish on the year with rounds of 69, 65, 73 and 65 for a 16-under-par, 272.
The creation of the Birdies for Babies program was spearheaded by Carta, a 2019 Duke women's golf graduate and former NCAA Individual and Team Champion. A native of Udine, Italy, Carta was a four-time All-ACC selection and the 2016 NCAA Individual Champion. The 2016 WGCA All-America and Honda Award winner turned in a NCAA-record 16-under-par ledger of 272 as a rookie to register her first collegiate victory. She became one of only four Blue Devils to win both a NCAA Individual and team NCAA title.
Since the inception of the Birdies for Babies program in 2017, Duke has raised $79,339.20 and with the $10,000 donation from Smalley the number moves to $89,339.20.
Those looking to support Duke's partnership with Duke Children's can make pledges per birdie. Pledges will start at $0.50 and high pledge increments are welcome. If the Blue Devils register an eagle (counts as two birdies), albatross (three birdies) and hole-in-one (four birdies) they will count as stated.
Duke Children's is a 190-bed inpatient hospital within Duke University Hospital. The central outpatient clinic, the McGovern-Davison Children's Health Center, is a 66,000 square-foot facility that is adjacent to the hospital, that combines medical and surgical specialty services in one colorful, child-focused location. Additionally, there are numerous Duke Children's primary care and specialty care clinics through North Carolina to care for the needs of children throughout the state. Duke Children's is one of the largest health care providers for children in the Southeast, and the only children's hospital in North Carolina to be ranked in nine specialties by the U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about Duke Children's online at www.dukechildrens.org or at www.facebook.com/dukechildrens.
To donate to the Birdies for Babies program, head here.
#GoDuke
Smalley, a four-year letterwinner with the Blue Devils from 2016-19, was playing a practice round on Tuesday and knocked his shot to 11 inches from the pin, close enough to win The Umbrella at 15 ½ Challenge. His shot earned $10,000 and he decided to select the Birdies for Babies program, which benefits the Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units.
Following the announcement on Tuesday, Smalley posted a tweet on Twitter, "Extremely honored and happy to help out the Birdies for Babies program at Duke Children's Hospital that my good friend Virginia Elena Carta set up while she was a member of Duke women's golf. Proud of you, Virginia!"
"It is truly gratifying that our student-athletes continue to support Birdies for Babies after graduation," said Ann M. Reed, MD, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief of Duke Children's. "Our continuing partnership with Duke Golf supports the smallest, most critically ill patients at our hospital. We are so proud of Alex and grateful that he chose Birdies for Babies for this meaningful gift."
Smalley was a two-time All-America with the Blue Devils. Since turning professional, Smalley has earned $1,356,130 on the tour. He is currently ranked No. 69 on the FedExCup ledger and has earned $1,204,777 this season. Smalley placed second in March at the Corales Puntacana Championship for his best finish on the year with rounds of 69, 65, 73 and 65 for a 16-under-par, 272.
Extremely honored and happy to help out the Birdies for Babies program at Duke Children's Hospital that my good friend @virgipaper set up while she was a member of @DukeWGOLF! Proud of you, Virginia! https://t.co/S9Ttzp6IFp
— Alex Smalley (@asmalley_golf) June 22, 2022
The creation of the Birdies for Babies program was spearheaded by Carta, a 2019 Duke women's golf graduate and former NCAA Individual and Team Champion. A native of Udine, Italy, Carta was a four-time All-ACC selection and the 2016 NCAA Individual Champion. The 2016 WGCA All-America and Honda Award winner turned in a NCAA-record 16-under-par ledger of 272 as a rookie to register her first collegiate victory. She became one of only four Blue Devils to win both a NCAA Individual and team NCAA title.
Since the inception of the Birdies for Babies program in 2017, Duke has raised $79,339.20 and with the $10,000 donation from Smalley the number moves to $89,339.20.
Those looking to support Duke's partnership with Duke Children's can make pledges per birdie. Pledges will start at $0.50 and high pledge increments are welcome. If the Blue Devils register an eagle (counts as two birdies), albatross (three birdies) and hole-in-one (four birdies) they will count as stated.
Duke Children's is a 190-bed inpatient hospital within Duke University Hospital. The central outpatient clinic, the McGovern-Davison Children's Health Center, is a 66,000 square-foot facility that is adjacent to the hospital, that combines medical and surgical specialty services in one colorful, child-focused location. Additionally, there are numerous Duke Children's primary care and specialty care clinics through North Carolina to care for the needs of children throughout the state. Duke Children's is one of the largest health care providers for children in the Southeast, and the only children's hospital in North Carolina to be ranked in nine specialties by the U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about Duke Children's online at www.dukechildrens.org or at www.facebook.com/dukechildrens.
To donate to the Birdies for Babies program, head here.
#GoDuke
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