By Les Schupak

March 23, 2011 – At the inaugural RR Donnelly Founders Cup, Met Area LPGA players Meaghan Francella of Port Chester, N.Y., Nannette Hill of Pelham Manor, N.Y. and Diana D'Alessio of Flanders, N.J., all found the Wildfire Golf Club at the J.W.Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa to their liking.

Among a star-studded field of 134 players, Francella shot the lowest score of the three in the 54-hole tournament finishing at two-under-par, 214, in a tie for 22nd place. Hill and D’Alessio both came in at four-over-par, 220, tying for 66th. Full Results

The tournament was unique in that it honored the 13 women who founded the LPGA in 1950, as well as the current players agreeing to compete for a $1 million purse which was donated entirely to charity with $500,000 going to the top-10 finishers’ designated charities.

The other $500,000 went to the LPGA-USGA girls golf program. While LPGA players did not receive tournament earnings, results at the Founders Cup will impact the 2011 Official Money List and each player’s performance will earn points toward Rolex Player of the Year, Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, Rolex rankings, U.S. Solheim Cup, and the Vare Trophy.

Francella, who underwent three surgeries within the past five months, credits her strong play this week to consistent shotmaking and the work she has been doing to improve her putting which she says “has been pretty shaky recently. I've been working with Michael Breed (head professional at Scarsdale’s Sunningdale Country Club and host of “The Golf Fix” on the Golf Channel) to work out some problems.”

The three are off to a good start and hope to return to the Met Area for the Sybase Match Play Championship on May19-22 to be held at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, N.J. and the ShopRite LPGA Classic on June 9-12 to be held at Seaview Resort, Galloway, N.J.