Inspires juniors at various interactive events throughout two-day visit
(SHENZHEN, China) – LPGA Legend Annika Sorenstam concluded her two-day visit today to Mission Hills for the second-annual ANNIKA Invitational Tournament, China’s first girls-only junior event.
Winner of 89 professional tournaments (72 on the LPGA Tour) and 10 major championships during her 15-year Hall-of-Fame career, Annika attended an interactive dinner where various participants sang and played the piano, hosted skills clinics, discussed her experiences on tour, shared insights regarding golf’s return to the next Olympic Games and presented trophies to top finishers.
“The junior tournaments organized by Annika around the globe are very successful,” says Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group. “We are very happy to host the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills to provide Chinese and other Asian girls a platform to improve their golf skills.”
“Although I stepped away from competitive golf in 2008, I am still extremely passionate about the game,” says Annika. “I established my ANNIKA Foundation to help young golfers pursue their dreams and encourage children to have positive health and wellness habits.”
China’s Sui Xiang won the second ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills today by nine shots over Chinese Taipei’s Li Xin on the club’s Annika Course. Sui claimed the overall champion title with rounds of 69-73-72 for a 54-hole total of 214 (-2).
Runner-up Li shot 72 after rounds of 75 and 76 to win the Under 18 division. Netherlands’ Dewi Weber claimed overall third place with rounds of 77-70-76 (223).
The three won berths in the American Junior Golf Association’s (AJGA) 2013 ANNIKA Invitational which will be played January 18-21 at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida. Sui will also be invited to Mission Hills Haikou to play in the World Celebrity Pro Am in October 2012, a ground-breaking celebrity pro-am golf tournament for Asia, and the World Ladies Championship 2013, co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and China LPGA Tour.
“China’s young golfers are very passionate and have great potential,” continues Annika. “With recent LPGA Championship winner Feng Shanshan as a role model and golf tournaments and Academies at Mission Hills like what we held this week, the sky is the limit for their development.”
About the ANNIKA Foundation
The ANNIKA Foundation (www.annikafoundation.org) 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 key organizations to promote healthy, active lifestyles for children, including SPARK, Florida Hospital for Children in support of its Healthy 100 Kids initiative and The First Tee in development of the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children.
The Foundation annually conducts four major golf events for aspiring junior girls, including the award-winning ANNIKA Invitational AJGA tournament at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla., the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills, China’s first all-girls junior tournament; the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, played in Sweden; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden.
About Mission Hills Group
Mission Hills Group (www.missionhillschina.com), owner and operator of Mission Hills in the heart of the Pearl River Delta and the tropical island of Hainan, is the pioneer in China’s fledgling hospitality, sports and leisure industry.
Founded in 1992, Mission Hills is recognized as the leading golf brand in the world and synonymous with high-end, luxurious and exquisitely-designed residences. Mission Hills has been the major driving force behind the sports and leisure industry in China. Its three world-class integrated leisure and wellness resort destinations have hosted more than 100 international tournaments. Mission Hills has also been accredited the “World’s Largest Golf Club” by the Guinness World Records.
Mission Hills’ properties sprawl over 40 sq. km. They include 22 championship courses designed by renowned players and architects from five continents, five-star resorts, award-winning spas and volcanic mineral springs, an international convention center, golf academies and Asia’s largest tennis facility. Mission Hills is also the official training headquarters of China’s Tennis and Golf Associations.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
