Women’s college golf tournament features 12 top-ranked Division I teams,
presentation of Annika Award honoring nation’s best female player
(ORLANDO, Fla.) — The ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M, a college golf tournament co-founded by the ANNIKA Foundation and Golfweek, will return to Reunion Resort, September 26-29.
Twelve Division I women’s programs, including the top-11 ranked squads, will compete in the 54-hole, stroke play tournament on Reunion’s Watson Course. Participating teams are a “who’s who” of golf powerhouses: Arkansas, Arizona, Duke, LSU, South Carolina (defending champion), Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCF, UCLA, USC and Washington.
In addition to competitive play, tournament namesake Annika Sorenstam will bestow the ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M to the nation’s most outstanding Division I female golfer at a gala reception. The 2015 recipient is the world’s No. 1-ranked amateur, Leona Maguire of Duke University.
“Last year’s tournament was a huge success highlighted by an impressive roster of student-athletes, and this edition promises to be even better,” says Annika, the 1991 NCAA Champion and National Co-Player of the Year at the University of Arizona. “Offering NCAA standouts opportunities to pursue their dreams is one of the many exciting ways my Foundation helps girls achieve success on and off the course.”
The ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M is the female equivalent of the Haskins Award, which has been given to the most outstanding Division I male golfer since 1971. Selection is governed by the Haskins Commission of Columbus, Ga., which oversees the vote of players, coaches and media for both the Haskins and ANNIKA awards.
Home to the ANNIKA Academy, Reunion features golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson. Managed by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, which was founded by Sheila C. Johnson – a leading advocate of women’s sports – Reunion was recently selected as the new headquarters for the North Florida PGA Section. The resort’s Watson Course is highlighted by fast, firm fairways, strategically placed bunkers and large greens. It is consistently lauded as one of the Sunshine State’s best layouts.
About the ANNIKA Foundation
Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation (www.annikafoundation.org) as a way to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer 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: the AJGA ANNIKA Invitational at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla.; ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills in China; ANNIKA Invitational Europe in Sweden; and ANNIKA Cup, a team event for Swedish juniors. In 2013, its reach extended to the collegiate ranks with the ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M (awarded to most outstanding female NCAA Division I golfer) and ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M (12-team, 54-hole event at Reunion Resort). SPARK grants to schools, financial support of Healthy 100 Kids, endowment of an AJGA ACE Grant, ANNIKA Junior Day and scholarships for aspiring Swedish juniors are other key initiatives.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Brand Invigoration Group
703.344.6031
sreynolds@buffalobig.com
BuffaloBIG.com
Laura Stone
Buffalo Brand Invigoration Group
703.891.3383
lstone@buffalobig.com
