Even die-hard LPGA Tour fans might have been doing a double take when they saw the unfamiliar name Ally Ewing near the top of the leader board on Thursday at the Volunteers of America Classic. An opening-round one-under 70 amid grey skies and 40-degree temperatures at Old American Golf Club outside Dallas left the 28-year-old two shots off the lead held by Charley Hull.
It also left some wondering who exactly is Ally Ewing?
Well, it turns out Ally Ewing is actually Ally McDonald, a fourth-year tour member who won her first tour title in October and decided recently to change her name after getting married in May to Charlie Ewing.
The timing of the name change has a sentimental hook to it. Ewing’s in-laws and brother-in-law are from Dallas. She told them her decision to change the name during Thanksgiving week and gave them two old staff bags that had “Ally Ewing” stitched on them.
“I just wanted to surprise them,” Ewing said. “I intended to change it at the end of the year but moved it up a couple weeks.”
Under any name, Ewing has been playing well as the unusual 2020 LPGA seasons winds down. After winning the LPGA Drive On Championship at Reynolds Lake Oconee, she posted a runner-up finish in her next start at the Pelican Women’s Championship two weeks ago in Florida. She is currently fourth on the Race to the CME Globe points list, and her solid form has her among the players to watch entering next week’s U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston.
Ally’s new husband had his own big news this week, as he was named head coach of Mississippi State women’s golf team after working as an assistant with the men’s team the past 2½ seasons.