The ‘girls only’ junior tournament will award top three finishers berths to
the Annika Invitational in the United States in 2013
The ANNIKA Invitational Europe, an elite junior golf championship founded by Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam for the 78 best females residing in Europe, will be played for the first time in Sweden in late summer 2012.
The tournament will be held Aug. 31 – Sept. 2, 2012 at Linkopings Golf Club in Annika’s native country, Sweden. The 54-hole stroke play competition, modeled after the award-winning ANNIKA Invitational in the United States, will feature 78 participants from European.countries. Annika, winner of 89 professional tournaments (72 on the LPGA Tour) and 10 major championships during her 15-year Hall of Fame career, will also host a number of activities, including skills clinics and educational sessions for the participants.
“Expanding our ANNIKA Invitational series to Europe has been a dream of mine,” said Annika. “I want to continue to inspire young girls to focus on golf and being active while teaching them life lessons along the way. This will give my Foundation three world-class junior tournaments in different regions of the world. Bringing this tournament to my native country, Sweden, was an obvious choice.”
The three low finishers in ANNIKA Invitational Europe will win coveted berths to the ANNIKA Invitational that Annika hosts in the United States. That tournament, started by the ANNIKA Foundation, is an official American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournament in Orlando, Fla. The AJGA is widely regarded as the best junior golf circuit in the world, and has awarded the ANNIKA Invitational in Orlando two national awards, including “Best Invitational” for girls.
The ANNIKA Invitational began in partnership with the AJGA in the United States in 2009 and expanded to Mission Hills, China in 2011. The ANNIKA Invitational Europe is a collaboration between the ANNIKA Foundation, the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF), Skandia and Linkopings Golf Club. Since 2007, the SGF, Skandia and Annika have partnered on the ANNIKA Cup, an annual match play competition for twelve of the top amateur girls in Sweden. The ANNIKA Cup, which invites younger top junior girls, will continue to be played each year immediately preceding or after the ANNIKA Invitational Europe at Annika’s childhood course, Bro Balsta Golf Club, near Stockholm.
“For us at Skandia, the ANNIKA Invitational is part of our long-term efforts to support young girls in junior golf. We know the past success of the ANNIKA Invitationals will lead to a wonderful tournament here in Europe,” said Ing-Britt Ekberg, Skandia’s sponsorship manager.
“We are thrilled that the ANNIKA Invitational Europe will bring greater attention to Swedish girls’ golf,” said Magnus Grankvist, head of the junior golf at the SGF. “We are proud to be linked with Annika and the Foundation partners, including the AJGA. It is wonderful that the top juniors from Europe will have the opportunity to play in the AJGA version in the United States”
“We are proud to host the inaugural ANNIKA Invitational Europe,” said Carl-Stephan Rundquist, president of Linkoping Golf Course. “We feel it is important to continue to grow the game of golf among young people.”
For additional information visit: www.annikafoundation.org.
About the Annika Foundation
The ANNIKA Foundation teaches children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offers aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. The Foundation has partnered with several key organizations to promote healthy and active lifestyles for children, including SPARK, the leading physical education program for schools; Florida Hospital for Children, supporting its Healthy 100 Kids initiative; and The First Tee, developing the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children. The Foundation annually conducts three major golf events for aspiring junior girls, including the ANNIKA Invitational at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla., the award-winning American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event; the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills in China for top Asian juniors; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden. The Foundation awards SPARK grants to schools, is a financial supporter of Healthy 100 Kids, and has endowed an ACE scholarship with the AJGA. Other key Foundation initiatives include ANNIKA Junior Day, the ANNIKA Inspiration Award and scholarships for aspiring Swedish juniors. More information about the ANNIKA Foundation can be found at www.annikafoundation.org.
Contact:
Elizabeth McCollum
Brener Zwikel & Associates on behalf of Annika
813-421-0550
elizabethm@bzapr.com
Justine Harris
ANNIKA Foundation
407-385-1252
justineh@annikafoundation.org
